Black Desert Oasis

Black Desert Resort is the single most exciting development to hit Southern Utah, a staggering $2 billion investment by Reef Capital Partners that will make one of the finest destination resorts in the Southwest U.S.
By Brad Fullmer

When Lehi-based Reef Capital Partners (Reef) initially announced plans in 2018 to build a sprawling, estimated $2 billion mega-resort with a championship-caliber golf course on 600 acres covering parts of Ivins and Santa Clara—small towns with just over 15,000 combined residents at the time—it was difficult to fathom what a project of that magnitude might look like.

Fast forward seven years, and Black Desert Resort is indeed a shining oasis amidst Southern Utah's famed red rock cliffs, sitting atop an ancient lava field, with buildings strategically carved into the land to produce a resort unlike anything else. 

"This is the biggest project we've ever done—we feel really good where we are," said Brett Boren, President of Real Estate for Reef, acknowledging the general completion of the $290 million, 806,000-SF resort center, along with significant ongoing work—including a 1,298-stall parking garage, condominiums, and a private water park. 

As of September, all aspects of the main resort center were open and fully complete, with the hotel celebrating its first official year in business after partially opening in September 2024 as it hosted the inaugural PGA Black Desert Championship October 10-13. The second installment of the tournament—now dubbed the Bank of Utah Championship—is slated for October 23-26, with a third tournament signed for 2026.

Hitting Major Milestones Critical to Keeping Complex Project Schedule on Track 

In creating the golf course, crews used dynamite to blast through thick beds of basalt lava to build on a design concept where the course seamlessly weaves its way through the rocky terrain. In terms of the world-class amenities at Black Desert Resort, the star is unquestionably the Tom Weiskopf-designed championship golf course that has hosted both PGA and LPGA events, with future tournaments on the calendar through 2027 and 2029, respectively. With the stark contrast between the lush green grass and black lava, it's almost like playing on another planet—and if you're a weekend hacker seeking the ultimate challenge for your 100-plus handicap skills, bring a bag full of golf balls as the course readily devours wayward shots. 


Getting the resort ready to host that first PGA tournament last October—a year earlier than expected—offered myriad challenges for Lehi-based general contractor SIRQ Construction, according to Brandon Burnett, Sr. Project Manager, and Tyler Ames, Project Manager, two of SIRQ’s four primary PMs manning the complex resort center, which consists of five main buildings, listed A through E. 


The first major milestone, according to Burnett, was getting more than 45,000 CY of structural concrete poured, perhaps the riskiest aspect of the project and the key to keeping the entire schedule on track. Burnett said Ohio-based Baker Construction, the structural concrete subcontractor, did a good job staying on point.


"Getting the structural concrete done was a big deal; [Baker Construction] could push a schedule and hit dates," said Burnett. 


The second major milestone was preparing to open Building C, which houses the Pro Shop and 20th Hole Sports Bar—a hot button for the owner, given that the golf course had opened to the public in May 2023. 


Burnett said it was an important milestone—reached in spring 2024—because it allowed SIRQ "to get a feel for what to expect with the rest of the project."

The construction team made a major push from June through October last year to get the hotel functioning for the PGA event, with crews on other buildings brought aboard for the final push. 


"A year ago, we were in complete scramble-mode, working long days to get it ready," said Burnett. "In June of last year, I was more panicked than in September. After we got through June, we realized we could get there—everyone felt confident we could get it open. A lot of people were shocked at what we could pull off the last two months." 


He said work on buildings D and E—the condominium buildings—was essentially suspended so all available manpower could be shifted to A (hotel), B (convention center), and C (pro shop and sports bar). 


"It was challenging juggling manpower, managing different trades and making sure they were hitting dates in each of the buildings," said Ames, who oversaw Building C. "They were all managed as their own project. During the last big push [in Summer 2024], we started having contractors do work out of sequence, just because some trades weren't available or ready. It caused some minor rework, but in those instances, it's kind of what we had to do." 


