NANA Construction Plans Major Expansion of Fabrication Facility in Mat-Su

BIG LAKE—One of Alaska’s largest fabrication facilities will soon double its current industrial fabrication capacity. NANA Construction plans to expand its Big Lake facility this summer, increasing its existing industrial fabrication space from 14,000 square feet to 28,000 square feet—making it the largest facility of its kind in the state.

NANA Construction began seeing a growing demand for process module fabrication and constructability support late last year, and given the project forecast for the coming months, NANA leadership approved the expansion to meet increasing client needs.

“We’re a customer-driven company,” said John Hendrix, president of NANA’s Commercial Group. “We don’t ever want to turn down a project because we lack the capacity or space to do it. With this expansion, we’re taking proactive steps in recognition of the work ahead.”

Preliminary plans include the addition of a 240-foot by 60-foot, pre-engineered metal building featuring two, 10-ton overhead cranes, bringing the total number of industrial cranes at the facility to eighteen. NANA Construction’s fabrication facility sits on more than thirty-two acres of cleared, fenced land at mile 2.1 Big Lake Road, just north of Wasilla. Its strategic location significantly reduces travel time for the truckable, industrial modules that are manufactured there and destined for the North Slope. The site comprises multiple buildings, including one acre of covered, interior floor space; a prep and coat shop and segregated Class 1 paint shop; and an industrial fabrication and assembly shop. When combined with the site’s commercial capacity, the industrial fabrication expansion will increase the facility’s total space to 102,000 square feet.

NANA Construction views the expansion as an asset not only to North Slope and Red Dog Mine operations, but also to Alaska’s economy.
“More space means more capacity for work, which means more jobs,” said General Manager Fred Elvsaas. “We’ll be able to accommodate more units inside the facility, allowing for longer-term projects and increased production.”

NANA Construction expects to complete the expansion by fall 2019.