GHD supports modernization of Alaska's Alcan Land Port of Entry

GHD, a global professional services company, has supported the design planning for the modernization of the Alcan Land Port of Entry (LPOE) in Alaska, one of the most remote federal infrastructure projects in the United States. 

The Alcan LPOE is the only year-round, full-service, 24-hour port of entry serving personal vehicles and commercial traffic between the Yukon Territory, Canada, and interior Alaska. Located approximately 90 miles from the nearest community, the existing facility was constructed in the early 1970s and no longer meets the operational needs of US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the US General Services Administration (GSA). 

"Delivering world-class federal infrastructure in one of North America's most remote and extreme environments requires more than technical expertise. It requires a genuine commitment to the people who depend on it. This project reflects that commitment," said David McVeigh, Regional Market Leader, US West Property & Buildings, GHD. 

GHD provided planning and design support for the modernization project, which will replace aging port operations facilities, housing, service and support buildings with modern infrastructure designed to serve federal agencies for decades to come. 

The project includes a new LPOE main port building, commercial and non-commercial inspection buildings, a firearms range, a community health and fitness building, a utility building with an interconnected utilidor system and 20 housing units for CBP personnel, their dependents and GSA operations and maintenance staff. 

Given the project's remote location and extreme climate, sustainability and resilience were central to the design approach. The modernized facility is targeting PHIUS CORE Passive Building Certification and is being designed to support a path toward net-zero readiness through aggressive energy-demand reduction, renewable energy strategies and high-performance envelope and building systems. A solar power system comprising building and pole-mounted photovoltaic panel arrays, battery storage and microgrid controls will support on-site energy generation. 

The design also incorporates climate adaptation measures to address changing environmental conditions in interior Alaska, including increasing wildfire risk, extreme cold, heavy snow, freeze-thaw cycles and long-term infrastructure durability over the facility's 50-plus year service life, in alignment with federal sustainability and resilience goals. 

About GHD

GHD is a leading professional services company operating in the global markets of water, energy and resources, environment, property and buildings, and transportation. Committed to a vision to make water, energy, and communities sustainable for generations to come, GHD delivers advisory, digital, engineering, architecture, environmental and construction solutions to public and private sector clients. Established in 1928 and privately owned by its people, GHD’s network of 12,000+ professionals is connected across 165 offices located on five continents.