Burnett even relayed a story about an out-of-state hotel developer who saw the project in August and thought there was no way possible for SIRQ to meet the stringent September deadline. "He was blown away by what we were able to do. Given the hurdles we had to get over, to be that far along at that point was cool. You can get a lot done if you have good people."



"We worked our guts out to get there—everything that had to be ready was ready," added Boren. "I know a lot of people that attended the event looked around [at all the ongoing construction] and thought, 'You guys are behind schedule.’ And we really weren't—it was more of us trying to pull off the miracle the first year."


Natural Environment Inspires Design Elements, Top-Shelf Amenities


The overall design of Black Desert Resort Center was led by Scottsdale, Arizona-based Allen + Philp Partners, who drew inspiration from the ancient lava flows and rich vermillion sandstone formations, creating a modern resort community that fits well with the natural environment. Materials were chosen to harmonize with the desert surroundings, with black basalt stones in various walls in both the hotel and convention center, warm wood elements throughout the resort, floor-to-ceiling windows, and a wide array of attractive materials, colors, and patterns, including custom millwork, ornate lighting fixtures, and decorative furnishings and art. 


According to Matthew Kosednar, Principal-in-Charge for Allen + Philp, his team worked with Patrick Manning, Managing Partner at Black Desert Resort, and the Reef Capital team, with the resort going through multiple design iterations in 2018-19. Ultimately, a multi-building center model was selected, with a hotel, conference center, pro shop, and multiple condominium villages, along with a 1250-stall parking garage (Q4 2026 completion). 


Kosednar said the project's relationship to its surroundings was carefully considered, with a design philosophy of "geological luxury"—defined as architecture that responds to the landscape and becomes an integral part of its geological story. 



"It is a modern piece of architecture in a modern setting, but we wanted to make it appropriate for the area,” said Kosednar, while embracing the natural desert color palette, especially the sandstone and lava. "I'm most excited about the transformative nature of the resort and what it does for the St. George area. It was fun to work with the team and envision what this space could become."


Focus on Sustainability, Preserving Open Space


Boren said Black Desert will preserve 200 acres of land within the 600-acre development, with sustainability and being a good community partner being vital to a project of this size and scope. Boren praised the positive relationship Reef has developed over time with city officials in Ivins and Santa Clara.


"We couldn't have asked for better cities to work with," said Boren. "We've had our moments; our disagreements. Sometimes you get cities that aren't willing to budge at all; aren't willing to reason, and I have not found that to be the case with these cities. They've been excellent to work with—I would even call them partners." 


Reef is even working with Dr. Ryan Platt, an Adjunct Professor at Utah Tech University, on stocking its pond with endangered Virgin River Chub, allowing them to breed and then reintroduced into their native river environment. 


"We're doing everything we can to be environmentally conscious," said Boren, including putting in five miles of trails through the lava bed, paying close attention to water conservation, and dark-sky-friendly lighting.


Regarding building sustainability, design and construction prioritized energy efficiency, daylighting, water conservation, and air quality. Some sustainable items include: 



—Low-voltage power (10 volts vs. 120 volts) on CAT6 cables, reducing energy. This applied to lights, locks, security cameras, and other electrical components. 

—Low-voltage Power over Ethernet delivers direct current power and data through network cables to avoid additional electrical wiring. 

—Reclaimed water is treated to an irrigation level for reuse. Low-flow systems and native desert landscaping also cut water use. 

—Efficient irrigation systems ensure that golf course irrigation is monitored and controlled for every 10 SF, cutting water use by 50%. 


Variety of High-End, Luxury Accommodations


Guests can choose from several accommodation offerings, starting with the Hotel Collection, which includes 148 rooms in the three-story hotel, with convenient access to several dining and bar options, a wellness spa, spacious fitness center, and relaxing pool and hot tub area. 


The Resort Collection comprises 299 combined rooms and deluxe suites for families, groups, or extended stay visits. These residential-style layouts include sofa beds, kitchenettes and access to all resort amenities. 


