At one of the remotest northern boundaries of the American -continent and on the outskirts of a rapidly growing city, this recently completed building in Alaska seeks to create a new physical and social centre. Planned to nurture the communal life of an isolated settlement and respect the spectacular natural landscape of its physical setting, the bp (British Petroleum) Energy Centre is an inspired response to a demanding programme. This new building is sited within an enveloping low-density sprawl characteristic of most world cities. Anchorage is no exception and though relatively young, it is the largest city in Alaska with a population of about 260 000 made up of a diverse group of people including the indigenous Inuit and established settlers as well as significant yet often nomadic communities from international business and strategic services. First developed as a result of the Gold Rush, the city is now a major distribution centre and has grown rapidly as a result of the discovery of rich natural resources, the construction of the Alaska Pipeline and tourism. Lying within the circumpolar region, between the ocean and spectacular mountain ranges, its long dark winters are offset by plentiful hours of summer daylight.
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