PROJECT SPOTLIGHT
BLUEBIRD GRAIN FARMS
New Processing Facility
WINTHROP, WA
BLUEBIRD GRAIN FARMS
New Processing Facility
WINTHROP, WA
Bluebird Grain Farms, the Methow Valley-based producer of legacy grains, is the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Seattle District’s 2022 Rural Small Business of the Year. Founded in 2004 by Brooke and Sam Lucy, Bluebird Grain Farms is a certified organic producer and processor; specializing in ancient grains, fresh-milled flour, and whole-grain handcrafted blends.
North Star worked with Bluebird Grain to build a new 6,700-square-foot processing and manufacturing facility. The expansion will allow Bluebird Grain Farms to increase production capacity and expand its supplier network of Washington grain farmers.
The new facility will also incorporate a retail storefront and serve as a community space for local schools and tour groups to visit and learn about local food production.
HALA CAFE
Infrastructure for Cultural Tourism
HYDABURG, ALASKA
Hála Café is the only restaurant located in Hydaburg, Alaska. In the Haida language, Hála means “to give a feast or host a social event.” The café has been doing exactly that since it opened its doors in July 2019.
Like many Tribes in Alaska, Hydaburg is remote and accessible only by boat or small plane. The creation of a café is especially important since there are no other social gathering places in the community. North Star Construction is very proud to be a part of this project.
North Star Construction worked with Hydaburg Cafe Association, Jon Wunrow Program Manager for the Tribe, and MRV architects on the Design/Build project to meet the community's needs and demands for an infrastructure to support Cultural Tourism. The Hydaburg Cafe/Laundrette project was a small but technical building project that was remotely located. NSC met the many challenges of staying under budget and on time by utilizing the local workforce and working closely with both architects and the program manager.
SEAFOOD PRODUCERS COOP
Capital Improvements
SITKA, ALASKA
Seafood Producers Coop is the largest and most successful fishermen’s cooperative in North America, and it has built a worldwide reputation as the quality leader in the North Pacific seafood industry. Seafood Producers Cooperative is a commercial fishing co-op based in Sitka AK and Bellingham, WA. Co-op owned and operated by quality-oriented fishermen that produce the finest line-caught salmon, halibut, sablefish and albacore tuna.
In order to handle the company’s success and growth, SPC chose to work with North Star Construction from the earliest stages of planning their capital improvement project of building a new icehouse, loading dock & compressor room. North Star Construction’s Design/Build team was able to find economical long-term solutions for SPC to achieve their goals of an efficient plant layout and increased capacity.
WILD SALMON SEAFOOD MARKET
Design-Build
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON
Wild Salmon Seafood Market is Seattle's Premier fresh seafood market located at Fisherman's Terminal in Seattle, Washington.
In order to handle the company’s success and growth, Wild Salmon Seafood Market chose to work with North Star Construction from the earliest stages of planning their capital improvement project of building a new seafood market site. North Star Construction’s Design/Build team was able to find economical long-term solutions for Wild Salmon to achieve their goals of an efficient retail store layout and increased capacity.
ARMSTRONG KETA, INC.
Capital Improvements
PORT ARMSTRONG, ALASKA
Armstrong-Keta, Inc. is a private, non-profit company operating Port Armstrong Hatchery. They are dedicated to enhancing wild chinook, chum, pink, and coho salmon for Alaska's fisheries.
Armstrong-Keta and North Star Construction have partnered together over the last 30 years for many of the hatchery's capital improvements including their very first incubation building in 1979. Numerous other projects over the years included residence buildings, a raceway complex built on a large dock structure, a small bridge, and a new hydro building for 3 turbines.
BETTY LAKE LOG JAM REMOVAL
Port Armstrong Hatchery
PORT ARMSTRONG, ALASKA
Armstrong Keta, Inc. is a private, non-profit company operating Port Armstrong Hatchery. They are dedicated to enhancing wild chinook, chum, pink and coho salmon for Alaska's fisheries.
This was a unique project that required NSC to work in a highly remote site demolishing a large build-up of logs that was constricting the flow of alpine water to the hatchery below. By setting up infrastructure at the log jam, the hatchery is in a better place of managing the log jam in the future.
RMC, Inc
Building Expansion
KENT, WASHINGTON
Rockfish Enterprises is the facility owner for RMC Inc., a world leader in the manufacturer of the machine tool industry.
North Star assisted in the pre-construction planning phase and then constructed the 23,000 square foot addition to the existing building. Other project elements included extensive site work for the mitigation of stormwater run-off as well as street improvements mandated by the local municipality.
UPPER HECKENDOREN WINTHROP RESIDENCE
New Construction
WINTHROP, WASHINGTON
Located in Washington's Methow Valley, this retreat is nestled into a sloping site that affords a sweeping view of the Valley and North Cascades mountain range beyond. The design and construction of this modest home are unique as a structural element but effortlessly blends in with the surrounding hills, skies, and mountain lines of the valley.
What started out as a back of a napkin design turned out to be a fun, energizing project that evolved into a wonderful space that incorporated the natural landscaping and contours of the hillside. Kitchen, living, and dining spaces open to the floor to ceiling windows that give the interior an airy feel of being both indoors and out.
PEARL OF ALASKA OYSTER FACILITY
Processing Plant
WRANGELL, ALASKA
Pearl of Alaska Oyster Facility is expanding their oyster farm capacity and required a larger facility for processing and shipping their 1st class pristine Alaska product all over the world. Their oysters end up in New York City, Tokyo and wherever really fine seafood is appreciated.
North Star Construction’s staff collaborated with Tom to design and build a practical and efficient new facility for running his operation and ensuring a top quality processing environment for their oysters.
GCI COMMUNICATIONS BUILDING
New Communications Building
WRANGELL, ALASKA
GCI Communications just installed a new marine fiber optic cable from Ketchikan to Juneau to bring high-speed internet service to Southeast Alaska. The building we built for GCl houses the computers and servers that pick up the cable where it comes ashore in Wrangell. In addition to the building, we installed an extensive grounding system at the site for the protection of the equipment.