If you’ve ever been to Arcosanti in Arizona or played SimCity 2000, it’s likely you’ve heard of arcologies. It’s hard to describe them succinctly, but a “city in one building” would be a good start, and that’s exactly what Whittier, Alaska, is. Nearly all of the town’s 180-some residents live in a single, 14-story condo building, complete with city offices, police department, and shops. The school sits adjacent but is connected so kids don’t have to bundle up for the short walk in the harsh Alaskan winters. Indie Alaska interviews Erika Thompson, a teacher at the school, about life in Whittier.
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