At Home in the Mountain Modern

Unique amenities supporting Class A residential interiors make Camber’s mountain modern vibe a special offering amongst Salt Lake’s growing luxury housing market.
By Taylor Larsen

Salt Lake City finally has the modern take on mountain living it has needed with Camber, the 422-unit multifamily project developed by Endeavor Real Estate Group, designed by Texas-based GFF Architects and built by Murray’s very own Zwick Construction.

Camber’s neighborhood environment extends inside and out, bringing comfort on multiple levels. The commitment from the project team to lead on the multifamily front resulted in community over commodity with a luxury, mountain modern example of an apartment community.

(Left) Breaking up massing on Camber’s main structure was critical in making the main structure more approachable and deliver on the project’s neighborhood vibe. That structure’s interior courtyard (right) is a welcome amenity resulting from stellar design and construction work. The landscaping package prioritized sitting areas and mature greenery for a welcoming outdoor space. (all photos courtesy Zwick Construction)

Creating a Neighborhood


Camber was tasked with meeting Salt Lake City goals to link 490 West—which runs to the west of nearby 4th West Apartments and Hardware Apartments—from 300 North to 400 North. Doing so would fill the gap in the grid and relieve neighborhood traffic along the 400 West corridor just east of the property.


In addition to providing better street mobility, the project team was tasked with creating a neighborhood unto itself with Camber. The property would stand out in an area that has evolved from an industrial area to one committed to luxury residences and high-end amenities for Salt Lake’s expanding urban footprint.


“With these old warehouses,” began Sam Stribling, “there      are a lot of solid, impenetrable blocks of buildings.” Where Camber now sits was once an      ice distributor with other industrial block-style buildings nearby.


Stribling, Architect with GFF Architects, spoke to how meeting those community demands would reach beyond one complex on Camber’s 4.88-acre site. The project would break up “impenetrable blocks” by building an additional 28 townhome units across five townhome buildings, with the main eight-story, 394-unit complex rounding out the residential mix. Each of the structures would directly address the new road and the city’s building code, said the architect, and give the project a neighborhood feel.


The project team looked to make a contextual fit for the eight story apartment complex. Stribling detailed how the main building is broken up into multiple volumes that follow the curvature of the new road to give the area a more approachable feel at a pedestrian level. The west podium facade’s deep building setbacks give the visual dynamics to, as Stribling put it, “feel like three separate buildings.” 


The grade level of all structures features an elevated, covered stoop unit entry with a board-formed concrete guard wall, allowing easy access to the street and sidewalk. The street feels connected and safe with patios, stoops, the visual accessibility of ground-floor glazing, and landscaping to add to the urban beauty.


Building the Community


As construction began, Zwick Superintendent Rob Welling said constructing the new road cut off critical access to the main building. Coordinating between concrete and framing crews was essential, while patience and strategic input was required from the excavation team to keep the project accessible.


Delivering the first units within the      project's 30-month timeframe was a challenge. The site’s long, north-south orientation is bounded to the west by train tracks and to the east by existing warehouse buildings. Welling and the Zwick team utilized two staging areas to keep materials and trade partners equipped and agile. The construction team worked extended hours all seven days of the week, with additional teammates brought in from trade partner RAM Exteriors to reach the finish line in time. 


The seven-floor parking garage was the superstructure and starting point for the main complex. As they finished the third floor of the parking structure, construction on the PT decks commenced for the multifamily portion, with a tower crane providing the mobility to get materials to the right spot. The building was planned to be a phased delivery, where floors one and two would be turned over before the construction team moved to floors three through seven.

Sleek features are present in the interior amenity spaces, with high-end finishes and furniture in the mail room (left) on the ground floor, as well as the spacious and well-lit rooftop gym (right).

Materials Bring Rugged, Modern Aesthetic


The project team chose exterior materials that combined aesthetic qualities and durability. Much like the choice to create a trio of building massing, material distribution broke the project into base, middle, and top. 


The base podium level includes flush-seam metal panel, dark brick, and fiber cement siding with variably spaced horizontal battens at the patios and balconies resulting in warm and tactile street level materials. Glass in the residential windows and storefront at the ground-level amenities keep visibility on the street while showcasing the amenities to residents and passing traffic.


The middle floors continue the board-and-batten fiber cement board and add wood-tone siding and three-coat Portland-cement stucco. The top stucco and metal parapet band ties each volume together horizontally as the vertical metal panel sections provide a cohesive aesthetic extending upward. 


The materiality extends throughout the podium to create 360-degree architecture. The townhomes feature similar materiality, including a gray brick base, board-and-batten siding, and asphalt shingle-sloped roofing for individualized residential character.


As construction finished around the interior courtyard, the construction team cleared out the scaffolding from the exteriors and craned in three 20-ft tall London      Plane trees to get moving on one of Camber’s many amenities.


Amenities Bring the Allure


Stribling said the programming of Camber meant to give people lots to do and many areas to enjoy, starting with the interior courtyard encompassed on three sides by residences with the parking structure giving it the fourth wall. 


