LifeFairbanks · July 6, 2026
ten million under budget
A 60-year-old building is finally getting replaced in Fairbanks, and it came in millions under budget.
Daily Alaska staff · July 6, 2026 · Fairbanks
The Fairbanks North Star Borough broke ground this month on a new animal shelter off the Old Richardson Highway, replacing a 60 year old facility that borough leaders say is now the most energy intensive building they operate. The project is expected to open in the summer of 2028.
The new shelter matters for anyone who has adopted a pet in the Interior or plans to. Borough officials say a modern facility will mean healthier animals and faster adoptions, cutting the time pets spend waiting before heading home.
The current shelter has stood for six decades. Its foundation is crumbling, its roof is deteriorating, and parts of the building no longer meet current building codes. The borough says the facility is its oldest and most heavily used building, which has driven high energy costs over the years.
Crews are now digging trenches, pouring the foundation and grading the property as work continues through the construction season. The project came in about 10 million dollars under its original cost estimate, landing at a total cost near 23 million dollars. Once construction is complete, the borough says it will move operations into the new shelter as quickly as possible.
In this story
Questions people ask
Where is the new Fairbanks animal shelter being built?
Off the Old Richardson Highway in the Fairbanks North Star Borough.
How much will the new shelter cost?
About 23 million dollars total, roughly 10 million dollars under the original estimate.
When does the new shelter open?
In the summer of 2028.
Why replace the current shelter?
It's 60 years old with a crumbling foundation, deteriorating roof, no longer meets current codes, and it's the borough's most energy-hungry building.
Evidence
Sources
Claims and where they come from
- Construction has begun on a new Fairbanks North Star Borough animal shelter off the Old Richardson Highway. · alaskasnewssource.com
- The project came in about 10 million dollars under the original estimate, for a total cost near 23 million dollars. · alaskasnewssource.com
- The new shelter is expected to open in the summer of 2028. · alaskasnewssource.com
- The current shelter has been in operation for 60 years and is the borough's most energy-hungry building. · alaskasnewssource.com
Produced with AI assistance, narrated with Slav Lund's voice clone with his consent, and reviewed by a person before publishing. How we use AI →