Brilliantly Executed Spaces and Thinking

From Southern Utah to the Tetons, 13 stunning projects throughout the Intermountain West receive honors at annual IIDA Intermountain Event. 

The Intermountain Chapter of the International Interior Design Association (IIDA) held its annual BEST Awards competition on May 16 at The Natural History Museum of Utah, with the UVU Sorensen Student Center capturing the "BEST of the BEST" and "BEST Play" categories.
 
BEST stands for Brilliantly Executed Spaces & Thinking, and the IIDA awards are among the most prestigious given to interior design professionals in both residential and commercial markets. An array of unique projects were submitted, projects that go beyond painting a pretty picture while truly encompassing great design in function, form, and style. 

IIDA Intermountain recognizes that successful interior design requires a collaboration of many disciplines including consultant teams, project managers, vendors, contractors, and more. These awards are a celebration of that collaboration and of dynamic overall design happening throughout the Intermountain region.

BEST of the Best & BEST Play

UVU Sorensen Student Center Remodel + Addition

Method Studio

The Sorensen Student Center at Utah Valley University is the hub for dining, retail, and leisure activities on campus. The design team was tasked with expanding and enhancing the existing center to improve the main concourse, all dining and food services, theater upgrades, and providing space for event services.

 

The ultimate objective was to create a cohesive design that embodies the university's brand and instills a sense of community spirit. Despite the logistical challenges of renovating in phases while students and faculty went about their respective days, the project successfully delivered a vibrant, student-centered space with new dining, retail, and other student services. Additionally, the design includes unique, UVU- branded wayfinding and graphics that display the wolverine spirit abundantly and enhance the overall student experience.

BEST Give & People's Choice

Metrodora Institute

Denton House Design Studio

Metrodora is unlike any other clinic or hospital—and that’s by design.

 

Their mission is to offer a variety of medical specialties, with the common goal of advancing care for neuroimmune axis disorders. Unlike many other medical facilities, Metrodora’s boutique wellness facility boasts a warm and inviting aura within its public and private spaces that put aside sterile and stereotypical and instead reached for the sense of comfort one would feel at a luxurious spa or hotel.

 

Patients and staff can take in plenty of eye candy with every glance inside the timeless design. Durable textiles, colorful artwork, and custom lighting were used to soften the space and meet healthcare regulations. Over 350 pieces of hand-selected art was installed, many of which brought a feminine touch to the space to honor the facility's namesake, an ancient Greek female physician.

BEST Furniture

Sustainability Display at Salt Lake International Airport

FFKR Architects

During the two decades of planning and six years of construction Salt Lake City International Airport, several sustainability initiatives were implemented into building design and operations. The goal of the Sustainability Display was to present the green achievements of the airport in visual (digital and print) format for patrons and incorporate a seating area for travelers.


Through several design iterations to meet the needs and vision, a custom, locally inspired three-piece set made the cut. Wood was the natural material choice for its biophilic elements, both visually and longevity. A custom computer script was developed to translate the high and low elevations of the Wasatch Range and properly size them into the peaks and valleys of the bench seat backs. To eliminate volatile emitted gases, a water-based non-VOC polyurethane was used to seal the plywood. This sustainability display is durable enough to withstand the high use and high-traffic of an airport with low maintenance.


Beyond the two benches, the central oval-shaped pylon holds a display case and a TV to share the airport's initiatives and achievements as a 21st century transportation hub. 

BEST Hotels

Teewinot Lodge Grand Targhee

Edge ID

The Teewinot Lodge, built in 1977, beckons guests into a world reminiscent of a Wes Anderson film, drawing inspiration from the whimsical charm of "Moonrise Kingdom" and infusing it with the rustic allure of the Grand Targhee Ski Resort. Nestled amidst the towering Teton Mountains, the lodge's quaint timber cabin architecture, adorned with quirky details, organic shapes, and vibrant colors, immediately transports visitors to a bygone era of adventure and discovery.

