100 Years & Five Generations

Celebrating its centennial anniversary this year, Paulsen Construction has quadrupled revenues over the past decade, with sights on a prosperous future and the eventual passing of the torch to a fifth generation in the Paulsen family.
By Brad Fullmer

Paul founded Paulsen Construction in 1925 after immigrating from Norway 16 years prior.  Sprague Library in Sugar House was originally built by Paul, and then restored nearly 100 years later, led by current President John Paulsen.

Over the course of 100 years in the construction industry, Salt Lake-based Paulsen Construction has navigated through myriad ups and downs while developing a rock-solid reputation over multiple generations as a general contractor willing to take on difficult projects that other firms may not have the gumption to tackle. 


As the company celebrates hitting the historic—and highly coveted— century mark this year, it finds itself in an enviable position with record annual revenues the past three straight years, a string of successful, high-profile public and private projects in the past decade, and a fifth generation of Paulsen’s in line to ultimately take over the reins from John Paulsen, President of the 40-person company since 2010.


“We’re doing some really great things, but we’re always going to be judged on the last project we did, or how good our trade partners are,” said John, 56. “Our focus is always on customer service and satisfaction—it has to be maintained from start to finish on every project.” 


Paulsen Construction has seen revenues spike more than five-fold since 2014, from $11 million in 2014 to a projected $60 million this year. The growth has been fueled by a combination of hiring the right people and expanding its reach into multiple building markets. 


The company has long been renowned for its work on historical restoration projects, particularly under the direction of Craig Paulsen, John’s father and the third-generation leader of the company for 35 years, who served as President from 1976 to 2010. Both Craig and John admit to being construction “lifers” and remember being on jobsites and doing “gopher” work as early as they can remember. 



“We were all really good at construction—it’s true,” said Craig, 78, whose career spans six decades and dates back to projects like Gold Miner’s Daughter lodge at Alta Ski Resort in 1966, his first job as a Project Manager at age 19. “That was the first job I had on my own. I remember pouring foundation walls on August 23, and it was snowing cats and dogs.”

Three generations of Paulsen’s are pictured: (left to right) Craig, the third-generation leader from 1976-2010; John, current President (since 2010); Steiner, who along with brother Jorgen (not pictured) represent the fifth generation of the Paulsen family. 

Paul Paulsen Set Tone of Hard Work, Determination for All Paulsen Generations


Paul Paulsen was a brawny, hardworking fisherman who grew up in a remote village in the Lofoten Islands, an archipelago located above the Arctic Circle in Norway. Craig described his grandfather as “a big Norwegian” who had strong hands and knew how to use them. Paul joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and moved to Utah in 1909 in hopes of a better life. 


Paul landed work as a millwright at Fetzer’s, a woodworking company (now Fetzer’s Architectural Woodwork) founded in Salt Lake City by German immigrant Kasper Fetzer in 1909. Paul also spent time during that period working for Morrison-Merrill Lumber before building projects on his own in 1919. By 1925, he had founded Paulsen Construction. He mainly focused on smaller commercial projects in the downtown Salt Lake area, building two- and three-story masonry apartment buildings and earning a reputation as an honest, reputable contractor. Sprague Library in Sugar House—originally built in 1928—is one of Paul’s notable projects, and a building that Paulsen Construction later restored in 2021. 


Paul was ambitious and unafraid to take on projects that fell outside his traditional skill set. As an example, John said his great-grandfather led the charge on building SR-92 (originally SR-80) through American Fork Canyon in 1935, a Herculean feat at the time, especially since constructing with heavy equipment like bulldozers was still a developing concept. 


The can-do attitude of being willing to build anything—no matter how difficult or risky—ultimately became the company’s hallmark. 


“Not everybody has an interest in building really difficult projects,” said John. “But that’s been our forte forever. I’ve always said Paulsen Construction is willing to do the work that nobody else will.” 


Paul had four sons, with Byron ultimately taking over as the second-generation President in the early 1950s. 


Under Byron’s watch, Paulsen became a leading general contractor in the state, one capable of building large, high-profile projects. John said his grandfather shrewdly developed strong relationships with leaders from the State of Utah’s building program, along with the LDS Church, which led to significant work at Brigham Young University. 


Byron had Craig working by age 8; he recalls working on Highland High School, which finished in 1956. Byron also ran ACME Crane (a company started by Paul), which Craig said opened the door into the tilt-up concrete market. 


