Building Blocks

The use of geofoam blocks played a key role in the overall success
of the 16-mile long, $750 million West Davis Highway.
By Reuben Wright

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

Innovation remains a calling card for the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) on its major highway projects, with the recent completion of the mammoth $750 million design-build West Davis Highway (WDH) project utilizing geofoam blocks to combat challenging soil conditions and provide a solid foundation on one of the major ramps.


Comprised of expanded polystyrene, the use of EPS geofoam blocks in construction originated more than 50 years ago in Norway and was used significantly in Utah on the Interstate 15 Reconstruction from 1997-2001, which coincided with the International Geofoam Conference being held in Salt Lake City in 2001.

UDOT has implemented geofoam on various projects since then, including the 1100 South bridge over I-15 in Brigham City and the 5600 West bridge near 700 South in Salt Lake City.


"Sometimes there are unique challenges on our projects, and they require innovative solutions," said Corey Nelson, UDOT Project Manager on WDH. "Geofoam is another tool in our toolbox to efficiently build the roads, trails and bridges we all need to get where we want to go."


Nelson said approximately 3,000 geofoam blocks were used to build the ramp that connects West Davis Highway with southbound I-15 in Farmington. These blocks are considerably lighter than dirt, allowing crews to build the new ramp in close proximity to I-15 as well as the Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) and Utah Transit Authority (UTA) tracks without concern of additional shifting or settlement.


Each block weighs about 200 pounds and measures 4 ft. by 5 ft. by 9 ft. The blocks were brought to the construction site and then either placed as-is or cut to fit as needed. Once all the blocks are in place, a concrete slab is poured on top to evenly distribute the load of the ramp pavement and traffic, and concrete walls are installed along the sides.



"The geofoam blocks helped [solve] potential issues that would have resulted from a large [tall] fill embankment being built next to a very sensitive rail corridor," said Jared Hobbs, Deputy Project Manager for Ogden-based Staker Parson Materials & Construction. "The lightweight fill helped alleviate settlement concerns and met the needs of a zero-settlement tolerance for the UPRR/UTA rail facilities."

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Giant EPS geofoam blocks played a key role on the construction of this bridge ramp that connects West Davis Highway to Southbound I-15. Aerial view of the massive bridge structure, one of the true highlights of this $750 million project. (photo by Bobby Gibson; courtesy UDOT)

Three-firm JV Offers Great Depth and Unique Skillsets

Spanning six Davis County cities and constructed by the three-way joint venture of three prominent general contractors known as Farmington Bay Contractors (FBC)—Ames Construction, Wadsworth Brothers Construction, and Staker Parson—the project benefitted from having a deep pool of resources and specific expertise from each company.


Ames served as managing partner, and its self-performed work included primarily mass earthwork, retaining wall and drainage work, as well as some structural support. Wadsworth Brothers was tasked with constructing the 15 bridges and 15 box culverts on the project. Staker Parson provided earthwork, drainage, wet utility installation/relocation, aggregate base placement, and asphalt paving.


"Each partner brought unique abilities and resources to the team that complimented each other very well," said Hobbs.


Nelson added that a JV with three firms allows the team to share in the ownership, risks and returns of each project and is considered a more responsible and productive way to tackle a project the size of West Davis Highway. He praised the FBC team's ability to "work seamlessly together and deliver the project early. In this unified effort, each company shared in the overall scope of work."


West Davis Highway is a new 16-mile, 4-lane divided highway that serves primarily the west side of Davis County. The first phase of construction connects to I-15 and Legacy Parkway at approximately Glovers Lane in Farmington and extends west and north, terminating at 4500 West and the future extension of S.R. 193 in West Point. It is expected to reduce traffic delays by more than 30% on local roads west of I-15 in the county.


The project also includes over 14 miles of new trail and trail connections to create a consolidated trail system connecting Emigration Trail to Legacy Parkway Trail. The project also preserved 1,100 acres of wetlands near the Great Salt Lake to help safeguard the environment.


Former UDOT Project Director Rex Harris praised the FBC team for its cohesiveness and for its research during the pursuit of the project. Harris said FBC found out that the first four miles of the project had excessively soft soils, so the team did a test fill area that sat for 8 months before the project bid. It gave the team solid data about how the soil would behave and helped shape a forward-thinking design and construction schedule. FBC was able to lower overall risk and be more confident with its cost estimate.   