 

Step inside the vaulted lobby, where the crackling of the central stone fireplace sets the stage for an evening of storytelling. Against a backdrop of campy hues and organic shapes, guests can engage in lively games of shuffleboard or simply bask in the warmth of camaraderie.

 

Each guest room is a whimsical retreat, meticulously curated with vintage-inspired furnishings and eccentric touches that pay homage to the lodge's storied past. Cozy textiles in funky patterns and warm wood tones create a retreat where guests can immerse themselves in the nostalgia of yesteryears.

 

Guests will carry with them the spirit of adventure and wonder that defines the Teewinot Lodge along with the “laid back, keep it simple” vibe that Grand Targhee Ski Resort was founded on.



BEST Learn - Higher Education

WSU Noorda Engineering, Applied Science & Technology Building

VCBO Architecture

The Weber State University’s Noorda Engineering, Applied Science & Technology Building is a celebration of the forward-thinking and technically precise minds within its walls. Situated on the north end of campus, this 144,000 square foot facility serves as the new home for the College of Engineering, Applied Science & Technology.

 

The architectural team worked alongside WSU to design a functional and intuitive building, highlighting structures and elements normally concealed within the walls. Engineering principles are expressed in the design details to support theoretical and experiential learning.

 

The building houses administrative offices, classrooms, labs, project work areas, and collaborative study spaces for the departments of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing & Systems Engineering, Professional Sales, and the School of Computing. It also contains academic spaces for the early-college high school STEM program: NUAMES. This versatile facility provides an innovative space where students can learn, study, and thrive.

BEST Learn - K-12

Dancing Moose

Method Studio

Dancing Moose Montessori School is a new classroom building for Pre-K through 2nd grade students at Thanksgiving Point. This project serves parents working nearby and their enrolled children. The design focused on providing a happy, secure, and welcoming lobby equipped with a library for children and parents to rest and share goodbyes for the day. A colorful modern “tree canopy” embraces you at check-in, allowing collaboration with staff and monitoring of children throughout the space.

 

A key design feature called the “dancing light wall” allows for the playful display of children’s projects and varying light formations peeking through the articulated, playful wood screen. This was reinforced, too, in several skylights parading along the ceilings in the corridors, filtering light and continuing the articulation of light and shapes. Indoor/outdoor educational spaces feature safety, comfort, natural daylight, and views of nature with a focus on age/height-appropriate learning opportunities. In addition to classrooms, other areas include a STEAM Lab for hands-on learning, a large multipurpose gym, and a commercial kitchen. Outdoor educational gathering and play areas, a programmed garden with multiple garden boxes, and a stand-alone garden workshop with restrooms are included.


BEST Live - Multi Unit

Lotus Riverwalk

KWA Interiors

Situated adjacent to the Ogden River, Lotus Riverwalk stands as a beacon of innovation in 101 units across two, four-story buildings. The pioneering project combines Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) housing with a commitment to achieving true Net-Zero status to strategically fulfill multiple objectives. By offering affordable and environmentally sustainable housing options in downtown Ogden, Lotus Riverwalk closely aligns with the city's broader economic development strategies.

 

Lotus Riverwalk aspires to elevate the quality of life for low-income individuals and families by ensuring access to stable housing amidst a nurturing environment. Dark wood grains in the floors combine with the dark wood of the cabinets of each residence for a comfortable home. Wood slat features and wooden ceiling add an extra level of comfort to the leasing space, while wooden beams in the clubhouse area work well with the Lotus Riverwalk’s contemporary furniture to instill pride within the community it serves, fostering a vibrant and inclusive neighborhood where residents truly feel at home.

BEST Live - Single Unit

Red Desert Retreat

Ezra Lee Design + Build

Nestled in Southern Utah's rugged landscape, "Red Desert Retreat" harmoniously blends into its surroundings, echoing the stark beauty of the desert. Inside, warm tones and ample natural light create a welcoming atmosphere with panoramic views of the mesas.