“My father did [mostly] large commercial work, and he was successful over many years,” said Craig. “When I was first running jobs (late 60s/early 70s), we did a lot of tilt up concrete because we had the cranes.”


John cited the Farnsworth Peak Broadcast Tower project—on top of the rugged Oquirrh Mountains—as one of the most challenging jobs under Byron’s watch. It required the construction of seven towers to support a used tramway for easier access from the west slope. As crews were pulling up the last cable via an old World War II Jeep, it lost connection and slid a mile or so down the mountain, wreaking havoc on anything in its path.


“It was a disaster, but they got it fixed, eventually. We seem to get involved in really complex projects,” John chuckled. “They’re always one-offs. They’re important projects with a lot of inherent risk. That’s what we’re known for.” 


Craig attended the University of Utah (U of U) and studied architecture, fine art, and geology, but pivoted back to construction simply because that’s what he felt he knew best, in addition to being what he truly loved. But his interest in design is evident in his passion for historical restoration and renovation, and Paulsen has completed dozens of unique projects in that arena over 50-plus years. 


“It’s in our blood,” said Craig of the construction profession. “It’s nothing I wanted to aspire to be growing up—anything but that. But in the end, it came naturally. Throughout my life, I’ve enjoyed working hard. My heart was in historic structures; I was more interested in that than large volume projects like my father built.” 


Craig became the heir to the keys of the company—the only one of Byron’s seven children to pursue a career in construction—taking over as President in 1976. Byron remained firmly involved with day-to-day activities through 1990, even serving as President (now Chairman) of the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of Utah in 1984. Byron sadly passed away from Leukemia in 1991, less than a year after retiring. 


Under Craig’s leadership, the company began pursuing heavy/civil projects, particularly wastewater treatment plants—a savvy business move to counter brutal economic conditions and 20% interest rates in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Constructing wastewater plants was no picnic, but it kept the doors open. 



“Work was hard to come by, unless you were willing to work for nothing,” Craig recalled of that period. “We had to be adept to figure out what kind of project we could do and make a living. That’s why I got into the wastewater market—they were profitable jobs. They are not ideal projects to build, but we made good money.”

Paulsen recently completed the replacement of the rooftop at the Salt Lake City Main Library

Like Father, Like Son—x 4

Working in the field at a young age—a very young age at that—was a Paulsen tradition for at least three generations, as Byron, Craig, and John all can stake a claim to working with their respective fathers around eight years old on. It’s just what you did as a Paulsen. 


John was running projects by the time he graduated from North Sanpete High in 1987. Like Craig, he has experience across virtually every major building market, with a genuine passion and specialty in renovations and restorations.


“John has significant expertise because he worked with me for so long and did a lot of historic work, plus he’s also more adept at today’s ways of doing business,” said Craig.


In addition to Sprague Library, John said the company renovated a McCune daughter house at 235 A Street in Salt Lake City, with both projects originally built by Paul nearly 100 years prior. Sprague was one of the most unique projects John has ever seen, and certainly tested the company’s construction chops. 


“It was definitely sentimental that a previous family member built it—there was a lot of motivation within our firm,” said John. “In this city, 100-year-old buildings are just torn down. The library has been such an iconic piece to Salt Lake City. To be a part of this project, knowing it will be around another 100 years, is special.” 


One of the most meaningful projects the firm has restored—at least in Craig’s mind—is the transformation of Spring City’s “Old School” (originally built in 1899) into the Spring City Community Center. Craig moved his family to Sanpete County in 1983 and is personally responsible for the restoration of more than 100 buildings in the city of 1,100. 


Bringing in a “Right-Hand Man” Spurs Diversity, Revenue Growth

Finding work through difficult economic periods is another hallmark of the firm, and something John learned well from Craig. The company made it through the 2008 recession by identifying unique opportunities to ply their craft. That included creating a separate seismic rehabilitation company in 2007, John said, that focused on K-12 MEP upgrades, along with doing work for the NSA, Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District, and other public entities. 


John was named President in 2010 and trudged through four years of trying to do too much before ultimately bringing in Harold Saunders as Business Development Director in November 2014. That role has morphed over a decade into more of a “right-hand man” role, with Paulsen and Saunders strategically pursuing considerable work in the public sector. The company has been rewarded with several notable projects since 2015, including: 


—Seven new fire stations in Utah for municipal clients, including West Valley City (three stations) and Midvale.