"Farmington Bay Contractors [shares] UDOT's commitment to enhancing quality of life by keeping Utah moving," Harris said at the time the contract was awarded. "Their proposal provided the best value through innovation, safety, quality, and reduced impacts to local communities—at a very competitive cost."   



Material Shortages, Labor and Tight Schedule Among Top Project Challenges

Like countless other construction projects around the state, supply shortages were a recurring challenge on this 30-month project. These shortages, particularly with materials like concrete, required strategic scheduling of deliveries, helped FBC to minimize schedule impact and ensure consistent material supplies.


Consistently staffing a project of this size required a sizeable workforce. Despite severe labor challenges, FBC prioritized tasks based on their importance. By strategically allocating resources and focusing on essential aspects of the project first, FBC ensured key milestones were met. FBC's strategic approach helped optimize productivity within the constraints of available resources.


The team was also able to meet the strict project schedule by successfully handling issues such as the settling of surcharge dirt, third-party utility work, a brutal winter season, and material shortages. When aspects of the schedule went beyond its control, FBC shifted focus to other tasks that could be completed in parallel and minimized the impact of delays on the overall schedule.


One of the key decisions of the entire project was determining whether to temporarily close a major arterial road in Syracuse or employ a hefty traffic management plan that would ultimately cause a longer schedule. Through extensive collaboration with the city, local emergency services, and proactive communication with stakeholders well in advance, the team garnered support for a two-month closure by emphasizing its potential to expedite the project. Remarkably, the closure progressed smoothly, with minimal complaints from the community.


Clear communication enabled residents to navigate alternative routes effectively, and the effort propelled the project significantly ahead of schedule.

Another significant challenge was moving and hoisting precast concrete and steel beams exceeding 200 ft. in length. Careful coordination was required for their placement between dozens of organizations—from orchestrating travel arrangements for the beams to scheduling road closures, the process was complex and intense. Detailed erection plans, some spanning 200+ pages, showed the intricacy of the undertaking. Critical areas such as I-15 in Farmington and Antelope Drive in Syracuse necessitated extensive planning. Transporting and erecting the beams required Utah Highway Patrol escorts and specialized semi-trucks, with only two trucks available statewide.


According to Dustin Belnap, Project Superintendent for WBC, the giant I-15 structure is an eight-span bridge with approximately 1.25 miles of total girder length, clocking in at a mind-boggling four million pounds. It spans over I-15 in both directions, over the UTA and UPRR tracks, under high-voltage power lines, and over both directions of Legacy Highway, allowing northbound I-15 traffic to access the West Davis Corridor.


The erection process took months of planning between Farmington Bay Constructors, UDOT, UPRR and Rocky Mountain Power all working together in a highly collaborative process. The duration of erecting the steel took approximately four months to complete using nighttime lane closures and weekends, to ensure that traffic, as well as trains, kept moving as much as possible during the process.


Asphalt paving crews performed admirably, given that they placed over 433,000 tons of material, a special performance-grade asphalt that includes additional polymers for added durability. The highway also had a 1.5-in. layer of SMA (stone matrix asphalt) placed on top. Crews also placed more than 71,000 cu. ft. of curb and gutter, 162,000 LF of pipe, 267 bridge supports, 246,000 LF of fence, 281 new lights, and over 1,100 new signs.


Hobbs said one unique aspect of the paving process was that the pavement section had a lot of variance in the final design, with it based on projected traffic counts of future roadway use. For example, at different longitudinal sections where anticipated traffic counts are less than other sections, that section was thinned (or thickened) to handle the future demand. Another example is ramps and outside shoulders having different pavement sections than the two mainline general-purpose lanes. In all, crews placed 330,000 tons of granular borrow (subbase), 850,000 tons of untreated base course, and 430,000 tons of asphalt mix material.


In future phasing, the highway will extend to 1800 North in West Point, with long range plans for it to possibly extend further into West Haven and Hooper, ultimately connecting back to I-15.


Grade-separated interchanges were constructed at Legacy/I-15 (Farmington), 950 North (Farmington), 200 North (Kaysville), 2700 West (Layton), 2000 West (Syracuse), and Antelope Drive (Syracuse).



