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Rock Solid Legacy

Wilford Clyde retires at 70 after a distinguished career that had huge positive impacts in many societal circles—construction, politics, education, economic development—chalking up an enviable list of genuine friends and powerful business associates along the way.
By Brad Fullmer

Perhaps it was destiny that former Clyde Companies CEO Wilford W. Clyde’s impact on Utah’s construction industry would rival that of his grandfather—the man he was named after, and the founder of the longtime Utah County-based firm that bears his name, one Clyde led to great heights as its top executive for 20 years of his overall stellar 45-year career. 

Or perhaps it was sheer ambition and hustle to do the very best job he could do, regardless of what role he served within the company, which under his watch has exploded into a multi-faceted behemoth with eight major subsidiary firms that boast nearly 5000 employees and collectively haul in $2.5 billion annually in revenues—eye-popping numbers by any metric.

“Once I made the decision to come work here, I went at it, full steam,” said Clyde, who turned 70 in January and officially retired on February 3, after two years of working “half-time” as the company gradually transitioned the leadership to Jeremy Hafen, 48, an 18-year company veteran who was formally named CEO of Clyde Companies in December 2022. 

Clyde will retain his title of Chairman of the Board and continue offering input on major company decisions through 2027. He admits to not quite knowing what to make of retirement just yet, other than spending more quality time and traveling with his wife, Natalie, and family, and continuing to contribute to community and philanthropic efforts such as “Springville Rising”, a program aiming to revitalize his hometown’s historic downtown area. Clyde’s public service to Springville is legendary, with two terms as Mayor (2009-2017) and multiple years on the City Council, not to mention (10) years (hundreds of games) coaching his four daughters in softball.

“It’s hard when you’ve been coming to work for 45 years,” said Clyde, wistfully, about calling it a career. “It’s hard because you have all these relationships. But it’s time. I’m still going to have some involvement in special projects like the history of the company […] and be involved in some philanthropic efforts […] and key decisions like acquisitions and other strategic decisions.”

In the Genes 

Clyde grew up in Springville, across the street from his grandparents, mowing their lawn and performing other yard work as a teen. He described his grandfather as “kind of gruff,” a bit intimidating, and particularly good at “micro-managing you in the yard”. Clyde spent every summer in high school working at one of the family businesses—Utah Service (now Sunpro) in the supply warehouse and on Geneva Rock and WW Clyde construction crews. He didn’t have a lot of personal interaction with his grandfather, W.W. Clyde, about the family business until after he had returned from a church mission to New Zealand, and his grandfather sat him down for their first real conversation about life. 

“He just said to me, ‘There’s a lot of money to be made in the construction business,” Clyde recalled. “Integrity and honesty were really important to him. If you said you were doing something, you did it.” 

Clyde earned a Bachelor of Accounting from Brigham Young University in June 1977 and considered pursuing a CPA career over working at one of the family businesses and following in his father Blaine’s footsteps, in part because he wasn’t confident about the long-term outlook of the company ladder and where he fit in the family pecking order. 

“I had some older cousins and uncles in the business, so I thought I’d be one of the younger ones and maybe wouldn’t get the same opportunities (for advancement) because they were ahead of me,” Clyde said. Blaine, who served as President of WW Clyde from (1981-86), took him for a ride up the canyon one day to set his son straight, ensuring the younger Clyde the family business would provide plenty of chances to prove his worth. 

Clyde became Geneva Rock’s first full-time accountant in 1977, a job he did for five years prior to working in the field and in operations in 1982. He was promoted to General Manager in 1983 at the youthful age of 30 and President of Geneva Rock in 1988, a title he held until being named President of Clyde Companies in 2001 (CEO in 2002). Clyde’s promotion to President of Geneva Rock was bittersweet, as Blaine had passed away a year earlier at age 70 in July 1987 from bone cancer, just a year after he had finally retired. 

Jeremy Hafen, Clyde’s son-in-law, was named CEO of Clyde Companies in December 2022. The Orem-based firm is a multi-company powerhouse with eight major subsidiaries and annual revenues in the $2.5 billion range. 