—A $13 million GSA Consolidation that included the renovation of six floors of the eight-story, federally-owned Wallace F. Bennett Building in Salt Lake City. 

—Two new UTA TRAX Stations—600 South Station  in Salt Lake and South Jordan Downtown in South Jordan. The latter opened in March, a Bo Jackson laser throw from the new Salt Lake Bees Stadium and Downtown Daybreak’s entertainment complex.

—A $5 million renovation Salt Lake City Main Library rooftop terrace (completed in May 2025);

—A new $20 million Antelope Island Visitors Center for the State of Utah DFCM (November 2025 completion).

—Two historic restoration projects in Yellowstone—a $23 million Laurel Dorms rehab in Wyoming and a $20 million renovation of Fort Yellowstone in Montana. 


“When John took over the company, there was a shift in direction,” said Saunders, a 30-plus year construction veteran.


“We’ve grown strategically, not just by dollar volume. The size of our projects has gotten larger. When I started, we were doing $4-5 million jobs. That’s why John brought me in—he wanted to get the company back to where it was in the late 80s/early 90s and pursuing $15-20 million projects.” 

The Midvale Fire Station project showcases the firm’s commitment to building quality municipal projects.  (photo courtesy ajc architects, by Alan Blakely photography)

Training Up the Fifth Generation 

Two of John’s three sons—Steiner (age 30) and Jorgen (27)—are being primed to one day take over the family business as the fifth generation of Paulsen Construction leaders. Steiner earned a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering from the U of U in 2017, while Jorgen earned a Bachelor of Marketing from the U of U in 2020. Both started “officially” working at Paulsen by age 15, but have been around jobsites for as long as they can recall, particularly tagging along with Grandpa Craig on old Spring City home projects.


“I was officially on the payroll at 15, but I feel like I’ve been working on house projects and going to jobsites my whole life,” said Steiner, currently a Project Manager with a half dozen projects on his plate. “I definitely remember going down in some nasty, dusty basements on old house projects,” he said. “[Grandpa] has always been very hands-on—he liked to do the work. He taught me some good skills.” 


Jorgen’s path has been a little more circuitous, he admits, and considerably more challenging due to a serious scooter accident last summer that left him in a coma with a traumatic brain injury for six days and in the hospital for two months.


At the time, doctors said he may not live, and if he did, his mobility would be impacted, among other potential long-term complications. Somewhat miraculously, he’s fully recovered—and says he feels better than ever. Mostly, he appreciates where he’s at and the opportunity to contribute to the family’s construction legacy. 


“Going through an experience like that really opened my eyes to what I have in my life, and I want to be part of the next generation,” said Jorgen, who is currently a Project Coordinator on the Laurel Dorms in Yellowstone. “I’m learning a lot about myself, about construction, about historic renovation. It’s been a big learning curve, but I’ve learned a lot.” 


The significance of seeing his grandsons earning their wings is not lost on Craig. 


“I think it’s just super,” he said of Steiner and Jorgen. “The business is not getting any easier, but I’m proud of them.”



“When you instill trust with somebody, put them in charge of a particular aspect of a project; it gives them skin in the game, as opposed to punching a clock,” added Saunders. “They’re doing a great job and it’s rewarding for John, and for Craig, to see them grow.”

The 650 South Trax Station illustrates Paulsen’s ability to take on difficult projects in unique building markets. 

Onward and Upward 

When Saunders came aboard near the end of 2014, Paulsen Construction was wrapping up an $11 million year—good, but not great. Via Saunders’ proposals, the company made the shortlist on the first seven projects submitted, and he’s had free rein since to pursue anything he feels fits Paulsen’s skill set. The company expects to top $50 million this year, and $60 million in 2026.


Having worked for much larger firms in the past, Saunders appreciates being at a mid-sized, family-owned company—one that genuinely appreciates his efforts—something he felt was lacking at previous stops along his career path. 


“It’s nice to find your niche in a family-owned company,” said Saunders. “You’re acknowledged for doing a good job, and you have more opportunities to show what you can do, rather than just being a number. John and I are like best friends—that’s an anomaly in any business, much less construction.” 


“It’s great to be a part of a family and group where stories are told,” said John. “The stories are the projects we build. When you look back on certain periods, there is always a story tied to the project you’re working on. That’s what makes the connection and fosters the camaraderie between people, and it makes our jobs worthwhile. It’s about remembering the people, the supers, the subs; all the partnerships we had along the way. The rewarding part is we’re leaving behind an amazing legacy.” 