For a high-end, opulent experience, the resort offers the Plume Wellness Center, nine private rooms specially designed for wellbeing and deep relaxation.

Boren said two condominium projects are close to wrapping up (November target), as Black Desert expands its multi-family footprint to 600-plus units: the Terrace Collection will add 174 units, while The Cove is 170 units. St. George-based Watts Construction built The Cove and three buildings of the Terrace. 


A unique mix of on-site dining options is another strong amenity, including Basalt—a high-end American steakhouse—and Latitude, a casual, open-air eatery. There is also an indoor-outdoor lobby bar, a rooftop lounge with exquisite 270-degree views, the lively 20th Hole sports bar, along with simulated golf bays and a relaxing poolside bar. 


Building B houses Black Desert Resort's conference center, which features more than 45,000 SF of indoor and outdoor space, featuring 18 distinct venues: a 10,000-SF ballroom, five breakout rooms, plenty of naturally lit spaces for socializing, and an expansive outdoor lawn with room for 500 guests. Conference center lobbies feature honed marble walls and rich millwork on doors/openings to the ballrooms.


With the resort center finished, Boren said construction will continue on the condos, a private water park, a pickleball facility, and the parking garage. Upon completion of the garage in November 2026, construction will commence on another mixed-use development with multi-family, retail, dining, and entertainment elements. 



"Everything is moving along really well," Boren added. "We have plenty of projects to continue to work on and try and make perfect. We're trying to get some leases ready and that will take time. But in a year, we'll be ready to do the first phase."


Black Desert Resort

Location: Ivins

Start/Completion: Feb. 2022/Sept. 2025 

Cost: $290 Million

Delivery Method: CM/GC

Stories/Levels: 4

Square Footage: 806,000 SF

Owner: Reef Capital Partners

Owner's Rep: Sean Tuite


Design Team

Architect: Allen + Philp Partners

Civil: Kuma Engineering

Electrical: Resolut

Mechanical: EXP US Services Inc.

Structural: Kimley-Horn

Geotech: Applied Geotech (AGEC)