"It goes without saying that any successful project can be attributed to a team of individuals working together towards common goals," Hobbs concluded, offering praise to all firms who contributed to this mighty effort, including UDOT Region 1, Salt Lake-based HDR and Pleasant Grove-based Horrocks Engineers (program management), Midvale-based Raba Kistner (QA/QC), many key subcontractors and other third-party representatives.


West Davis Highway

Location: Davis County (Centerville, Farmington, Kaysville, Layton, Syracuse, West Point)

Cost: $750 Million

Start/Completion: May 2021/January 2024

Delivery Method: Design-Build

Length: 16 miles

Surface: Asphalt

No. of Bridges:  15


Project Team

Owner: Utah Department of Transportation

Owner's Rep: Corey Nelson (PM)

 

Design Team

Program Management Team: HDR; Horrocks Engineers

Design: HNTB; FBC

 

Construction Team

General Contractor: Farmington Bay Contactors (FBC)—JV of Ames Construction; Wadsworth Brothers Construction; Staker Parson Materials & Construction

Earthwork: FBC (Ames; Staker Parson)

Retaining Walls: FBC (Ames)

Bridges/Box Culverts: FBC (Wadsworth Brothers)

Paving: FBC (Staker Parson)

Steel/Rebar: Utah Pacific; Harris Rebar

Subcontractors/Role: Cache Valley Electric (ATMS/Electrical/Signal; Gateway (Painting); Restruction Corp (Polymer); Craghead (Curb Gutter/Sidewalk; Harper Precast (Noise Walls); Comers (Concrete Barrier and Coping); RECO (MSE Walls Fabrication); CellCrete