“It's so rare that a company would last that long with family ownership,” added Craig. “It does my heart good.”

Craig Paulsen continues to work on projects in his adopted hometown of Spring City, having restored more than 100 buildings in the small Sanpete County town, including the “Old School” that was originally built in 1899 and restored as the Spring City Community Center in 2017. (photo by Dana Sohm, Sohm Photography)


Top Paulsen Construction Projects 

Project: Location, Year Completed

Sprague Library Renovation: Salt Lake City,1928; 2021

Highland High School: Salt Lake City, 1956

BYU School of Law: Provo,1972

LDS Missionary Training Center: Provo, 1976

Devereaux House Restoration: Salt Lake City, 1983       ?

Butch Cassidy Home: Circleville, 2016

Spring City Community Center: Spring City, 2017

Midvale Fire Station: Midvale, 2023 

UTA TRAX Stations: SLC; South Jordan, 2023; 2025 

Salt Lake Library Roof Replacement: Salt Lake City, 2025

Antelope Island Visitors Center: Antelope Island, 2025

Q&A with Nathan Goodrich

By UC&D • August 1, 2025
Nathan Goodrich

State of Industry; State of Progress

By Utah C&D • August 1, 2025
West Valley City Veteran’s Memorial Expansion Owner: West Valley City Architect: EDA Architects GC: Okland Construction Estimated Completion Date: September 2025

Showroom Showstopper

By Taylor Larsen • August 1, 2025
Commercial office is not dead. The market is alive and well, according to the design pros at HB Workplaces team. Their new office and showroom in Draper, and what it has done for employees and clients, is a case in point. All it took was a change in scenery. Transitioning from the B'Nai Israel Temple, built in 1890, to a new space was a welcome change for the team. "I just remember working between 2015 and 2020, and it was just," Keilian Meyer trailed off as he described the former office, a historic religious building converted into an office and showroom in 1987. Minimal natural lighting, rooms and layouts misaligned for team needs—their space wasn't bringing out anyone's best work. Meyer, Marketing Director for HB Workplaces, said going to work didn't engender a sense of engagement. "It was kind of punch in and punch out." But everything coalesced with their move. "The timing aligned perfectly," Meyer said of the June 2024 move and their rebrand from the year before from Henriksen/Butler to HB Workplaces. Dual Purposes Come to Life It aligned with every real estate broker's favorite word: location. Planting the HB Workplaces flag in the award-winning Baltic Pointe made perfect sense, especially with its epicenter locale between the booming economies of Salt Lake and Utah counties. HB Workplaces CEO Dave Colling summed it all up succinctly: "Our new headquarters is not just another building; it's a statement of our appreciation and stewardship of design, built upon decades-long heritage of our own, along with MillerKnoll, underscoring our commitment to excellence." The mass timber ceilings in HB Workplaces' first-floor office in Baltic Pointe—the first of their kind for a commercial building in Utah—are part of that commitment. Everything seems warmer, healthier, and better under the all-lumber ceiling. "We've always been drawn to inspiring architecture, and the natural warmth and intentionality of this structure made it a natural fit," said Meyer. HB Workplaces sought to make their mass timber home a showpiece for the beautiful and wide-ranging possibilities of today's commercial interiors, serving as an office for the HB Workplaces team and a showroom for interior designers and architects looking to envision their next project. That dual nature comes through perfectly across the space, with the showroom piece especially highlighted in the "Living Room" and its 382 SF of mid-century modern glory. The unforgettable Eames Lounge chair catches the eye, but closer inspection reveals some nods to the B'Nai Israel Temple's stained glass windows and other homages to the deep histories of the Herman Miller and Knoll brands. The room's mid-century-style lounge chairs, couches, ottomans, and side tables—all MillerKnoll line, of course—combine with gentle lighting to create the perfect spot for hosting. Brit Badger, HB Workplaces' VP of Client Development, explained how the Living Room is ideal for getting to know their design partners and clients, especially for a first meeting. "It's not all the same seating everywhere, like it would be at a conference room," she explained of how the varied seating choices—the Nelson Coconut Lounge Chair is often first dibs—help to create a relaxed and comfortable environment. "It's cool to see who chooses what. It's a fun way to start."