 

The open layout fosters a connection with nature and community. Outdoors, a pool, hot tub, and fire pit cater to both relaxation and family enjoyment. This sanctuary offers respite amidst captivating scenery.


BEST on a Budget: Under $70/SF

Audible at Sundance Film Festival

WOW atelier

Once a year, Park City becomes the epicenter of the film industry for that matter, the epicenter of the creative universe. The incredible thing about the Sundance Film Festival is it only lasts two weeks, so anything produced for this event is temporary and must be built off-site and put into place in a matter of days. In the case of the Audible venue, total installation took five days to take a blank space to a fully functioning space that is an extension of a worldwide brand and needs.


The venue was all about “apres-storytelling”, a modern twist in a chalet where visitors would gather around the “fireplace” and indulge in premium storytelling. The space was designed with plush textures and jewel-toned pallets. Energizing colors breathed life into the space to both excite the senses and embrace a cozy video.

BEST Serve

Murray City Hall

GSBS Architects

The design of Murray City Hall was inspired by Murray itself. The city’s history of industry, foresight, and civic pride informed the approach to material choice and design direction. The intent was to embody the heart of the community—timeless design that instills a sense of pride and place. Located in the historic center of the community, City Hall celebrates Murray’s past and future by including building materials that once powered the local economy—brick, copper, and concrete. Similar materials are used on the interior for cohesion and continuity.

 

To provide light and openness to the interior spaces, these materials are joined by walls of glass. This contemporary yet approachable material palette emphasizes both the permanence and transparency of Murray City governance. The abundant glass and high volume create a light-filled lobby, an interior “street,” from which visitors are directed to their intended destinations.

BEST Work - Over 15,000 SF

Service Titan

Method Studio and MAWD

The combined training and call center project provided a unique, collective approach between two design firms for a discerning client dedicated to creating software for contractors and builders. The design of their space, heavily hospitality focused, needed to create a workplace where employees would want to inhabit. Designers agreed that incorporating company standards for brand unification from their East Coast office while simultaneously integrating a sense of local through a play on “Mountain Tech” as a vibe was the best avenue for success.

 

Filled with amenities including boutique drinks, wellness rooms, gold- and silver-plated foosball tables, access to outdoor balconies off work areas, and an expansive outdoor patio on the ground level, the space offers what virtual working cannot. Balance with the amenities came from a dialed-in selection of collaborative and individual heads down focus spaces with state-of-the-art technology and inclusive design, all set against a backdrop of luxurious materials.

 

Who wouldn’t want to work here?

BEST Work - Under 15,000 SF

Wheeler Farm USU Extension Office Outdoor Education Center

ajc architects

At the heart of this project is the concept of "re-wilding" or re-connecting children and communities back to nature. In the case of the Outdoor Education Center, it meant facilitating hands-on experiences and physical re-connections to nature—encouraging individuals to play in the dirt and bring the outside in for further exploration to reconnect the natural world and classroom.

 

The guiding design goal was to find a way to integrate with the historic agrarian architecture utilizing contemporary materials and design principles. Beyond the administration offices and outdoor learning area with teaching spaces and demonstration gardens, the flexibility achieved in the building interior design is outstanding.

 

The project required a lab that could be transformed from an event space to a demonstration kitchen, a natural sciences lab, locally sourced food pantry, and a traditional classroom with 150 seats and the desks and technology required for high-level instruction. One look through the floor-to-ceiling glass walls at any time show that was achieved in spades. Within a single day, visitors can learn gardening, cooking, biology, and conservation in the same classroom without worrying about getting the space or themselves dirty.


BEST Student Project

Storybrook Cotrage

Rachael Barlow

Situated atop the Dover Cliffs in England, the idea behind Storybrook Cottage is that of a new home historically built to reflect a traditional Cotswold cottage in the “storybook” style from many a children’s tale. The home is for a couple who have traveled the world and want a place to call home in the scenic, historic area.

