Kroenke Hangar Home

The Kroenke residence in Palmer, Alaska utilized Insulated Concrete Forms to create a luxurious, energy-efficient and disaster-resilient living space. The homeowners are also owners of Remote Alaska Solutions, a construction company specializing in ICFs, so they were familiar with the benefits of building with concrete and ICFs and sought to bring those to their family’s home. They had worked with Nudura before and were confident in their products’ performance and the service they provide in terms of education and responsiveness.

The Kroenkes custom-designed an intricate multi-purpose structure, serving as both their primary residence and as an airplane hangar. To maximize the construction timeline and move in quickly, the home was executed in phases, allowing the family to live in the fully-finished hangar portion (phase 1) while construction commenced on the subsequent residential spaces (phase 2).

In an area known for its seismic activity and winter storms which can lead to power outages, the home required self-sufficiency and off-grid capabilities. To achieve this, a large livable ICF safe room was constructed, complete with a generator room, entertainment area, a cold-conditioned root vegetable cellar and 5/8” thick steel welded-in safe/vault doors.

The homeowners didn’t realize how quickly the construction method would be put to the test. Before the project was completed, a 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck the area, yet the home held strong. This resilience under seismic forces spoke volumes about the structural integrity of concrete construction.

With the vast 58-foot-wide opening of the hangar for planes to enter and exit, they needed a solution that could keep the structure comfortable despite the periodic exposure to the elements. The thermal mass of concrete and the continuous insulation of ICF blocks enabled this energy efficiency.

The home also incorporated dual heating sources, including natural gas and fuel oil, with tertiary backup heating in the form of the fireplace. It’s ICF walls and concrete floors help reduce thermal swings, effectively absorbing heat from the south-facing windows during winter days and re-radiating it during the evenings and nights. This natural heat retention minimizes the need for artificial heating. Radiant floor heating throughout the residence, including concrete on the second floors, is another design element that contributed to the home’s sustainability.