ASCE 2025 Report Card For Utah

By Brad Fullmer • August 1, 2025
Bragging about a “C+” might seem gauche, but Utah is one of only four states to earn that high a grade, according to the May 28 release by the Utah Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) of the 2025 Report Card for Utah’s Infrastructure. The cumulative “C+” for the Beehive State is the highest mark ever given by ASCE to any individual state—the report card itself spans 12 categories of infrastructure and is virtually unchanged from 2020 (ASCE issues report cards every four years). Utah's grade is also one step higher than the national infrastructure average grade of “C” in the ASCE 2025 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure, which dropped in March. Roads (B+) and Bridges (B) remain the stars of the class, as the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) continues to receive consistent state funding in furthering its aggressive program of building new projects to meet ongoing demand, while diligently maintaining existing infrastructure. “Our transit and transportation are doing fabulous," said Anna Lisonbee, President of ASCE Utah and an Engineer-in-Training at South Jordan-based Hansen, Allen & Luce. “UDOT and UTA are lauded as some of the most efficient [organizations] nationwide, so we’re doing very well in that category.” Aviation infrastructure was the only category to see a grade increase—somewhat predictable given the sheer amount of capital investment made over the past decade at Salt Lake International Airport, Provo Airport, and other regional airports statewide. Three categories—bridges, s tormwater, and transit—saw grade decreases. The remaining eight categories held steady from 2020. "Utah is one of the fastest-growing states in the country, and state leaders have taken steps to ensure the reliability of infrastructure systems as more people move here to enjoy Utah's thriving communities, amazing outdoors, and high quality of life," said Craig Friant, Utah Civil Practice Lead for South Jordan-based Wilson & Company and Chair of the 2025 Report Card for Utah's Infrastructure. Utah grades per category: Roads: B+ Bridges: B Drinking Water, Solid Waste, Transit: B- Aviation, Dams, Hazardous Waste: C+ Stormwater, Wastewater: C Canals: D+ Levees: D-

Toward The Promised Land

By Taylor Larsen • August 1, 2025
"What gets you out of Egypt doesn't take you to the promised land." The quote, as I first heard it, came from Ron Dunn, Founder of Salt Lake structural engineering firm Dunn Associates. While he was talking about the differences between founding and growing a company, the same principle holds true in developing a robust transportation infrastructure. In other words: "What got us here will not take us there." What has taken us here has been development dedicated to personal vehicles and last-mile freight—a stellar network of roads and highways from massive investments in horizontal construction. But what will get us "there" to the promised land? What will bring us to a future where Utahns can have the freedom to move without a car? Unified Plan for a Connected Utah? We'll certainly wander in the West Desert without a plan. Lucky us, we have hundreds of agreed-upon proposals across metropolitan planning organizations, cities and towns, counties, and even the Utah Department of Transportation. The Beehive State's guiding document toward long-term transportation plans, whether for cars or not, is found in the Utah Unified Transportation Plan, also known as the Unified Plan. The visionary document aims to prioritize funding across multiple transportation options and give residents choices, ranging from personal vehicles to mass transit and active transportation. Residents and metropolitan planning organizations across the state have added their input to further unify the state's trajectory. Key in Utah's Unified Plan, as documented, is analyzing and ultimately determining how transportation projects in Utah should be funded between 2023 - 2050. With projected needs across that timeline estimated at $153 billion in today's dollars, current revenue sources generating just under a projected $95 billion, and future revenue streams projected to generate just over $18 billion, we're going to be short. But where is that money going? Most often, it's funding roads. According to the Unified Plan, transportation needs from road capacity, maintenance, preservation, and operations project at a whopping $110 billion between 2023 - 2050, with a $29 billion funding gap in revenue. Funding future mass transit capacity ($14.8 billion) and operations ($19.8 billion) over the next 25 years costs a fraction of the projected costs for roads and highways. It's an apples-to-oranges comparison, admittedly, as massive funding for highways and freeways has created so much, but where do state priorities lead? Budget at a Glance Utah continues to tread the asphalt and concrete highway to prioritize highway funding. UDOT's FY2026 funding document shows $2.5 billion in funding. Estimated Transportation Investment Fund (TIF) expenditures, primarily used for improving or optimizing capacity, are projected at $1.2 billion. Within the TIF, Class B & Class C Roads, county roads and city streets, respectively, will receive $261 million, Highway Systems Construction $205 million, and Operations/Maintenance $254 million. It makes sense when $883 million in projected revenue for FY2026 comes from user-based fees, permits, and gas tax revenues (set to be 40 cents per gallon in 2026). On the other hand, UDOT-funded mass transit receives a bulk of its budget from the above-mentioned Transportation Investment Fund—35% of the index fuel tax sales tax goes into the Transit Transportation Investment Fund. For FY2026, transit and commuter rail projects will receive $103 million. John Gleason, UDOT's Sr. Public Information Officer, said there is a major shift happening within UDOT over the last decade-plus to give some "gas" to other forms of transportation. "All transportation is important to us. For every project we undertake, we are looking at the different components across all modes—cars, transit, bikes, trails," Gleason said. "We need to keep an eye on how the entire transportation system can function across the state." The words and shift in priorities are welcome, but what "Keeps Utah Moving", will not be more highway lanes or highway construction that receives the lion's share of transportation funding. Utah highways, like those in so many other states, are the victims of induced demand. The phenomenon is a matter of economics. For vehicle transportation, each lane added, highway developed, or road widened helps to expand capacity on these newly modified transportation corridors. However, expanding capacity does not mean solving traffic concerns. While capacity expands, more people are "induced" to use these freshly expanded corridors, lanes fill back to capacity, and commutes return to their sluggish nature. This never-ending quest to meet our transportation needs is set to play out again on I-15. UDOT is set to add another lane on I-15 from Farmington to Salt Lake, and do so at a multi-billion-dollar price tag. Surely this lane will be "The One" that fixes the traffic problem on Utah's busiest transit corridor? Utah may still be adjusting to roundabouts, but will we ever get out of this circle?