Economists Remain Optimistic about Utah

By Milt Harrison • February 28, 2025
Despite some minor economic headwinds, Utah is poised for another solid, if semi-unspectacular, year of construction and real estate development, according to top economists locally and nationally. Indeed, 2025 is shaping up to be much like 2024, a year where firms across the A/E/C spectrum completed dozens of life-enhancing, community-uplifting projects across every major building sector—in other words, a lot of projects were built outside of the still churning multi-family market. These firms thrived for the most part, posting positive revenue growth and maintaining momentum in the face of the usual challenges of shallow labor pools and volatile material costs. Utah continues to rank among the top states nationally on key economic drivers such as population growth, construction employment, a pro-business climate, and a legislative body that continues to be bullish on funding higher education and transportation projects. Prospects are good with a can-do mentality among developers, municipalities, and the firms designing and building the jobs. "Utah will continue to have above average growth and is in great position to continue its great track record with a growing population, and a strong economy and construction market," said Ken Simonson, Chief Economist for the Associated General Contractors of America (AGCA) in Washington, D.C. "Utah has been on a steady, strong upward path with 27% growth in construction employment—three times the national average of 9%—since 2020." Simonson said Utah's construction employment growth doubled last year, up 6%, which is twice the U.S. average. Growth would be even stronger, he added, if contractors could find workers, particularly skilled tradesmen. Simonson said a survey of 1,500 firms nationally stated 94% had openings for craft workers. "It's hard to fill (skilled) positions, more difficult than last year," he added. Utah's consistent population growth—the Beehive State ranked fourth according to the U.S. Census from 2023-24 with 1.8% growth (3.44 million to 3.50 million)—is a driver of demand for so many types of construction, as well as a course of construction labor. Simonson said the state has been more welcoming of immigrants, an important source of labor for contractors across the board. Utahns also have a reputation for being well-educated coupled with a strong work ethic and drive to succeed, making the state an attractive place for new businesses looking to expand. Developers Waiting Out Interest Rates; Hope for a Drop in '25 The Fed kept interest rates where they are in January—a decision not popular with many real estate developers simply itching to invest capital and have projects waiting to cut loose the minute rates become more favorable. That pent-up demand could heat up the market if rates drop by even half a point, particularly in the multi-family arena. Simonson said multi-family was down nationally 8% from September 2023-24, with Utah seeing an equivalent slowdown, despite a huge amount of inventory that hit the market in 2024, including attractive high-end downtown properties like Camber, The Worthington, and Astra Tower, and many others along the greater Wasatch Front. "Reductions in the [Fed]’s short-term interest rate target will make financing a bit less expensive but developers still can't get loans or want to proceed if rents aren't high enough to cover the financing and construction costs, including time to complete if there are extended delivery times for electrical equipment such as transformers and switchgear," Simonson added. "Utah isn't immune from these challenges, but if the underlying population growth will be supportive of rent increases, that may bring back multi-family construction sooner than in areas that aren't growing as fast, or at all." Spendlove Keynote at 2025 NAIOP Symposium Senior Economist for Zions Bank, Robert Spendlove, said Utah is well-positioned to maintain solid economic activity, with factors of low unemployment (hovering around 4%), solid wage growth (3.9% in December), and more than a quarter million jobs added at the end of last year. "Utah had unexpected, continued strength in the labor market," said Spendlove at NAIOP Utah's 2025 Symposium in January. "If we could pause the economy and stay where we're at now, we'd be in a perfect position." Consumer inflation, he said, remains sticky at nearly 3%, with the Fed targeting 2% before they can lower interest rates. "Until it's at 2%, they can't claim victory," he said. Overall, consumer prices are up a whopping 22% since 2020. "It's a struggle for people—those prices are never going back down. Inflation is just adding to those price increases. [Fed Chair Jerome] Powell said they will not make the same mistake as the 70s; they will not cut rates until inflation is down." In addition to strong 1.65% [WHAT TYPE OF] growth and 1.8% employment growth, Utah rebounded quickly from the pandemic. "That shows the strength of Utah's economy and labor market," said Spendlove. He added that Utah's GDP was up 4.6%, indicating the strongest economic growth in the U.S., with consumer sentiment improving and greater small business optimism. Utah Maintains Steady Growth, Says Eskic The Beehive State's remarkably consistent and steady growth remains a major reason why its economic outlook remains rosy, said Dejan Eskic, Senior Research Fellow at the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute at the University of Utah. "Utah's population growth has never dropped below zero since 1950—we're still increasing with net migration," said Eskic at an event hosted by the Intermountain Chapter of the American Concrete Institute in January, with growth slowing by only .08 to 1.65% "There is so much demand in our economy that even in a down year for housing, construction employment is up 6.2%," he said. "The American household, on average, has never looked better on paper when looking at financial stability," with 70% of household debt tied to mortgages. Living in Utah is still expensive, even though the state is now listed as the 10th most expensive state to live in, down from 8th. "It doesn't mean Utah is more affordable, other states are just more expensive." The housing crisis will remain among the biggest challenges, both with affordable housing and overall number of units that need to be built. Governor Spencer Cox has made his intentions known that communities need to prioritize ways to address all housing issues, with a desire to see tens of thousands of single family homes built in the next decade. Way easier said than done, simply because developers cannot be expected to be altruistic when market conditions are competitive and profit margins potentially volatile and risky. He expects rents to increase once absorption is reached. Other items of note: —Consumer Price Index dipped to 2.6%, where it is expected to stay. —Expect growth in wages and employment. —Commercial construction will be primarily flat, similar to the last two years. —Office is flat, medical and industrial markets will continue to grow; industrial may be dictated by international trade. —Utah expects to add 500,000 people in the next decade, and will need a jaw-dropping 275,000 more housing units in that time, primarily along the Wasatch Front. "We need to change the dialogue if we're going to solve the housing crisis," said Eskic. "Currently, 92% of renters are priced out of the market. Construction must be optimized."