 

The home’s focal point is a large kitchen perfect for hosting and viewing the cliffs and surroundings via the delightful a-frame window. Livable, comfortable, and relaxing, the design is rooted in historic, traditional materials but meets the needs of functional modern living. While the home is small and intimate, it provides ample space for the couple to develop their personal relationships and individual growth.

 

What results is a design for a fresh, new residence built to stand the test of times, in both the past and present.

Like a Phoenix Rising

By Bradley Fullmer • November 15, 2025
Residents have access to a wealth of modern, high-class amenities: Check out this open-air rooftop patio with tasteful lighting, pool, and spacious hot tub—it’s party time! (all photos courtesy Kier Construction)

Mission In Progress

By LADD MARSHALL • November 15, 2025
Steve Green is out in McCornick, Utah. Where is that? And what’s near McCornick? “Nothing,” joked Green, the Sr. Vice President for Wheeler Machinery Co. While he may be far from even the smallest of small towns, with Holden and its 492 residents 13 miles away, he’s close to the site of a major development in data center technology. Isolated on the western edge of the Sevier Desert, the Joule Data Center will also be isolated from the grid—by design. Operation Gigawatt Rolls On Green is one of many energy and power professionals hoping to double Utah’s power generation capacity by 2034 as a part of Operation Gigawatt, an initiative launched by Utah Governor Spencer Cox in October 2024. Utah has long been an economic growth leader; Operation Gigawatt aims to make Utah a power player in energy development by increasing transmission capacity, increasing energy production, strengthening policy, and investing in energy innovation. While Governor Cox’s Operation Gigawatt moves forward statewide, out in McCornick, Green said, “We’re doing operation gigawatt and a half off grid.” The Joule Data Center project team will deliver “In-situ power generation”—power not connected to any electrical distribution or transmission system. It starts with Caterpillar G3520K reciprocating generator sets that produce 1.5 gigawatts of electricity. Waste heat and exhaust from the generators then move through an absorption chiller system as part of the overall systems combined cooling, heat, and power (CCHP) solution, providing much of the water required to cool the data center servers. Beyond the electric power to be generated for the Joule project, there will be 1.5 gigawatts of thermal energy and 1.1 gigawatts of available battery storage to meet the data center's peak electricity needs. Added Green, “And we’re not taxing the local utility grid.” Isolated or Community Power? The massive power capabilities delivered there are impressive, but they reveal a troubling trend in how Utah will double its power generation capabilities. Will it be from well-funded companies looking to power data centers and AI technology separate from the grid? Or will Utah fulfill the mission of Operation Gigawatt by creating power solutions accessible to all? According to Troy Thompson, Chief Operations Officer for Big-D Companies, power generation is about more than supplying data centers. “In my mind, how do we build a billion-dollar hospital downtown that needs ten megawatts of power?” he said, referencing Intermountain Health’s future downtown Salt Lake campus, “let alone the data centers, and manufacturers who we are hoping that will come here?” Ten megawatts of power may pale in comparison to what data centers require, but it is one of many projects seeking regulatory approval to move forward. The Utah Inland Port Authority, the Economic Development Corporation of Utah, and others continue to drive projects and jobs into Utah—data centers, too. But Thompson said he has heard from many potential clients who are hesitant to bring their energy-intensive projects to the state without firm guarantees of available power. Operation Gigawatt and state leaders have embraced an "all of the above" approach to energy sources, extending the design lifespans of coal plants, embracing new technologies and power sources, and developing new power-generating capabilities. While the industry is willing, the operating environment needs rewiring to meet state goals. Changing for 21st Century Needs “With as hot as the Utah market is,” began Eric Haslem, “there are too many obstacles for us to overcome.” The market may be ready to ramp up production, said Haslem, Chief Operating Officer for Vernal-based utility and heavy civil contractors BHI, “But the current system can’t handle it. We have this massive web of transmission and distribution infrastructure that was not designed or built for the power demands of the 21st century.” “In 1970, they didn’t know what a smartphone was,” Haslem said, “let alone AI.” Transmission projects have been developed. Rocky Mountain Power/PacifiCorp’s Energy Gateway South transmission line—a 416-mile, high-voltage 500-kilovolt transmission line that runs from Mona to Medicine Bow, Wyoming—certainly helped when it went live in 2024. Still, it's just one project amidst a plethora of needs. Haslem stated that Utah's growth over the last 10 years meant a large majority of the transmission line's capacity was accounted for when it went live. .