Limitless Sky

By Brad Fullmer • August 1, 2025
Standing atop the now-tallest building in Utah—the dynamic 451-foot, 680,000-SF Astra Tower in downtown Salt Lake City—Lance Shields was succinct in describing the otherworldly, 360-degree views available from the 41st-floor rooftop patio. “Pretty amazing, isn’t it?” mused Shields, a Principal with Salt Lake-based HKS Architects and one of a half-dozen architects on HKS’ team who contributed to the design of Astra Tower, which features 377 total units, two levels of penthouse suites, and more than 40,000-SF of top-shelf amenity space. Peering southeast to majestic views of the Wasatch Mountains, Shields referenced the striking cantilever structure gracing the building’s southeast corner—a concession that preserved the breathtaking view by eliminating what would have been a structural column. Adding this approximately $2 million change to the bottom line only further illustrated the owner’s desire for a world-class luxury apartment tower. “The uninterrupted views of the valley are really breathtaking at the top floor and is the one thing that visitors I have taken through the project consistently comment on as the best experience they have had,” said Shields, adding that it would have been easy to justify a column in that corner. “I have to hand it to the vision of our team and the owner to see the value of the views and taking steps to preserve it.” Indeed, Boston-headquartered Kensington Investment Company (KIC) had been eyeing the Salt Lake market since 2017, ready to make a splash. In 2018, it purchased the site once home to Carl’s Jr. and hired HKS in 2019 to get the ball rolling on the design side. The pandemic forced KIC to pause its timeline, with construction formally kicking off in January 2022, led by Salt Lake-based Jacobsen Construction. “We were taking an enormous risk and writing a massive check while making sure we had as many people with experience on our team as we practically could,” said Ed Lewis, CEO of KIC. “We asked ourselves if Salt Lake City was ready for this kind of product—with no [like-building comparisons] to look to—while making the project financially successful. Putting together the capital stack with no comps in the state, and ensuring the team knew what they were doing, was challenging.” Engagement with the community was a priority from the start, said Shane Rensmon, President of Real Estate Development for KIC, as was finding local A/E/C firms with the moxie to take on a unique hybrid design-build project of this magnitude, a delivery method “not common in Salt Lake City, but common across major markets,” he said. “Ownership wanted to utilize local consultants and vendors as much as possible to get the community involved and engaged with the project, which presented new challenges in designing and constructing Astra Tower,” said Rensmon. “We leveraged [KIC’s] skills and experiences to help guide the design and construction teams on issues that they have not seen before or had little to no experience in.” Hotel-like Vibe with Unmatched Amenities Emir Tursic is no stranger to massive projects, having cut his teeth in the hospitality realm as a draftsman-turned-project architect for HKS on Block A of the enormous $10 billion MGM City Center project in Las Vegas from 2007-2008, which included the 61-story, 600,000-SF Aria Hotel. “It was a project I grew up very quickly with,” recalled Tursic, Office Director for HKS’ Salt Lake office, who ended up managing part of the project before it ended. “After this, I could go to the moon and not be scared of anything.” Even amidst the challenges for Tursic and his team, Astra Tower proved to be one of the most exciting, generational opportunities in the realm of world-class residential high-rise design that—ho-hum—also sets a record as the state’s tallest-ever building. “We wanted to create a sustainable urban community that focuses on wellness and sustainability,” said Tursic. “Sustainability is not just about energy and carbon footprint, it’s also [about] health and wellness and the environment. We have this huge amenity program—40,000 SF of indoor and outdoor amenities space focused on physical and mental health.” Tursic said dispersing major amenities across three building levels was a key functional design consideration. Level 8 kicks things off with an expansive club lounge that includes a demonstration kitchen and entertainment area, a state-of-the-art fitness center where views overlook Gallivan Plaza, a remote office space with a conference room and meeting rooms, and what Tursic calls “The bonus space”—an expansive 10,000 SF outdoor urban park. “Instead of a roof on top of the eight-story parking structure, we created a space with an outdoor lawn, hammocks, fire pits, grills—it’s a great social space for Astra’s residential community,” he said. Level 23 includes the outdoor pool and indoor spa, highlighted by a wellness center, steam room, sauna, recovery spas, treatment rooms, and private locker rooms. The pool deck overlook offers excellent views of the Oquirrh Mountains to the west. Level 41 tops the amenity spaces—literally—with an outdoor kitchen, entertainment area, and a spacious outdoor viewing deck that looks down on Salt Lake’s adjacent tallest buildings. “We wanted to provide a variety of experiences,” said Tursic. “The 41st floor is meant for quiet and solitude.” ROAM Interior Design of Los Angeles provided interior design on every level. "With Astra Tower, we set out to design interiors that reflect both the soul and natural beauty of Utah, infused with the energy of modern city living," said Deanne Teeter, Design Director at ROAM. “Every amenity—from the tranquil spa on the 23rd floor to the rooftop lounge with panoramic views—is intentionally crafted to foster wellness through biophilic connection and a true sense of home in the sky." “Astra Tower was purposefully designed to exemplify KIC's commitment to o perating market-leading apartment buildings, featuring state-of-the-art amenities and an unwavering dedication to service excellence,” said Joe Bird, Vice President of Real Estate Development for KIC. “This intentional design ensures an unparalleled living experience, blending sophisticated facilities with exceptional resident-focused service to set a new standard for urban residential excellence in Utah.”