Wilford the Dealmaker 


Clyde is universally praised within his various circles as a genuinely nice, down-to-earth, approachable guy willing to impart his wisdom about a particular topic or simply chat someone up about last night’s ballgame. 


“Wilford is for real,” said Scott Okelberry, Executive VP/COO of Clyde Companies. “He’s not the stuffy CEO and chairman that nobody could talk to.” 


“Wilford set himself apart at an early age with good political and leadership skills and confidence in his abilities,” said Rich Thorn, a fellow Springville native who himself retired at the end of the March after 43 years leading the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of Utah. Thorn said Clyde has a unique ability to maximize people’s talents and get the most out of their abilities. “He had a way of leading people and encouraging them along the way. His philosophy was to coach up or coach out—you try to coach people to be better. He’s had a way of building those companies with local talent and developing top-notch people.”


Dig beyond the friendly demeanor and buddy-next-door persona and you’ll find a highly driven, competitive, keen businessman, one who relished the acquisitions process and saw it as an opportunity to exponentially grow Clyde Companies into the multi-faceted behemoth it is. 


“The best way I can describe Wilford is he’ll surprise you,” said Natalie Gochnour, Director of the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute at the University of Utah. “I think he’s careful with the way he leads, but make no mistake about it, he’ll be candid. He’ll tell you what he thinks.”


Clyde said he has been involved in some 40 acquisition deals dating to 1989 when Geneva Rock bought Ajax Concrete in Tooele County. Six months later, he flipped it to purchase Ideal Concrete in 1990, a bold move that bolstered Clyde’s negotiation chops and confidence.


 “I love doing business acquisitions—it’s given us a chance to grow fast and make more profit,” said Clyde. “Most of the profits over the last 30 years have been put back into the company.” 


Clyde said many businesses Clyde Companies has acquired over the past 33 years—including prominent companies like Clements Concrete in Idaho and Interstate Highway Construction and Scott Contracting in Colorado—were happy to sell because “these are all family-owned companies, and they like the fact we are a family-owned company. That’s an advantage we have. We’ve tried to concentrate on the Intermountain region, and it’s been successful.” 


“He’s been on the front lines of the growth of this organization from his youngest years and here we are today as eight subsidiary companies and 4,500 employees,” added Okelberry. “Wilford has been at the front of that charge through almost that entire history.”


Clyde still remembers the Ideal Concrete acquisition well, calling it an intense, educational process and an important moment in the history of Clyde Companies that gave Geneva Rock a stronger presence in Northern Utah. 


“At that time, it was a chance to buy it and be the largest ready-mix producer in the state,” Clyde said. “It gave Geneva a chance to grow.”


“He was not afraid to take on calculated business risks,” said Thorn. “It was key to the company gaining market share through acquisitions as well as building from within. Wilford’s leadership has positively impacted a lot of families.” 


Clyde very much followed in his grandfather’s footsteps. W.W. Clyde started his heavy/civil firm in 1926 in Springville and gradually added companies like Utah Service (1938), Geneva Rock (1954), and Beehive Insurance (1961) into the fold, he proved to be one of the most savvy and shrewd businessmen of his generation. Wilford Clyde continued that legacy, as the Orem-based Clyde Companies empire now includes eight major subsidiary organizations that specialize in construction, building materials, and insurance.


Man of the Community


Beyond his many professional accomplishments and accolades, Clyde also took community service to another level, contributing his time, talents, experience, and money to a litany of important economic and social causes. 


“I like to meet people; I enjoy developing relationships,” said Clyde, perhaps offering a glimpse into the secrets of his success. “I always felt like, if you’re going to join an organization, you don’t get a lot out of it unless you participate. One of my favorite jobs was being Mayor of Springville. Our family has been there since the 1850s and we have a lot of heritage in that community. It was a lot of fun to be involved on that level. I always felt like that was part of my obligation, to be active in the community and help promote the company through that network.”


Clyde has also been enamored with his time on the Board of Regents and is highly optimistic about the future of higher education in the Beehive State. 


