UAF - University of Alaska Fairbanks: the 'Gruening Building'
This building was constructed in 1971 and opened in 1973 as a general-use classroom and office building.
It was the first structure over three stories high on the UAF campus. The building is named after Ernest Gruening (1886-1974)
who was governor of the territory of Alaska from 1939-1953 and served as the first Alaskan senator till 1968.
Each year when spring arrives students use the roof of the Gruening Building for their traditional 'watermelon drop' (look out below!) to celebrate meltdown.


UAF has the best view in town. The campus is situated on a ridge on the northwest side of Fairbanks overlooking the Alaska Range.
The University of Alaska Fairbanks is the northernmost American university and international research center.
In 1917, when Alaska was not yet a state but still a territory, it opened as 'Alaska Agricultural College' with six students.
Today it is part of a statewide university system, together with UAS in Juneau and UAA in Anchorage.
More than 8.000 students attend the 2.500-acre Fairbanks campus. UAF is highly regarded for its arctic research and Alaska native studies.
The university is the largest civilian employer in the Tanana Valley with more than 3,350 full- and part-time faculty and staff, student workers included.