Waterworks in the Wilderness

By Taylor Larsen • February 28, 2025
July 23rd, 1847 was a pivotal day for the pioneers. Records from the time detailed how the advance party trekking into the Salt Lake Valley built a dam to convey water from City Creek to freshly plowed land. Years later, the city hired civil and hydraulic engineer Herman Schussler to design a system to bring water through laminated wood pipes to 20,000 Salt Lake City residents while preparing for future growth. Schussler said, in a presentation to Brigham Young in 1872, “I propose to construct the pipe system of the City of such dimensions as to be capable of supplying five million gallons per diem.” While those original pipes couldn’t make it to year two, the design was in place for cast iron pipes to go in their place in 1876. The 37 carloads of cast iron pipe, plumbing tools, water gates, and more came from multiple suppliers from eastern US industrial hubs of St. Louis, Boston, and Louisville, KY. Those collaborative efforts brought modern waterworks “in our lovely Deseret,” collecting water from 19.2 square miles of watershed that feeds the 14.5-mile-long City Creek stream. Modernity Fast forward nearly 150 years, past chlorination that arrived in the 1920s, past the first water treatment facility constructed in Utah, the City Creek Water Treatment Plant in 1953, past filter installation in 1966, and past the canyon reopening for recreational use in 1975—Salt Lake City needed a new treatment facility to keep clean water flowing. The Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities (SLCDPU) partnered with engineering firm Brown and Caldwell in design in 2018 to envision and engineer something new to ensure resiliency and reliable water service to its customers. While the plant escaped any critical damage in the March 2020 earthquake, it was a reminder of the urgent need to create a new facility. Design and construction would work around a coterie of barriers and challenges—keeping operations ongoing while building on a challenging site three miles into the wilderness—to produce the future of water treatment for Salt Lake City.

AGC of Utah 2025 Convention

By • February 28, 2025
The Associated General Contractors (AGC) of Utah successfully hosted its 103rd Annual Convention January 23-24 at Little America Hotel in downtown Salt Lake, a popular event that brought together A/E/C industry leaders, professionals, and stakeholders for two days of celebration, education, and networking. The convention highlights the outstanding achievements of Utah's construction industry and provides valuable insights into emerging trends shaping the economically impactful sector, along with the announcement of new chapter leaders and board members for the 2025 season. Brett Nielsen, President of Brigham City-based Whitaker Construction, who has served on the AGC of Utah board since 2017, most recently as National Governor, was installed as 2025 Chairman, taking over the reins of the venerable association from Slade Opheikens, President of Ogden-based R&O Construction. In addition, Nielsen is in line to become the first Utahn to serve as AGC of America President in 2030. "What an honor to be standing here, to be in front of a group of people I have the utmost respect for," said Nielsen at Friday night's Installation Banquet. "It's still surreal to me to be here and know that I'm getting the opportunity to work with a group of people that I'm so passionate about. This chapter is truly one of the finest chapters in all of America." Nielsen started as a Laborer at Whitaker Construction in 1992, gradually climbing the company ladder until taking over in 2021 as President of the powerhouse municipal/utility contractor, the first non-Whitaker to lead the firm. The firm cracked the $288 million mark in 2024 in annual revenues, a notable increase from $109 million in 2018. Nielsen's introduction to the AGC was unassuming, attending the packed annual summer golf tournament and then his first convention in the late '90s. "I saw it as more a networking opportunity, primarily with other Whitaker employees, vendors, and occasionally competitors," he said. His eyes were opened to AGC's real value when the chapter hosted a Young Constructors Forum in 2000, which is the predecessor to the Construction Leadership Committee (CLC). "I remember meeting other young contractors from throughout the country, and discussing the nuances of our markets, type of interstate pavements [this is when the original I-15 was constructed pre-Olympics], margins to the segment of construction, etc." he recalled. "I vividly remember a general contractor telling me their margin and how low it was compared to our underground utility segment, and I for the life of me couldn’t understand why a contractor would subject themselves to such headaches for such a low margin." In 2013, Nielsen became Chair of the Utility Infrastructure Committee for the Utah chapter and attended an AGC of America (AGCA) meeting in Phoenix later that year related to highway and utility contractor issues, something he called "an eye-opening experience." It was held at the posh Biltmore Resort and didn't know anybody. At the opening reception, he was standing alone when several individuals—including Toby Crow, AGC of South Dakota Chapter Executive, and his wife Liz—approached him to strike up conversation. They in turn introduced Nielsen to Scott Berry, who at the time was Director of AGC's National Utility Infrastructure Division, which led to dinner with long-time AGC CEO Steve Sandherr and several other AGC of America staff, along with fellow contractor members. "The rest is history," said Nielsen, who has been a member of the AGC of America Utility Infrastructure Division since then, including a stint from 2018-2020 on the AGCA Board. "I'm a relationship guy. They are important to me, and AGC provides the platform for me to collaborate with like-minded individuals to work on being informed, educating, and ultimately protecting not only our company the livelihoods of our employee-owners, but our industry. The benefits that AGC brings are real and measurable. AGC members are the 'Voice of the Construction Industry' both on the hill here in Utah, as well as in Washington, D.C. The issues that face our industry are complex, and those who want to exploit regulation, slow growth, and leverage legislative change to benefit their personal or industry interests cannot be overstated. We as contractors need a collective voice and for the Construction Industry, that voice is the AGC." Nielsen talked about the unique relationship that forms between AGC member firms, and how they work together for the good of the entire industry, despite competing against each other weekly to land new projects. "It makes me proud for what we accomplish here within this state," he said. "We come together, we solve tough problems related to our industry and we compete fiercely against one another." He mentioned competing that week head-to-head with Orem-based W.W. Clyde & Co., led by its President, Dustin Olson, on two sizable projects. Each team won a job, and subsequently lost a job. Said Nielsen: "I reached out to Dustin and congratulated him and told him it was a hell of a bid—he congratulated me as well [...] and followed up with the statement: 'If I'm going to lose to a contractor, I want it to be someone like you'. Many of us do that day-in and day-out. To be a part of a group that can accomplish what we accomplish, and then to turn around and be able to come to an event like this and celebrate all our hard work, is something that is astonishing to me." Nielsen said recruiting and retaining new skilled talent for the industry will be one of his top priorities this year and encouraged AGC firms to get involved with the Construction Leadership Committee (CLC). "I'm passionate about the future of people in our industry," he said. "I realize we're not the young spring chickens that we once were. It's our duty that we are setting the stage and making sure we're prepared to continue what we do. We all have great people who have gotten us where we're at today—we want to make sure we're bringing [new people] along." Nielsen closed his remarks by thanking his immediate family, including wife Hilary, daughter Emery, his mother, Shirley Harding, and mother-in-law, Ginny Butikofer, in addition to the Whitaker family and fellow co-workers.