“We have some incredible things happening in higher education,” said Clyde. “I’ve learned a ton about public education. The system is in good hands.” 


Clyde’s list of community endeavors includes: 

  • Mayor of Springville (2009-2017)
  • Springville City Council (1989-1992)
  • Chair, Utah Manufacturers Association (1995)
  • Chair, Associated General Contractors (AGC) of Utah (1999)
  • Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year (2002)
  • Chair, Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce (2017-2018)
  • Chair, Orem and Provo Chamber of Commerce (1996)
  • Chair, Board of Trustees, Utah Valley University (1999-2000)
  • President, Beavers, Inc. (2015)
  • Board of Regents, Utah Higher Education System (2011-2022)

In recognition of his storied career, Clyde Companies held an open house on January 26 to honor Clyde that was attended by a who’s who of political and professional dignitaries from across the state. 


Clyde will be further recognized April 27 as the 44th recipient of the “Giant in Our City” award, the highest honor given by the Salt Lake Chamber. 


“He’s been a pillar in the community on so many levels it’s hard to keep track,” said Thorn. “At the end of the day he’s still a local, home-grown guy.”


Man of the people: Clyde, shown riding in a parade with wife Natalie, served as Mayor of Springville—his hometown—from 2009-2017, in addition to participating on many other business and community-related endeavors. Right: Wilford and Natalie Clyde and their immediate family. 

Seamless Leadership Transition


Hafen—is well-versed on Clyde’s expectations and confident in carrying on Wilford’s legacy and continuing to grow the business in all facets. While Hafen joined the family after marrying Clyde’s oldest daughter Camille in 1997, he joined the family business in 2004 and has held several key leadership positions to get him seasoned for this role. He’s also asked Clyde plenty of questions over the years and feels like he’s learned from the best. 


“We have been transitioning the last few years,” said Hafen. “The biggest lessons I’ve learned are financial discipline and resilience. In an industry that can be cyclical, if you take on too much debt, you’re hosed. I’ve learned how to be extremely careful. We’ve reinvested a lot of cash back into the business and have been able to weather storms because of discernment.” 


Clyde has long believed in Hafen’s abilities and considers any concerns about the leadership transition to be a moot point.

“There’s not going to be any transition—it’s already happened,” said Clyde. “Our leadership team is in place, functioning and successful. There isn’t going to be any gap.”


Clyde also made it clear that none of this happens without his wife, Natalie’s, support and dedication. She has been a stalwart in working side-by-side with Wilford.


“Natalie has been super supportive of whatever I’ve done,” he said. “She raised our kids. She’s done a lot of things in the community. We’ve had a chance to do a lot of things together. Every success I’ve had is her success also.” 


Clyde believes his grandfather would be proud of where the company is today. 



“Overall, he would have to say the company is still going, it’s successful, it’s providing for a lot of families,” Clyde surmised. “He’d have to be pretty happy. Same with my dad. They’d have to be satisfied where the company has gone. Our new vision statement is to be ‘The most respected partner in our industry for another 100 years.’ That’s an ambitious goal.” 

Robust Growth Fuels Lehi City's Development

By Brad Fullmer • 01 Mar, 2024
Adobe’s 680,000 SF Lehi Campus is an iconic project in Lehi that was completed in two phases, with the first phase opening at the beginning of 2013 and signaling a new era of development along the Silicon Slopes corridor. (photo by Dana Sohm) Inset: Aerial view showing an illustration of Texas Instruments’ new 300 mm semiconductor wafer manufacturing plant—referred to as “LFAB2”—which broke ground last November and marks the single largest investment (over $11 billion) in state history. (photo courtesy Texas Instruments)