One-Stop Shop

By Bradley Fullmer • November 15, 2025
And the King shall answer and say unto them, "Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."—KJV Matthew 25:40 From a social and community impact standpoint, few projects match the value to disabled and special needs individuals as the new Utah State Development Center (USDC) Comprehensive Therapies Building in American Fork. The $36 million, 65,000-SF facility was designed as a "one-stop shop," said Joe Jacoby, President of Salt Lake-based Jacoby Architects, whose team led the project’s design. It consolidates and modernizes myriad services under one roof, including physical therapy, occupational therapy, recreational therapy, speech, language, and hearing resources, and behavioral health resources. In addition, the new building offers full-service medical and dental clinics, an indoor therapy pool, an Autism treatment wing, and workshops for life skills and vocational training—all geared to helping people live independent, authentic lives, while striving to reach their full potential. "This building was very much about accessibility," Jacoby said, "and putting in many different types of resources for these residents—all in one building." Jacoby's firm has significant recent experience in projects that combine education and healthcare for people with special needs. The firm's design of the Sorenson Legacy Foundation Center for Clinical Excellence in Utah State University's College of Education and Human Services earned UC+D's 2016 Most Outstanding K-12 Project. Two years later, the firm earned another UC+D award for the C. Mark Openshaw Education Center for the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind, a project similar to this one in that it contains an array of services, including education and therapy for varying levels of sensory, behavioral, physical, and cognitive abilities. "We've been working on different [design] aspects for many years, starting with a deaf preschool, which led to working with the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind," said Jacoby. "With that came many other sub-specialties, like therapy for behavioral issues, cognitive issues, development disabilities, and even speech, language and hearing clinics. It helps people with a variety of disabilities and serves an underserved population of people."

Built Different

By Taylor Larsen • November 15, 2025
On a fall tour of Utah State University's (USU) Carolyn & Kem Gardner Learning & Leadership Building (Gardner Building), students and faculty are hard at work on a late Tuesday afternoon. Getting here, where USU's business school students could thrive, was a long time coming. The University commissioned the Gardner Building to meet a new mission for the school outside the traditional knowledge acquisition and transfer for which USU has excelled since its founding in 1888: Giving students a differentiated experience they cannot get anywhere else. Purpose Revealed Frank Caliendo, Senior Associate Dean of the Huntsman School of Business, said that the new building is the third and final piece of the business complex, "a realization of the longtime vision of Dean Douglas Anderson, the driving force behind the school's transformation, to meet the needs of students for generations to come." Caliendo, a longtime Aggie (USU BS, '98; PhD, '03), said that, even after the opening of the George S. Eccles Business Building and its faculty offices and classrooms in 1970, growth in business courses eventually outpaced the school's capacity. Jon M. Huntsman Hall's 2016 opening broke the campus bottleneck, with classrooms and other spaces dedicated to business school participants. "But we still needed space for our centers and experiential learning programs," Caliendo said, of the importance of collaborative spaces and differentiated experience for the five programs (see page XX) that would call the Gardner Building home. The design intent for this final piece wasn't a re-creation of Huntsman Hall, Caliendo said of the initial message to MHTN Architects, "But it does need to rhyme with Huntsman Hall." Working within a Busy Environment The first order of business was siting the building just east of the other two business school structures. Stan Burke, Project Manager for Jacobsen Construction, said the Gardner Building was part of a trio of projects that included Ridge Point Hall and a parking garage—three Jacobsen-led projects that utilized the same construction corridor as construction commenced from "An active campus is difficult enough," said Burke of the challenges of simultaneous construction, which required constant coordination amongst the three teams, made a tad easier as they shared a job trailer. "We had to stay cognizant of the school's activities and coordinate with them so that everyone was aware of what we were doing." Coordination went from important to critical, with the three teams meeting daily to discuss coordination and scheduling material and equipment deliveries in 15-minute intervals as the respective construction teams worked on each of the three structures.