Interior Design: Allen + Philp Partners

Landscape: Floor Associates


Construction Team

General Contractor: SIRQ Construction 

Structural Concrete: Baker Construction

Site Concrete: Innovative Concrete

Plumbing: J&S Mechanical

HVAC: J&S Mechanical; Northstar

Electrical: Hunt Electric

Masonry: BA Robinson Construction

Drywall: B&S Drywall

Painting: Accent Painting

Tile/Stone: HB Workplaces

Millwork: Allegheny Millwork; Riverwoods Mill; D&L Cabinetry

Flooring: HB Workplaces

Roofing: Flynn Group

Storefront, Curtain Wall: Flynn Group

Shower Glazing: Jones Paint & Glass

Waterproofing: Guaranteed Waterproofing & Construction

Steel Fabrication/Erection: JT Steel

Excavation: BHI

Landscaping: Hansen Landscaping

Calder Richards Celebrates 20 Years of Sustainable Evolution

By UC&D • October 1, 2025
In 2005, Calder Richards Consulting Engineers formed after the merger of two smaller structural consulting firms who, interestingly enough, both started in 1986. Calder Richards has provided a steady structural support for Utah’s built environment ever since. As the firm celebrates its 20th anniversary, UC+D spoke with Managing Principals Shaun Packer and Nolan Balls to look back over the company’s history and celebrate what has helped their firm stand out to deliver solid projects in Utah and beyond. Their responses were edited for clarity and brevity. UC+D: What have been some catalytic moments for Calder Richards since that initial merger? SP: Winning the Talking Stick Resort in Scottsdale, Arizona is the first one. The big reason for the merger between Richards Consulting Group and Calder Consulting was to build a large enough company to go after bigger projects like that.” NB: That was my first project when I was hired straight out of college. We helped design the 17-story hotel and casino, a conference center, as well as parking structures, a central mechanical building, and a pool building. Talking Stick helped get us through the downturn a few years later. UC+D: What have been your key market sectors you all have targeted over the last 20 years? NB: We were breaking into K-12 along the Wasatch Front soon after the Talking Stick Resort and it’s been our bread and butter since then. SP: Absolutely, but I credit our firm for always adapting to the current environment. We’ve been fortunate to do so much K-12, but we used to do a lot of office work, and now we are working on conversions like the Ebay Headquarters to CTE/Innovation Center for Canyons School District as the market has shifted away from commercial office. UC+D: Schools have certainly evolved over the last 20 years, how has your work as structural engineers evolved? SP: We are seeing more creative design on the architectural side, certainly. We see many more two-story designs; more windows and daylighting. But we’re utilizing more powerful tools and continually building our understanding of the structural materials that are in use more than ever—tilt-up concrete, steel columns and beams, especially—to be the architect’s trusted partner. NB: Schools have definitely changed, and we’ve had better experience in helping projects move forward successfully when we are involved earlier in the design process. As we got involved early on in West High School’s schematic design, we were able to provide structural solutions and options to accommodate the architects’ design intent. UC+D: How has company growth changed Calder Richards? SP: It’s certainly changed the number of people in our office. We started with around 10 people when we merged, and today we have 27. But we often say that we don’t want to grow just to grow—we want to grow sustainably. We don’t lay people off when works slows down, and we have an expectation that sometimes there will be overtime work, and other times you may be waiting for our next project to begin.

The (Epi)Center of it All

By By Taylor Larsen • October 1, 2025
Nested in the middle of the University of Utah (U of U) campus sits the aptly-named Impact & Prosperity Epicenter, the second living learning community (LLC) project designed on campus by Los Angeles-based Yazdani Studio of CannonDesign. After nearly a decade since their first LLC project, the award-winning Lassonde Studios (UC+D’s 2016 Most Outstanding Public Building over $10 million), Mehrdad Yazdani, the design firm’s Principal and Studio Director, said their work on a sequel was an exciting prospect for the firm, and enlisted Salt Lake-based MHTN Architects and Okland Construction to serve as the respective local architect and general contractor. Today, the Epicenter serves as a striking piece of architecture and construction, one whose curvilinear shape asks users and visitors plenty of questions. But moving from idea to execution has been a work in progress. One query from Yazdani stood out as it relates to students and the built environment, and helped begin the journey to create the Epicenter: “How does your living environment as a student impact your success as a student and as a changemaker?” A Project for an Evolving Campus Katie Macc, CEO of the Sorenson Impact Institute, said LLCs like the Epicenter and Lassonde Studios next door have been massive steps forward in advancing entrepreneurship and social impact. But both play a major role in creating “college town magic”—a phrase coined by University President Taylor Randall that invokes a vibrant campus where students can find community and have one-of-a-kind experiences. With more on-campus student housing in the works, the state’s flagship university is hoping to shed the “commuter school” label and deliver a level of desirability that matches the resources students commit to higher education. “There is some soul searching going on across university campuses,” said Macc of the challenge at hand. “We have to be convincing that going to college matters.” She said overall university enrollments across the nation are decreasing as students grapple with tuition costs, COVID and its isolating aftershocks, and a different perspective on higher education. Universities are no longer a place where students come to learn what they couldn’t learn elsewhere—remote learning and the internet have opened a fissure in that idea that will never close. Instead of that educational transaction, being at a university must include building community and creating in-person experiences only available on campus. Macc said that the Epicenter helps steer the campus experience toward the future, with design goals to create a base of operations for two changemaking organizations and a living and learning home for 778 students. The three-story commercial portion of the building, known as the “Changemaker Pavilion”, includes office space for The Center for Business, Health, and Prosperity (second floor) and the Sorenson Impact Institute (third floor). While each organization has a different focus, both are firmly invested in helping students access and create the resources needed to change the world. Each entity works hand-in-hand as owners of the Epicenter to host events and “create a full spectrum of ways for students to get involved,” said Chad Salvadore, Chief Financial Officer for the Sorenson Impact Institute. “We’re dialing in the programming to energize the student body,” said Salvadore of the work done at the Epicenter. With over 60 majors represented among the 778 students who live there, he said that the diversity of students is less a reflection of their chosen major and more a desire to reside in a space built for students to work their entrepreneurial muscles. “Living here is a mindset—you can engage across many different paths you choose.”