Welling was quick to compliment ownership for committed major resources to their landscaping package.


“The landscape package was huge, and not just large, but dense,” he said of the matured trees, bushes, and plantings that adorn the interior courtyard.


Ensuring the width and length in the courtyard was key to building something beyond a light well while also      delivering a true outdoor gathering space for Camber residents to enjoy.


Ground floor amenities include multifamily mainstays like the package lockers and mail room, EV charging stations, three dog parks, and a pickleball court between the townhomes and main building. 


Geoffrey Palmer, Principal with owner/developer Endeavor Real Estate Group, said ownership sought to bring unique, mountain modern enhancements like a spacious      bike storage locker and tool rack, as well as ski lockers with heated boot dryers and workbench that make up the southwest corner of the building.


“That space is typically a leasing office,” he said, “but we wanted to create a really convenient get-in, get-out experience for outdoor enthusiasts.”


Building amenities continue toward the eighth-floor amenity deck. There is indoor/outdoor co-working space for the studious and a 4,000-SF gym with the free weights, machines, and more for the active—with stellar views out to the capitol from massive floor to ceiling windows. The indoor portion even includes a golf simulator, two-lane bowling alley, arcade machines, and table shuffleboard for those looking to unwind.


Semi revolving doors take residents and guests out to the unparalleled outdoor spaces where the pool and Jumbotron star. There was a synergy, said Welling, between the different landscape and specialty contractors at work on the amenity deck to pull off the spectacle. The Jumbotron video screen, pool, and in-water loungers are all as eye-catching as they are relaxing, but the landscaping and flow keep the party-like feel of the area grounded, too.


“Landscaping is such a huge part of the residential experience,” Palmer said. “We want you to feel like you’re in a resort’s nature preserve when you’re on the rooftop deck, not      a concrete jungle.”


Stribling credited landscape architects Kimley-Horn for helping to situate the outdoor programming elements, where the dedication given to the ground floor courtyard is matched eight floors above. Their thorough research and advocacy in design resulted in an emphasis in both mountain and downtown vantage points along two axes. Residents can pass up through the eight floors and experience tremendous views of Salt Lake’s blossoming downtown as well as the nature that has served to root so many people to Utah’s capital city. 


Material Comforts and More


Multifamily offerings promise much in attraction and interest, but it all builds toward comfort. Camber’s essence is one of comfort, something emphasized repeatedly by the labor undergone to build something comfortable so near the noisiest of neighbors—freight and passenger trains.


Extensive coordination work with the Federal Railroad Administration, Union Pacific, UTA, and others was challenging, but moved the project forward to prepare the site for design and construction expertise to shine.


“We worked with the acoustical consultant and [civil] engineer to ensure that people may know that the train is coming,” Stribling said.


Those two parties measured exactly how much noise was being generated by nearby rail users, and then accommodated design for the architectural team to flourish. They found a solution to constructing buildings over a layered gravel pit. 


Privacy was a big charge, Stribling said, with special attention paid to sound attenuation from the partition wall, colloquially known as “party walls” that needed to keep the “party” from spreading into adjacent units.


Comfort and relaxation extended into the interior, even as designers worked within a wide range of unit styles. Stribling said, “We wanted to ensure that each of the units feel like an individual home.”


Palmer said Endeavor’s efforts to bring Class A finishes meant attention to detail at every step of the project. The individual residences are bright, with laminated veneer tiles and white tile backsplashes in the kitchens and bathrooms adding quality touches. Subtle differences like backlit mirrors and forgoing the tub/shower “shub” in favor of separating also elevate the residential experience.


Camber delivers on its promise to create a neighborhood and housing that are comfortable and community-oriented. Building up modern residences and amenities via rugged materials within a varied urban context defines mountain modern, and creates a shining example of this style within Salt Lake’s multi-family offering.


Owner/Developer: Endeavor Real Estate Group


Design Team

Architect: GFF Architects

Civil: Kimley-Horn

Electrical: Hunt Electric

Mechanical: CCI Mechanical, Deseret Mechanical

Structural: McNeil Engineering

Geotechnical: Terracon

Interior Design: Ellie Aiello Interiors

Furniture: OFS Interiors

Landscape: Kimley-Horn


Construction Team

General Contractor: Zwick Construction

Plumbing/HVAC: CCI Mechanical

Electrical: Hunt Electric

Concrete: Six Star Management, Suntec

Steel Fabrication/Erection: Rightway Steel

Glazing: Capitol Glazing

Masonry: RAM Exteriors

Drywall/Acoustics: K&K Drywall

Painting: Final Touch Painting

Tile/Stone: Smith Stone Cabinets & Tiles

Carpentry: Sunpro

Flooring: Design Team

Roofing: Rooftek

Waterproofing: C & R Coatings

Excavation: Jones Excavating

Landscaping: Sinc Constructors 

Q&A with Nathan Goodrich

By UC&D • August 1, 2025
Nathan Goodrich

100 Years & Five Generations

By Brad Fullmer • August 1, 2025
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.

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)