One for the Ages

By Brad Fullmer • February 28, 2025
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At Home in the Mountain Modern

By Taylor Larsen • February 28, 2025
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.

Towering Construction Adds to Glistening Skyline

By Taylor Larsen • February 28, 2025
Glittering in copper metal cladding and reflective glass, and towering in the capital city skyline, is The Worthington. Developed by Chicago-based Convexity and designed by SCB’s Chicago office, the Worthington stands tall and cracks the top 10 tallest structures in Utah. Ownership Marks the Spot But long before residents took a dip in The Worthington’s 12th-floor pool, Convexity saw an opportunity with both site and market, said Jessica Minton, the developer’s Senior Vice President. A high-rise on the eastern edge of downtown could offer spectacular views from above and afford residents walkability through the city below. Research from the firm included tours around the city to see what the market had in place, but crucially what it wanted. “Luxury high-rises are our niche. We knew we were capable of delivering a product that was successful in other markets,” said Minton. “And we knew it would succeed in Salt Lake City.” Construction was a joint partnership between Sandy-based Layton Construction, who helped to bring the local know-how, and Chicago-based high-rise building experts W.E O’Neill. The luxury amenities and high-quality residential finishes came from a project that looked toward accountability and collaboration in construction to take Worthington all the way up. Safety for Tenants, Public, and Builders Phased delivery, a newer process for Salt Lake City in high-rise construction, was an essential part of Convexity’s plans to bring the project to market. Minton praised the collaboration between Salt Lake City officials and the project team for “a smooth transition to get us to market.” “There’s a liability and a risk involved from the city to sign off on life safety measures while construction is ongoing,” she said. "It was a fully vetted and well-thought-out process from all of us—developer, city, and contractor— no party took this lightly." Phased delivery dictated that construction would turn over the first 16 floors for occupancy before moving on up to finish the rest. Rick Millward, Project Manager for Layton Construction, thanked Salt Lake City for being as forward-focused as the project team to ensure a high-quality building, namely helping to fine-tune solutions provided by the project team. He said the construction team was up to the challenge on multiple fronts to be a good neighbor and partner as they built. The give-and-take was brilliant as construction installed fire sprinkler systems throughout the structure instead of just completed residential floors, limited road closures to late night hours, and shifted pedestrians to a new walkway—simultaneously meeting city and construction goals. Millward said the team created a buffer zone of three completed floors as construction finished on floors 1-20 to keep construction noise from reaching the floors below. “You have to have residents come in and expect not to have to care about us at all,” said Millward. Minton added that the construction team’s commitment to an ironclad logistics plan created dedicated entrances and exits for workers and residents. “It needed to be a fully coordinated, daily effort,” she said. After all, “Residents aren’t moving into a construction site. There is no margin for error when people live there.” They went so far as to perform “concierge” duties to ensure residents only accessed specific elevators programmed to keep people from accidentally stumbling into active construction. Coordination between construction teams and apartment staff was seamless, actively informing residents 48 hours in advance on water and power shutoffs to keep people comfortable and in the know. With a busy street below, coordination kept pedestrians worry-free as they passed by. A covered and reinforced canopy sidewalk went in along 300 South, as Millward said, for the construction team to take full ownership of safety. Being a good neighbor paid off in more ways than one. Millward said Kathie Chadbourne, who runs From the Ground Up nearby, served coffee to the concrete truck drivers who worked through the night during the 13-hour foundation pour. Her work added to the buzz on site as the construction crew placed 3,600 yards of concrete foundation for the main structure. Three pump trucks took concrete from a cycling set of six trucks delivering slurry from “all of Geneva [Rock’s] concrete plants in the area” to help pour through the night. Millward says The Worthington isn’t going anywhere, especially with a super-stable matte footing that dips between 18 and 24 feet below street level.