The Long and Winding Road

By Bradley Fullmer • November 15, 2025
Warren and Jennie Lloyd (above) have built Salt Lake-based Lloyd Architects into a well-rounded, versatile firm capable of excelling in both the commercial and custom residential markets, as evidenced by projects such as Snuck Farm in Pleasant Grove (main photo) and this cozy private Powder Mountain based cabin in Eden (below ).

Power Player

By Bradley Fullmer • November 15, 2025
The last five years have been a whirlwind for the Larry H. Miller Company (LHM), with the organization selling the majority of its beloved Utah Jazz franchise in October 2020 for a reported $1.66 billion, followed by the sale of its auto dealership empire of more than 70 properties for a reported $3.2 billion a year later. The influx of nearly $5 billion was parlayed into several jaw-dropping real estate and other corporate purchases, including: —1,300 undeveloped acres within the massive 4,100-acre Daybreak development in South Jordan in April 2021. —Advanced Health Care Corp. in January 2021, a transitional health care provider with operations in eight states (primarily in the west) and 3,500 employees. —The purchase of the majority stake in Swig, a leader in the flavored soda craze, in May 2023. — Partnering with Utah Trust Lands Administration to develop 1,200 acres in Saratoga Springs. — The acquisition of over 1,000 acres near Park City and Hideout will include multi-family units, housing, restaurants, and retail. —100+ acre mixed-use development in an area along North Temple being dubbed “The Power District”; the future home of not only Rocky Mountain Power’s new corporate campus but potentially a ballpark for a future Major League Baseball expansion team. —A reported $600 million acquisition of controlling interest in MLS team Real Salt Lake and NWSL team Utah Royals, along with associated infrastructure, including America First Field and Zions Bank Training Center. —The development of Downtown Daybreak, a 200-acre parcel that this year saw its 30-acre Phase I debut with the completion of the Salt Lake Bees' new 8,000 capacity stadium—dubbed The Ballpark at America First Square—in April, followed by a new Megaplex cinema entertainment center in July with luxury theatres, bowling, games and a scratch-made kitchen in addition to an open air plaza. A seven-story, 190-unit multi-family development is currently under construction and rising along the right field bleachers, with views that will look down into the ballpark upon completion next year. And LHM is just getting started, said Brad Holmes, President of Larry H. Miller Real Estate since 2018, calling Downtown Daybreak a "new urban center that is central to where the majority of growth is occurring" and combines a "full spectrum of business and year-round entertainment, culture and connectivity, as well as a wide range of housing options." When LHM executives first conceived of a new home for the Salt Lake Bees, Holmes said they went on a "ballpark tour" of MLB and minor league stadiums, and "really fell in love with a ballpark" in Durham, North Carolina—home of the Durham Bulls—which had buildings that framed in the stadium. So, The Ballpark at America First Square has the multi-family project underway in right field, with a proposed hotel slated to begin next year in left field. "In another two seasons, you'll have this urban setting for the ballpark that frames the mountain views. [The design is] really intentional, and I think it will bring a finished edge to Downtown Daybreak," said Holmes. "It was a process trying to figure out the best location, site plan, traffic, but it's in a great spot. The goal for us was to make it feel like it fit in with the community, almost like having a baseball stadium inside of a park, with an open corridor that connects to a plaza."  Holmes said the seemingly small 8,000-capacity stadium (about half the capacity of the Bees former home at Smith’s Ballpark) aligns with national trends. "It's better to play in front of a sold-out crowd than in a half-empty stadium. Some new MLB stadiums are at 30,000 [capacity]. The trend is smaller, more intimate venues with closer views of the field."