Forging Ahead

By Brad Fullmer • 01 Mar, 2024
Work continues to grind forward on the mammoth new Salt Lake City Water Reclamation Facility (WRF)—a critical $850 million project being built by a joint venture of the Salt Lake regional offices of Sundt Construction and PCL Construction that will replace the current facility in North Salt Lake once it's turned over to SLC's Department of Utilities (SLCDPU) in July 2026. As it stands, this is the second-largest project in City history, trailing only the recent $2 billion-plus Salt Lake International Airport Redevelopment (Phases 3-4 ongoing), and one of the most technically challenging projects in the state. "We are up for the challenge every day—the magnitude of this thing is unreal," said Manny Diaz, Project Manager for Salt Lake-based Sundt, as he drove around the massive 30-acre site in late-January, a worksite teeming with 300 current employees (it will peak at 400 workers this summer) and myriad complicated structures being built simultaneously. Diaz is a long-time veteran of the water reclamation facility industry—this project marks plant No. 26 in his own personal history—and he was brought in a year ago by Sundt because of his expertise. When he arrived in Salt Lake at the beginning of last year, it was right smack dab in the middle of what proved to be a record-breaking year for snowfall. "It was quite a welcome to Utah!" Diaz chuckled. "We keep very close tabs on the weather." And while crews haven't been subjected to the same inclement weather this winter, site conditions are still generally wet and muddy, and the difficulties associated with building the various structures are constant. Crews are nearing the halfway mark, so certainly it's a milestone worth acknowledging, even though a mountain of construction is still left to climb. "It's such a huge accomplishment to be this far," said Jason Brown, Deputy Director of Public Utilities for SLC. "We've faced a lot of challenges, Covid, material shortages [...] it's amazing to be part of a team that works so well together. We still have a long way to go, but we'll get there. We've made a lot of progress and should be proud, but it's hard to celebrate success with so much work still ahead." Diaz, along with PCL Project Manager Shayne Waldron, said crews recently achieved a major milestone: one million hours worked, a notable accomplishment. “Achieving the ‘one million hours worked’ milestone is a testament to the coordination and collaboration required of a project this size," said Brown, adding that the new WRF project benefits from regular and ongoing staff collaboration, under the watch of Sundt/PCL, designers AECOM and Jacobs, and SLCDPU leadership. “This [milestone] is the culmination of many different efforts,” added Mauricio Ramos, District Manager for PCL’s Civil Infrastructure Division. “From local engineers to pipe layers, journeymen, construction trade workers, foremen, and general laborers, every team member has been instrumental in reaching this benchmark. The collaboration between PCL and Sundt has been a testament to our shared commitment to excellence and innovation.” "Our crews are working together seamlessly to ensure that the final product meets the goals and needs of the community," said Sam Reidy, Senior VP and District Manager for Sundt. "Celebrating this milestone recognizes the hard work and commitment each member of the project team has made to this project and the Sundt/PCL partnership." Diaz and Waldron said soil conditions challenged the team right out of the gate and took significant time to stabilize the site. "At the very beginning, the project was designed to be built on top of where the sludge beds were at, but it turns out the sludge beds were on shaky ground," said Diaz. "This whole area is young in age, so it's all soft clays and sands," added Waldron. "Soft clays are compressible, so the big issue is settling. It would have [cost] $80 million in piles to shore it up, and then in between buildings you have all the pipe and utility duct banks, so they would almost need to be built on piles." Waldron said the idea came up to pre-load the whole site, where crews built a flat pad, installed wick drains, then pre-loaded 30 ft. of dirt, with drains going down 125 feet and providing a way for water to be pushed out of the clay. "We had over seven feet of settlement," said Waldron. Crews also set up sophisticated monitoring equipment "to see where ground was settling and what layers were compressing the most. It was really scientific—a lot more than I've seen before." Diaz said it took six months to haul in the fill dirt where it remained in place for eight months, then took another six months to excavate out—close to one million yards of total material. It was an exhaustive process, with an average of 400 trucks per day and close to 500 trucks hauling 18,000 tons on the best day. Having a cohesive, highly collaborative team of designers and construction experts has been a boon to the project schedule. Once completed, Salt Lake City’s new WRF will serve over 200,000 residents as well as those who commute downtown to work or visit Utah's capital. It will replace the City’s current—and only—wastewater treatment facility, which is over 55 years old and near the end of its service life. Maintaining reliable operations at the existing facility while constructing the new WRF nearby has been critical for the project’s success. Since breaking ground in 2019, the project team has completed approximately 65% of structural concrete work as well as soil mitigation, deep foundation work, and the installation of underground utilities. In late January crews began excavating dual 63-in. diameter pipelines, along with a 78-in. effluent pipe that is being hauled one giant piece at a time from Canada, a new type of corrugated HDPE with welded joints that should provide greater durability. All in all, crews will ultimately pour 93,000 CY of concrete and install 22 million pounds of reinforcing steel, along with 89,000 LF of underground pipe ranging in diameter from 1.5-in. to 78-in. "The camaraderie among the team members allows for a very cohesive team," said Diaz. "The only way you can tell who works for who is by the color of the truck. We have a 'one project' mentality. The complexity of the job and being trusted to lead this effort [...] have been [important] for me. It's been a great job so far." Diaz, who said his first wastewater treatment plant was in North Miami Beach in the late 80s right after he graduated from college, hopes to remain in Utah once this job is completed and turned over to the client by mid-2026. “I plan on staying here and continue to work on treatment plants in Utah,” he said. “There’s a lot of work here. We have vast experience, and we have a lot of people who want to be in Utah—it’s a great place to live. Let’s do it!”

