| Seward's Success, Alaska | |
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| — Unbuilt Community — | |
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Seward's Success, Alaska
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| Coordinates: | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Alaska |
| Borough | Matanuska-Susitna |
| Named for | William H. Seward |
Seward's Success was an unbuilt planned community proposed for construction in Point MacKenzie, north of Anchorage, Alaska, United States. To be built across the Knik Arm, the megaproject gained a degree of international notoriety as it was to have been climate-controlled, completely enclosed with a dome. The community was envisioned to have a build-out of 40,000[1] residents complete with ample residential, office and commercial space within the dome. Transportation between the community and Anchorage was to have been via aerial tramway and monorail. Originally proposed in 1968, by 1972 the project was canceled. Its name is a play on the saying "Seward's Folly" in referencing the criticism received by Secretary of State William H. Seward upon the Alaskan Purchase in 1867.
The plan for constructing Seward's Success developed after the January 1968 discovery of oil reserves at Prudhoe Bay.[2] The $800 million, four-phase community was to have been developed by Tandy Industries of Tulsa, Oklahoma and designed by Adrian Wilson Associates of Los Angeles.[2][3] The initial phase was envisioned to provide for a population of 5,000 and contain 600,000 square feet (56,000 m2) of office space, 300,000 square feet (28,000 m2) of retail space and an indoor sports arena for an estimated cost of $170 million.[1] The central feature of the office construction was the proposed 20-story Alaskan Petroleum Center, which was to serve a variety of oil and oil service companies.[1][4] The development was touted as the world's first totally enclosed, climate-controlled community.[1]
Transportation between Seward's Success and downtown Anchorage would be accomplished initially by way of a high-speed aerial tramway.[1] Subsequently, a monorail would be built as an additional connection between the town and Anchorage International Airport.[1][2][5] Automobiles would not have been allowed inside the community,[1][5] and all transportation within Seward's Success was to have been provided by way of the aerial tramway, monorail, bicycle paths and moving sidewalks.[5]
The temperature would have been controlled at 68 °F (20 °C) year round.[4] The shell would have been composed of glass designed to work like a greenhouse in maintaining the temperature.[5] Energy to power the community would be generated through natural gas available on-site.[1]
Physical construction of the community would commence in 1970 with the completion of a dock and several roads.[2] However, with construction of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System delayed due to lawsuits, a group subcontracted by Tandy failed to make the annual lease payment for the 3,209 acres (12.99 km2; 5.01 sq mi) where Seward's Success was to have been located.[2] By 1972, the project was officially canceled.[2]
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