Begich Towers, Residential condominium in Whittier, Alaska.
Begich Towers is a 14-story residential building with three connected modules in Whittier, Alaska, where nearly all the town's residents live. The ground and lower floors hold shops, offices, and community facilities, while the upper floors contain apartments.
Designed in 1953 by military engineer Anton Anderson as headquarters for the US Army Corps of Engineers, the Hodge Building opened in 1957 alongside the nearby Buckner Building. The Army used it until the early 1960s, and it was renamed Begich Towers in 1972 for Congressman Nick Begich, who disappeared in a plane crash. In 1974 the condo association became its official manager.
The tower takes its name from Nick Begich, an Alaska congressman who disappeared near here in 1972. Residents move through long interior hallways to reach apartments, shops, and shared spaces without stepping outside.
Access to the town involves passing through a single-lane tunnel that opens on a schedule for vehicles. Visitors who want to view the building from outside can walk along the street past the harbor and see the concrete tower from different angles.
The building's three connected towers are separated by gaps of 7 or 8 inches, allowing them to sway in wind or earthquakes. The north side has two protruding modules forming square towers, which gave the structure its name.
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