Hogan Construction 80th Anniversary

By Taylor Larsen • November 15, 2025
Much has changed about Hogan & Associates Construction since the company's inception 80 years ago. The name may be the most obvious example, the size of the company may be another giveaway, and the difference in markets served might require a double take if the founders could see the company today. But what hasn't changed is the firm's desire to build communities. It has regularly built important, community-focused projects with a similar purpose since the company came to life in 1945.

(De)signed, Sealed, Delivered

By Taylor Larsen • November 15, 2025
Imagine this: A company has just begun a meeting with the intent of moving forward with a major investment. One party knows something that will help minimize the investment's risk. Should that party tell everyone, it will save money, time, and everyone involved from future headaches. So when should that party spill the beans? At the beginning of the meeting At the end of the meeting At the right time during the meeting Never Bradley Crocker, Director of Preconstruction for Mollerup Glass, has seen how answering this question correctly—and choosing “A”—brings about successful and profitable investment in commercial construction. “I think that [project teams] need to bring in subcontractors early to help guide budgets in general,” said Crocker, detailing how every trade can bring a similar level of expertise to architects and owners by being involved from the beginning of the “meeting”, while the project is in design. Why? “We can vet cost versus performance and find the best value for the performance, which is essential as meeting or beating the budgets gets the project to construction on time,” said Ben Hiatt, Chief Estimator for Steel Encounters. After all, he said, “Nothing moves if budgets are not met.” Design-assist is a positive step forward, where subcontractors assist in matching design intent with a deep understanding of building envelopes to ensure glazing, roofing, walls, and fenestrations perform at their highest level. Glenn Rainey, Salt Lake City Branch Manager, and Larry Luque, Senior Estimator and Business Developer for Flynn Companies, each said efforts in design-assist fulfill what owners and architects want: buildings that meet the design intent and perform at their highest level for as long as possible. It’s not just architects who benefit from that early involvement. “More GCs realize they need us right up front,” said Luque. With teams whose combined experience totals thousands of hours, building envelope contractors stay up to date on changing codes, materials, and specifications, which is highly beneficial to the project. Their close involvement with vendors can help ensure a variety of solutions that meet each job’s needs and help optimize building envelope performance. Consultant Involvement Other parties are lending their expertise. Brandt Strong said building envelope quality has increased with the arrival of more building envelope consultants in Utah and a greater dedication to the building envelope in general. “We had a time where we could say ‘This is a Vegas project, and we have to have the belt and suspenders,’” said Strong, Director of Operations for Mollerup Glass. On Utah projects, the building envelope used to be an afterthought. But it’s changed for the better over the years. “The Utah teams are as sophisticated as anywhere else.” While the markups on shop drawings can draw some ire, both mentioned how working with consultants has led to better, more efficient projects, potentially reducing the need for future repairs by inspecting every material and transition on the building envelope. Said Crocker, “We cannot discredit the envelope consultants’ role in making us, and the industry as a whole, perform at a higher level.” Hiatt credited each party overseeing the building envelope scope for learning and adapting to create a better building environment, specifically in understanding seismic drift and its relationship to glazing, as well as thermal performance and continuity. Improvements to air-barrier coordination and tie-ins to stop water and air leaks are helping buildings operate at peak efficiency. “The architects, general contractors, consultants, and trades have improved their knowledge over the years,” said Hiatt. “Design and execution of façades are better coordinated and executed.”

Taylor Electric Thriving at 50

By Bradley Fullmer • November 15, 2025
Taylor Electric proved its mettle on the challenging Salt Lake International Airport, Southeast Concourse project, with their portion of work concluding in October 2023. (all photos courtesy Taylor Electric)