Goal!

By Brad Fullmer • October 1, 2025
Front view of the bleachers, press box, and suites. (photos courtesy SIRQ Construction)

Four Decades of Transformation

By Brad Fullmer • October 1, 2025
Over the course of its 40-year history in Utah, WSP's Salt Lake office—originally founded as Parsons Brinckerhoff in 1985—has morphed from primarily a transportation design firm to one that successfully operates in multiple civil engineering markets. The results of WSP's transformation the past decade into a more diverse outfit speak for themselves, with the 128-person Salt Lake office (with locations in Cottonwood Heights and South Jordan) posting three consecutive years of revenues over $50 million, including a record $70.1 million in 2023, and a robust $59.9 million in 2024—good for the No. 2 ranking in UC+D's 2025 Top Utah Engineering Firms rankings.

Good Career? Start Here

By Taylor Larsen • October 1, 2025
Lucio Gallegos vividly remembers the workforce development meetings he attended during his time at Ogden-Weber Tech. These career and technical education (CTE) discussions consistently focused on one thing: young people were not entering construction, and the industry needed a new approach to attract them. Gallegos recalled one member of the workforce development team, a training director with a prominent general contractor, saying, “We have been trying this for over 10 years, screw it, we’re just gonna hire them.” The Long Road Those conversations occurred nearly 10 years ago, and workforce development concerns continue to permeate the industry. The National Center for Construction Education & Research estimates that 41% of the construction workforce will retire by 2031, leading to potential gaps in skill and safety and decreases in productivity and project quality. While stakeholders have aligned on the overall goal of providing students a foundation for future success through career development, the means to achieve the ends were seemingly at odds. High schools, trade schools, colleges, and private industry took different paths to achieve their goals, with some moving in opposite directions. “I’m gonna be honest with you,” Gallegos recalled one school administrator saying, “If I promote what you’re telling me to get them over to the tech college, I lose head count. And then I lose teachers. I can’t have a school without teachers.” Jobs that took away student learning experiences, according to federal guidelines and child labor laws, made the idea a non-starter. However, after years of lobbying the Utah Legislature for a compromise between industry and education, H.B. 055, passed in 2023, provided a catalytic change in how younger people can engage with construction and other industries. High school students could participate if they were involved in a school-sponsored work experience and career exploration program. Private industry finally had the compromise it wanted. It was time to act. Big-D Charts New Path Gallegos, now the Workforce Development Manager from Big-D, joined the company in 2023 with the express purpose of creating a program that fit within the new guidelines. Gallegos said he sees career development through the lens of the immigrant experience, one he knows personally as a Mexican immigrant with a father who worked in commercial construction. “I was 9 years old and busting pins out of concrete forms with a hammer that was as big as I was,” he laughed. “I’ve got the cliché immigrant story.” That story has a theme familiar to many immigrant families, he said, one where parents say, “I want my kids not to have to work as hard as I do. I want them in school.” Add to that, it’s a law—children must attend school. Gallegos was unfazed by those obstacles. As he began planning how Big-D’s internship program would operate, he knew that engagement had to start at the elementary school level and build on personal relationships between private industry, school administrators, students, and their families to succeed. “We want to be the solution, not the obstacle to get into this industry,” said Gallegos. So Big-D removed the barriers. Students can still attend school, work towards graduation, and be available in the afternoon for sports, extracurricular activities, and the high school experience. But working was another significant part of the immigrant experience, Gallegos said, and internships needed to be paid to alleviate the family concerns. “We asked what we would pay somebody fresh out of high school who worked at Big-D,” Gallegos said. Interns have earned those same wages ever since.