Let the Good Times Roll

By Brad Fullmer • 01 Mar, 2024
It's been more than 45 years (1978) since The Cars released their debut album highlighted by the wildly popular song Good Times Roll, but if there was ever a tune to sum up the general sentiment of local A/E/C professionals regarding Utah's 2024 Economic Outlook, Good Times Roll would be up there. "Our members are expecting another good year," said Joey Gilbert, President/CEO of the 650-member Associated General Contractors (AGC) of Utah. "For our contractors in both the building and highway markets, the outlook is good. Many still have decent backlogs to keep them busy through 2024 and in some cases, even 2025. The public sector is strong, and on the private side, owners are still investing in some big projects." Robert Spendlove, Chief Economist for Salt Lake-based Zions Bank, reported at the AGC's Economic Outlook meeting last November that commercial construction was up 1.6%, while Utah as a whole reported 2.5% growth overall, and believes both will continue to fare well in 2024. "Utah also has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the U.S. [2.5%]; when it gets too low, you get real struggles of labor shortages," he said. "It prevents companies from growing and is one of those defining economic characteristics of this past cycle. If we get above 4-5% we get nervous that it's a sign of a recessionary environment." Spendlove said tailwinds include strong consumer spending, a strong labor market, and an overall robust economic Intermountain West region, while headwinds could include a lack of new workers, government shutdowns, energy prices, and international uncertainty. Another bonus is that Utah remains one of the strongest states economically, regardless of what is happening nationally. "I would say uncomfortably optimistic," countered Dejan Eskic, Senior Research Fellow for the Kem Gardner Policy Institute at the University of Utah, citing a number of factors potentially slowing down the design and construction industry such as housing, labor, and material price fluctuations—basically the same post-Covid headwinds Utah-based firms have been battling the past couple of years. "On paper, we should have a decent economic year in Utah. Because it's an election year, it brings more optimism generally. Stock performance does better in an election year, jobs do better. You have to stick to those basics. Eskic has been with the Gardner Institute for eight years, including the past five in his current role, explained that some of the uncomfortableness facing the local economy stems from having virtually no labor pool in certain segments, including construction—which continues to face a dearth of skilled craftsmen in virtually all subcontractor trades. "We still have red flags," he said, noting concerns with still-high housing costs. "Maybe it's too early to call if we've cracked inflation. 2023 ended up way better than anybody expected—it was supposed to be a recession year, but the recession never came, and the labor market exceeded expectations. "I'm bullish on Utah," he added. "I look at the numbers and how we're going, and we're in a very strong growth pattern with the economy. Things will continue to expand." Indeed, despite nasty rising interest rates that put the brakes on some speculative development projects, Utah-based owners continued to plow ahead on projects, and by-and-large most market segments continued to see a healthy amount of activity as firms set about tackling healthy project backlogs.