One for the Ages

By Brad Fullmer • August 1, 2025
Ralph L. Wadsworth watches demolition activity on the I-80/1300 East Bridge Slide in August 2023 with granddaughter, Bradynn Wadsworth (Tod’s daughter), illustrating his genuine passion for construction. (all photos courtesy RLW Construction)

Community First

By Taylor Larsen • August 1, 2025
First. Best. Leader. These are some of the many positive ways people described the late Marshall White, the civic hero and namesake of Ogden's past and future community centers. Marshall White is remembered as the first black police officer in Utah killed in the line of duty after being fatally shot in 1963. Equally important was his dedication to other causes outside of police work: the loving father of seven children; veteran and military doctor who helped establish a clinic at Hill Air Force Base post-WWII; youth mentor who partnered with the Elk's Club to establish the Wall Avenue Recreation Center; President of the Ogden chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Marshall White embodied community, and the original Marshall White Community Center, constructed five years after he died in 1968, was its physical manifestation. The building became a safe haven for youth, especially those with darker skin and different ethnicities from those of Utah "pioneer" ancestry, to learn to swim, take art classes, and participate in sports. But as time passed, the building fell into disrepair as Ogden's population shrank from the 1970s through the 1980s. Structural issues in the building appeared before a crack in the pool grew into a metaphorical chasm as COVID and its effects further disconnected society. Ogden needed champions who would follow in White's footsteps to bring people together, and create a space that would continue his community-building legacy. New Center; Relit Community Beacon Salt Lake-based VCBO was hired in 2020 to evaluate the old facility and propose future alternatives. It began, as VCBO Principal Brent Tippets described, "to replace a failing pool and building. […] It quickly became apparent that this community revolved around the Marshall N. White Community Center as both a gathering space and a historical icon for all minorities and people of humble circumstances." "Budget is always a challenge, but perhaps meeting all the affected parties' expectations was more so," said Tippets. "What was originally a pool and gymnasium replacement became a versatile destination with a plethora of participation options. He and the VCBO team worked with an Ogden City-appointed steering committee of passionate residents who provided valuable input on the importance and utilization of recreation and community spaces. "The Mayor, City Council, and City administration were committed to funding the project at the required level to achieve the grander vision for the facility," said Tippets. The Ogden City Council initially set aside $18 million and later increased the budget to $32 million for a new, 68,900-SF community building, doubling the size of the previous structure. Construction Challenges But challenges arose as soon as excavation commenced. Construction teams led by Vernal-based BHI encountered a dark, organic-looking soil that was previously undiscovered in geotechnical test borings. The surprise soil raised immediate concerns due to its lack of stability and reliability in compaction. BHI's history as an industrial contractor, where safety and lightning-fast communication are treasured, escalated the soil problems immediately. They collaborated and aligned with ownership, geotechnical engineers, and designers amidst evolving conditions to create a plan. Instead of utilizing native soils as initially planned, excavation teams removed the unsuitable material and imported structural fill from Ogden and nearby Plain City to meet compaction and bearing requirements, all while maintaining oh-so-important project momentum. "Working with Ogden City involved a different set of communication and coordination protocols than our typical projects," said BHI Superintendent Scot Marrot. "There was a greater emphasis on public transparency and adherence to specific city regulations. However, it was incredibly fulfilling to collaborate with the city officials who were passionate about providing a valuable resource for their community. The partnership fostered a strong sense of shared purpose and pride in the final outcome."