It's A Knockout

By Brad Fullmer • October 1, 2025
On January 2, 1957, Gene Fullmer, a scrappy, underdog fighter from West Jordan stunned the boxing world with a 15-round unanimous decision over the legendary Sugar Ray Robinson at New York’s fabled Madison Square Garden. Fullmer captured the world middleweight championship and established himself as one of the best pound-for-pound boxers during the late 50s and early 60s. Since then, the Fullmer name has been synonymous with boxing in Utah, with brothers Gene, Jay, and Don establishing the Fullmer Brothers Boxing Gym in 1978, and offering free boxing instruction and life mentoring to thousands of youths—carrying on a tradition they learned from their trainer, Marv Jenson. Their legacy of community giving will live on in the new Fullmer Legacy Center in South Jordan, a 16,500-SF facility that will serve as a permanent home to the boxing gym—after years of bouncing around to various temporary facilities—along with a museum, snack bar, and gift shop. “The Fullmers are the first family of boxing in the state of Utah—that’s well understood,” said Dave Butterfield, a founding board member of the Fullmer Legacy Foundation. Butterfield served as Chairman of the Board from June 2016 to early 2025 and was influential in helping raise money—nearly $6 million via donations to date, which includes $2 million from the Utah Legislature. Project Driven by Vision to Find a Permanent Home for Fullmer Brothers Gym It was Jay Fullmer who led the charge to teach boxing in the community. By 1978, the Fullmer Brothers Boxing Gym had formally opened at the Butterfield farm chicken coop in South Jordan, recalled Larry Fullmer, Don’s oldest son and the man who spearheaded the efforts for the Fullmer Legacy Center. From there, Larry said the facility moved to Riverton Elementary, an old church house in West Jordan, a sugar factory, a former fire station, and the Salt Lake County Equestrian Park in South Jordan, where it had resided since 2011. When they got word that Salt Lake County planned to transfer ownership of the park to Utah State University, Fullmer knew they needed to find a long-term home for the boxing gym. Fullmer met with Butterfield and Robert Behunin—who at the time was a Vice President with Utah State University—in 2016 and told them he just wanted a “tin shed of our own” for boxing. Behunin countered by saying, “If you want people to donate money, you need something better than a tin shed!” They quickly formed the Fullmer Legacy Foundation (FLF), and by 2018, the wheels were in motion on a building. Doc Murdock, a long-time trainer at the gym, connected Larry with his former roommate at Brigham Young University, Vern Latham, who is a Principal at Salt Lake-based VCBO Architecture. VCBO offered pro-bono services initially while helping FLF put together an RFP, while North Salt-based Gramoll Construction provided value engineering and other services in an effort to get the project launched. Larry expressed sheer gratitude for the contributions of both firms in helping make the project a reality, especially for many generous donations from various foundations and individuals. “[VCBO] believed in us early on and did our first phase of planning at no charge—they have been amazing and so professional to work with,” said Larry. “Gramoll helped us get the budget done as tight as it could be. This project had the absolute tightest budget. We met weekly with architects and the general contractor to see the progress—I’ve never seen such an amazing process. Construction started in November ’23, and every time I would come to the jobsite in the first six months, I’d get emotional.” “We leaned on our relationships with contractors for flooring, ceiling, tiles, donated furniture and got deep discounts and a lot of in-kind donations,” said Phil Haderlie, Principal-in-Charge for VCBO. “To me, the story of this project is the grassroots effort of people seeing the value—this is something that came from their heart. It will have a long-lasting impact on the community.”