Building Blocks

By Reuben Wright • 01 Mar, 2024
Crews working on bridge sections of the project did the majority of heavy-lifting—as seen with these giant cranes lifting heavy girders—during the wee hours of the night, part of UDOT’s expectations of keeping traffic moving by limiting road closures. (night photos by Kjell Gerber, BuildWitt)

Heart of a New City

By Brad Fullmer • 01 Mar, 2024
It's been a long time coming for elected officials and the citizens of Millcreek City, but their beloved $45 million, nearly 80,000 SF City Hall is finally complete, ending a lengthy five-year process that tested all parties involved but produced an awe-inspiring six-story building that will serve as the public heart of this rising community southeast of downtown Salt Lake. "It's awesome!" gushed Jeff Silvestrini, in reference to his view as he peered out across the Salt Lake Valley from his fourth-floor corner office, with captivating views via a complex glass curtain wall system highlighted with an intricate, highly functional screen shade. As the only mayor Millcreek City has known during its brief seven-year existence (it was incorporated Dec. 28, 2016), Silvestrini was recently re-elected for another four-year term (he ran unopposed) and has been a driving force behind this new project. "I could see this [view] was going to be amazing when I climbed up the crane when the concrete structure was going up. Standing on the exposed sixth floor before the curtain wall went up, I was humbled at this monumental undertaking for a new city. What we do as a city government is serve the people. We can serve the people much better in a facility like this." Unique Municipal Design Fosters Public Engagement with a "Downtown" Feel Millcreek City Hall builds upon the momentum created by the adjacent Millcreek Common to the east (opened in December 2022) to create an actual "Downtown" or "City Center" space at the bustling area of 3300 South between 1300 East and Highland Drive, which includes a host of exciting new nearby multi-family and mixed-use developments under construction. The project leverages a public-private partnership (PPP) with a local developer on an adjacent shared parking garage, along with the much-needed residential housing. Silvestrini said City leaders "did not contemplate putting City Hall here" initially, but public feedback made it clear residents wanted a downtown area to call their own. Millcreek Common—replete with an ice ribbon, splash pad, and room for food trucks—was planned as a public plaza space and has been wildly popular since its completion in late 2022. Residents also wanted City Hall to have real spaces for the public, not just a strictly-government facility, which provided exciting design opportunities for Salt Lake-based MHTN Architects, which initially worked with City officials in 2017-18 on a City Center Master Plan, which came about via a grant through the Wasatch Front Regional Council, according to Ryan Wallace, Principal-in-Charge for MHTN. "It's located roughly in the geographic center of the community and easily accessed by vehicle, transit, and active transportation—it's something that can unite the community," said Wallace. "The client has created four projects in one," aided by a vertical building mixed-use approach on the narrow footprint, a key to allowing optimum future adjacent development. "We realized early on that there was an opportunity to build a true civic center," added Silvestrini. "The more we thought about it, the more it made sense." The commitment to having a true community building is evident on the first floor, which includes a coffee house, a restaurant, and a flex public market with rotating businesses. "[City leaders] wanted an activating ground floor use that would support their idea of a downtown," said Wallace. "They didn't want City Hall to only be active 8-to-5 and then a dead zone at night." City officials and MHTN staff also drew inspiration on a tour of the new City Hall in Lenexa, Kansas, which includes adjacent common space and a ground floor retail/public market. "Everyone seemed to be thinking on the same wavelength," said Peggy McDonough, MHTN President who served as Project Executive on Millcreek City Hall. "We all felt like this was a completely unique project, unlike any other city hall that we've been a part of, and the second that has a market level. It's being looked at as an example of good development." While level 1 is sure to be a hit with Millcreek residents and visitors over time, levels 2 through 5 showcase the versatility and functionality of the project, with all essential government functions for Millcreek City, along with Unified Police and Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). Unified Police is housed on level 2 and utilizes a one-level sally port/private garage under the building (another bonus of the PPP parking garage). Millcreek City is housed on levels 3-5, with the top floor—level 6—serving as prime community space highlighted by the Grandview community room and its opulent Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) roof that evokes a natural warmth throughout the space.