Daybreak: Then and Now

By Taylor Larsen • August 1, 2025
Thoughtful consideration on Oquirrh Lake transformed the initial idea for the water feature into a community and ecological asset. The 67-acre lake weaves around the 130-acre recreation space, residential area, and wildlife habitat. (Main rendering and photo pictured courtesy LHM)

Utahraptor State Park

By Taylor Larsen • June 30, 2025
Not often does an opportunity come around to build a new state park. But the project team jumped at the chance and helped bring amenities to the off-roading wilderness around Moab to deliver the new Utahraptor State Park. The unique project received design collaboration from Johansen & Tuttle Engineering, GSBS Architects, Horrocks, and Spectrum Engineers. Hogan & Associates Construction led construction efforts to bring in site infrastructure, utilities, and vertical construction to build new recreation opportunities for Moab’s tourism hotbed. The project’s remote location made this a major challenge. Still, best-in-class coordination helped to mitigate labor concerns and site issues to build a fitting tribute to the area’s history as Utahraptor State Park prepares for its first summer tourist season in 2025. Designing a Fitting Park for the Area The park was created in 2021 via legislative action (H.B. 257), while the infrastructure and more began construction in 2023. The site is historic in two senses. It is home to ancient history, with fossil sites of the Utahraptor found throughout the area—fossils first discovered outside the Dalton Wells Quarry by paleontologist “Dinosaur Jim” Jensen in 1975. It is also an area of 20th-century history as the former site of the Dalton Wells Isolation Center, the Civilian Conservation Corps facility-turned-internment camp where Japanese Americans were detained from 1942-1945 during World War II. Owner’s representatives from the State of Utah’s Division of Facilities Construction and Management (DFCM) said an overall goal for Utah State Parks was to preserve these historic assets amidst steady and consistent tourist and recreation growth. According to Matt Boyer, Assistant Director of Capital Development for DFCM, Utahraptor State Park's development would happen “in a way that would preserve the historic nature of the site while maintaining the opportunity for recreation in the process.” According to Clio Rayner, Principal for GSBS, the design goal aimed to complement instead of compete with the natural beauty of the surrounding landscape. “We wanted to provide a subtle sense of arrival where people feel a sense of welcome and comfort,” she said. Design leaders wanted the harsh beauty and serenity of the Colorado Plateau Desert to remain the showstopper. “We went into this design not wanting to make an architectural statement but rather wanting to create a visitor experience focused on the landscape. In a place like this, it should not be about the architecture.” Since the built environment of Utahraptor State Park would consist of recreational facilities and a visitor center, Rayner explained, “We used a material palette and building massing that reflected natural features of the site and created flexible open interior space for multiple uses.” Interior design, said Rayner, “Provided an open opportunity for Utah Parks to create interpretive exhibits inside the Utahraptor visitor center that tell the story and convey the significance of the site.” Design incorporated economical and durable features like natural wood and CMU colors and patterns drawn from the stone features that abound in Utah's eastern majesty.