Significant Buzz

By Brad Fullmer • October 1, 2025
The first season is in the books for the Salt Lake Bees in its spectacular new home—the Ballpark at America First Square, the exciting new heart of Downtown Daybreak and certainly one of the premier Triple-A stadiums in the country. "It's a really cool stadium—the field looks so good!" gushed Eric Barton, Project Director for Salt Lake-based Okland Construction, while surveying the spacious 280,000 SF, 6,500-seat (8,000 capacity) ballpark. Barton said his team faced an extremely difficult construction schedule with the mandate the project had to be sufficiently ready for Opening Day 2025 on April 8, less than 18 months after the formal October 20, 2023, groundbreaking. Barton said Okland knew it was going to be a grind, with long hours and tight windows to get various milestones accomplished. "When we bid this to our trade partners, we had them bid it with the expectation of it being six days a week," he said. "We want not only your best guys, but you have to be adaptable to the plan. It was gangbusters from the start.” Up to 300 workers were onsite during peak construction activity, requiring meticulous coordination throughout. Okland even brought in Fred Strasser, a legendary project director who came out of retirement to shepherd the project through. "Fred is the genius behind getting this whole thing done," said Barton. The project was designed by Salt Lake-based HOK, who worked closely with the owner, Sandy-based Larry H. Miller Real Estate (LHMRE) and Miller Sports + Entertainment (MSE) to bring about a project that would add even more buzz to its wildly popular, 4,000-acre master planned Daybreak development in South Jordan, making it a true entertainment destination. The design weaves together best-in-class baseball experiences with year-round public amenities, including a recently opened Megaplex theater, a performing arts center, a large amphitheater, along with retail, restaurants, and apartments, with buildout continuing through 2027. Walking paths and open spaces create natural connections between The Ballpark and the surrounding neighborhood, making the area an iconic community asset and a true sports and entertainment district. Downtown Daybreak is slated to host more than 200 annual events—including the Bees’ 75-game regular season. Supporting this entertainment destination, the venue’s prominent location just off the Mountain View Corridor freeway makes it highly visible to passing traffic while providing easy access. The stadium is also connected to multiple transportation options, easily reached by walking, biking or light rail across the Wasatch Front, and by car from the new freeway corridor. The Ballpark site drops 20 feet from the loading dock to the plaza, managed through terraced spaces that echo the region’s mining heritage. Though the slope stays gentle at under 5%, carefully placed stairs and planters make walking comfortable while honoring the industrial past. The center field main entrance connects to light rail, while a formal plaza at home plate serves as a second entrance, primarily for VIP access. The street design follows Daybreak’s established standards for lighting and tree spacing. Bike racks at the light rail station and plaza make cycling to games convenient. Utah’s Landscape Shapes Design The Wasatch Mountains, visible from every angle of the ballpark, directly influenced the ballpark's design. Throughout the venue, carefully planned viewpoints frame these mountain vistas. The structure resembles this mountainous setting in its form, transitioning from solid brick and concrete at its base to lighter materials—metal and expansive glass—as it ascends. Working with Kansas City-based architectural metal fabricator Zahner, HOK and MSE created a distinctive facade using perforated metal panels that suggest Utah mountain peak silhouettes from Ben Lomond Peak in Weber County to Mt. Nebo, the southernmost and highest mountain in the Wasatch Range of Utah. These panels transform into a glowing display at night, serving as a lantern on The Ballpark’s ‘front porch’ and welcoming visitors. This connection to Utah’s landscape flows throughout the site. Angular planters guide visitors along pathways, while public spaces are arranged in terraces that echo the mountainside. The copper colors and stepped surfaces of the nearby Kennecott Mine inspired the ballpark’s materials and layout. Inside, the decor features warm copper, gold and honey tones, with textured materials that blend the natural landscape with the Salt Lake Bees’ team colors.

Firms Making Moves

By Brad Fullmer • October 1, 2025
Horrocks CEO Bryan Foote (left) shakes hands with Matt Hirst, former President/CEO of CRS Engineering & Survey. Horrocks acquired CRS a year ago in a move that has proven to be a seamless fit for more than 60 CRS employees.

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.