AIA Utah 2024

By Fran Pruyn • 01 Mar, 2024
For the first time in its 103-year history, The Utah Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA Utah) has a fully female executive leadership team. It wasn’t intentional, as Past-President Jessica Hoffman stated, “That is who stepped up.” And more importantly, these women have an aggressive plan for serving the entire, very diverse, association. "I'm very excited—we have a great team!" said Chamonix Larsen, Salt Lake City/Denver Department Manager for Morrison Hirschfield, who will serve as 2024 President. "They are all very passionate about what they do, and how architecture can make positive changes in our community." AIA Utah also has a new Executive Director, with Angie Harris Roberts coming on board last spring in a part-time role that transitioned to full-time in October. She is charged with overseeing industry legislation and streamlining AIA services such as providing standard contract documents, sponsoring educational events, and hosting conferences that communicate new design ideas, technologies, and initiatives. Larsen has targeted adding value to members and increasing public outreach scope as her focus for the upcoming year. One particularly exciting (and needed) project proposes a mentorship program that utilizes the talents of the AIA fellows and partnering organizations. The staff and board have applied for a grant and approached local firms for matching funds to build a long-term, multi-generational program, that assists mentees to achieve licensure faster and stay in the profession. Working through the Young Architects Forum and the American Institute of Architects Students, the program will enlist the talents of Utah AIA Fellows, the National Organization of Minority Architects, and Women in Architecture, connecting seasoned architects with emerging professionals. They will answer questions and give guidance and counsel on matters ranging beyond making design decisions and locating answers to technical questions, to how to craft career paths and find professional satisfaction. "We've been through some changes, and having a new executive director is exciting as well," added Larsen. "Coming out of the pandemic, it's been about reconnecting with everybody and improving our organizational excellence. It's important to me that we run as efficiently as possible, given that we rely on volunteers. We have an opportunity to dive into what firms need, and how we can better serve our members." Larsen addressed staffing, having access to quality talent, and attracting more skilled architects to the state as key topics. The outlook for Utah remains solid, she said, albeit with some tempered expectations in some markets (multi-family, industrial) which may see projects put on hold until interest rates soften. Utah's continued growth, steady economy, and the prospect of another Salt Lake Winter Olympics raises optimism for the foreseeable future. Leadership is also committed to helping sister organizations with programs aimed at stimulating interest in architecture from outside the industry and providing a pipeline of talent from a diversity of backgrounds into the industry. This includes encouraging programs in elementary schools to educate children about the role of architecture in a community, collaborating on youth mentoring events, and fostering NOMA’s effort to bring architects from underrepresented groups into the College of Fellows. 2024 AIA Utah Leadership President – Chamonix Larsen, AIA is an experienced architect with a diverse professional background with 20+ years of experience including building envelope consulting, architectural design, technical design lead, project management, owner’s representative, and commissioning authority. She joined Morrison Hershfield’s Building Science Division in 2017 and manages building envelope consulting teams in Salt Lake and Denver. While at the State of Utah, Larsen oversaw the development and implementation of the DFCM's High Performance Building Standard and state-wide operational sustainability efforts. She is also an adjunct professor at the University of Utah College of Architecture and Planning. President Elect – Whitney Ward, AIA, LEED AP is a Principal at Salt Lake-based VCBO Architecture and has been with the firm since 2007. Ward embraces a holistic design approach and is an advocate for both community engagement and sustainable design. She also teaches Sustainable Development as an Adjunct Professor with the University of Utah City and Metropolitan Planning Department. Secretary – Natalie Shutts-Bank, AIA, RIBA is an experienced architect who thrives when navigating between the vastness of all creative possibilities and the real-world constraints of any design problem. She has worked multiple design typologies at a range of scales on higher education, civic, hospitality, healthcare, and large-scale residential projects. Treasurer – Libby Haslam, AIA, RIBA, LEED AP, NCARB is the founder of Studio Long Playing, an architectural firm that practices many typologies of spaces. The firm’s current focus is on higher education. Studio LP is also engaged in restaurant design and residential work, with the intent for collaboration with different artisans and art forms. She has been teaching studio as an Associate Professor (career-line) at the University of Utah School of Architecture since graduating from the U in 2001For the first time in its 103-year history, The Utah Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA Utah) has a fully female executive leadership team. It wasn’t intentional, as Past-President Jessica Hoffman stated, “That is who stepped up.” And more importantly, these women have an aggressive plan for serving the entire, very diverse, association. "I'm very excited—we have a great team!" said Chamonix Larsen, Salt Lake City/Denver Department Manager for Morrison Hirschfield, who will serve as 2024 President. "They are all very passionate about what they do, and how architecture can make positive changes in our community."