Hungry and Ready

By Bradley Fullmer and Taylor Larsen • November 15, 2025
By Bradley Fullmer It's been a whirlwind 18 months for Adam Del Toro and Nick Pexton, who co-founded Fountain Green-based Reliance Engineering Services in May 2024, a company specializing in full-service telecommunications engineering, including design, project management, permitting, and funding and grant applications. Two years ago, Del Toro was more than a decade into his career as a Research & Development Supervisor for natural gas giant Dominion Energy, while Pexton was working for Nephi-based Rocky Mountain West Telcom (RMWT) as a Sr. Director of Business Development, with just over four years at the company. The two had met a couple of years earlier while collaborating on a potential fiber optic network project in Mona that never happened. Neither was particularly content with their respective positions, so when Del Toro got a random call from Pexton in March 2024, the timing could not have been better. "I was planning on leaving the natural gas industry and start my own firm [...] Nick happened to call the day I was putting in my two weeks [at Dominion],” said Del Toro, 39. "It definitely felt like Providence was helping us." "Somebody was looking after us, because the timing was unbelievable," added Pexton, 35. "It's crazy how things lined up." Del Toro is a native of St. George and earned a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering from Utah State University in 2011. After 2.5 years as a USU Graduate Research Assistant, he joined Dominion Energy in January 2013, where he designed major natural gas systems and structures. Del Toro also earned a Master of Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of the Cumberlands (Williamsburg, Kentucky) in 2023, and moonlights as a counselor at The Center for Hope in Springville, where he helps clients address life challenges both personally and professionally. Pexton is a native of Nephi and studied at Utah Valley University from 2008 to 2010, and earned the Certified Telecommunications Network Specialist designation from Teracom Training Institute (2013-2014). Pexton joined Nephi-based Mid-State Consultants, a telecommunications engineering firm, in March 2011 and spent more than nine years there. He joined RMWT in June 2020, gaining experience in project management and operations. After that fortuitous phone call from Pexton to Del Toro, the pair met four times from March to May to "make sure we were aligned on what the company would look like," Pexton said. "It was a pretty quick process," added Del Toro. "We got talking about goals, how to build a general company vision. I trusted Nick's background and experience, and his character, as well. It was a big risk, but I'm a sink-or-swim guy. If those are my options, I'm going to swim!" Since teaming up, the pair have been aggressive regarding company growth, having exploded from just the two of them to 30 employees, with revenues expected to more than quintuple from $560,000 in 2024 to nearly $3 million by the end of this year. Both expect the telecommunication market to be a fruitful, busy market given the need for fiber optics to rural America, in addition to the "Internet for All" initiative in May 2022 that was part of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration's (NTIA) implementation of the infrastructure law that allocated $65 billion to improve high-speed Internet access. Utah, specifically, received $330 million, with the goal of reaching some 40,000 unserved homes and businesses. The firm's location in Sanpete County puts them in the center of the state geographically, and they're committed to working with communities of all sizes to improve their internet capacity. In addition to Utah, Reliance is working in Michigan and Oklahoma, and Del Toro and Pexton expect to land significant future work throughout the Midwest. They want to grow intentionally while ensuring a diversity of revenue streams. "We set some early goals, and we've been able to do really well—we're on track to beat our goals," said Del Toro, crediting the many employees who have joined the firm. "Those individuals took great risks coming on board. We anticipate we'll be even larger next year with the work coming down the pipeline." "Our outlook has been wise," said Pexton. "We've taken into consideration diversification into other sectors—that's a key element. Adam has experience in the natural gas industry, and we want to further our diversification and get into the power side of the industry." Major clients include the federal government (USDA), utility companies, and municipalities, with a focus on rural communities. "We love Sanpete County," said Del Toro. "We value helping the communities we live and work in and providing services that help build up the community and hopefully help the residents." "We depend on repeat work from 18 major clients, and continuously getting work from them," said Pexton. "The minute we stop doing a good job, they can go someplace else. As long as we do a good job, we'll keep getting work." The pair expect Reliance to maintain its explosive growth, perhaps even doubling its employee total in another 12 months. "Next year's [revenue] goal is $4.8 million," said Pexton. "We have confidence in what our workload will be like. We are scaling quite dramatically and want to grow at a healthy pace, where we're not stringing ourselves out too thin. We're in a good position right now."