CFC Supply 25th Anniversary

By LADD MARSHALL • 30 Nov, 2023
(left to right) Gene and Sue Larsen, their son Blake, and his wife, JaLynn, at the CFC Supply Christmas Party, made extra special this year with the firm’s 25th anniversary. (photos courtesy CFC)

The Real Business Never Changes

By Taylor Larsen • 30 Nov, 2023

UMC Announces 2023 Excellence in Masonry Awards

By Brad Fullmer • 30 Nov, 2023
Commercial Project--Honor 95 State at City Creek

High-tech Hexcel-lence

By B. H. Wright • 30 Nov, 2023
The days of the commercial industrial market consisting primarily of boring, staid (read: ugly) warehouse and manufacturing buildings are long gone, as employee-conscious corporations and forward-thinking real estate developers have been realizing the value of housing employees in spaces that sizzle with stylish interior designs with loads of on-site amenities. Hexcel Corporation did just that with the design of its most significant recent project in West Valley City, a $34 million, 105,000-SF facility dubbed the Center of Research & Technology Excellence, which includes the largest high-performance carbon fiber manufacturing plant in the world, along with housing Hexcel's aerospace matrix operations. The center is "designed to encourage and inspire our team to dream big and ensure that our customers are awarded the strongest, lightest weight, most durable advanced composites that the world has ever seen," said Nick Stanage, Hexcel Chairman, CEO and President. He said that when the Center opens, “you will be surrounded by everything it means to be a leader in advanced composites technology. You will see high-tech labs and cutting-edge research and testing equipment. Our lobby will showcase advancements and innovations that are propelling the future in commercial aerospace, space and defense, and industrial markets.” Sharp aesthetics and providing optimum working conditions are a must for employers in a market with a current state unemployment average hovering just over 2% and in a society where the workforce is increasingly opting to work remote (at home) either full-time, or with a hybrid/flex schedule. The primary objective of the facility is to serve as a catalyst for research and development in advanced composite technology, with a specific focus on aerospace, space, defense, and industrial applications. According to Mike Phillips, VP of Project Development at R&O Construction's Salt Lake office, the fast-track design-build seamlessly blended a tilt-up laboratory with a two-story Class A office building, illustrating the owner's attention to high quality and optimum design. "The entire team was focused on schedule and cost throughout the process, while meeting owner's requirements and needs. It was a very successful project." The facility's design transcends conventional manufacturing and research spaces. Instead of a stark separation between these functions, the building integrates both—fostering an environment where scientists and production personnel can collaborate seamlessly. This approach underscores Hexcel's commitment to innovation and how diverse functions can coexist within the same space. One of the project's most noteworthy contributions lies in its commitment to sustainability. Hexcel actively recycles carbon fiber prepreg composite cutoffs to produce composite panels that find applications in commercial markets. By upcycling and repurposing materials, the project demonstrates a forward-thinking approach to resource utilization and waste reduction. In a resourceful move, the tilt panels were utilized as the crane path to avoid potential soil issues. This approach was executed after thorough consultation with engineers, resulting in a seamless process with all panels standing within a short timeframe, without any compromise to structural integrity or aesthetic appeal. Exterior Trespa panels were strategically oriented to create a dynamic carbon checkerboard pattern, aligning with the aesthetic of Hexcel's innovative products. This deliberate choice not only showcases a visually striking design element but also reflects the company's commitment to excellence in composite materials. Tilt-up panels underwent a meticulous sandblasting process to enhance their carbon-like appearance. This technique, applied after curing and installation, contributes to the overall visual effect and reinforces the project's dedication to craftsmanship.
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