UC+D Most Outstanding Projects of 2024

By LADD MARSHALL • January 1, 2025

Dynamic Electrical

By Taylor Larsen • November 1, 2024
Electrical contracting is competitive as hell. With a plethora of mega projects upcoming, a bidding war for the best electricians and estimators, and even a race to secure the energy to power Utah buildings, the competition at every level seems to grow more intense with each passing year. How can electrical contractors respond to upcoming trends and win work in the Beehive State? It Starts with Labor Ken Hoffman, Preconstruction Manager at Ludvik Electric, said that the competition for labor has been particularly fierce since he and his team began working on the New SLC International Airport some years ago. Competing for great people has always been the case, but the influx of high-level projects over the last decade, he recalled, “pulled everyone up” with drastic increases in wages that helped electricians bring more money home and brought in a cadre of workers from out of state to push jobs past the finish line. There is additional work to be done to bring in the next generation of fieldworkers to help build the state’s future, specifically the financial incentive to enter into a demanding, sometimes dangerous field. Contracting tech company ServiceTitan reports that salaries for entry-level electricians have risen 9.14% since the beginning of 2023, but is it enough? No, and it is hampering project execution. At a recent Urban Land Institute (ULI) Trends Conference, Hunt Electric CEO and President Troy Gregory offered a sobering statistic: currently, for every electrician who enters the trade, three electricians depart. Nathan Goodrich, Division Manager of Helix Electric, said that the industry needs to find solutions fast, as competing for the same people in a wage-based arms race is unsustainable. “We have to promote the trades as people are coming through high school,” he said. Exposure through industry days and other presentations is one way while granting release time for high school student workers was another that Goodrich mentioned as two ways to bring in the next generation of electrical contractors. Gregory agreed, saying that Hunt Electric and other industry groups have become much more involved at the high school level by showcasing and giving interested students career opportunities. He and his team have had success working on pre-apprenticeship that gives the most eager hands-on experience in prefabrication, an area that only grows in importance for contractors. “We’re getting them in a better position to be more productive on a job site on day one,” said Gregory.

Youthful Impact

By Taylor Larsen • November 1, 2024
Editor's note: UC+D's annual look at age 40 & Under A/E/C professionals includes individuals from a wide range of market segments including a general contractor VP, an interior designer, a rising UDOT director, a steel industry entrepreneur, an equipment dealer owner, and an electrical contractor safety/HR executive. Each holds a key position at their respective firm and has proven their skill and capability along their unique career paths.

Scintillating Sustainability

By Bradley Fullmer • November 1, 2024
Architect Brian Backe was succinct when he stated, "when I try to describe the Climate Innovation Center, one of the phrases is 'big things comes in small packages'." His words couldn't be more profound. An ambitious adaptive reuse project that is generating significant buzz in the sustainable building arena locally, Utah Clean Energy's new Climate Innovation Center (CIC) is the transformation of a modest, nearly 70-year-old, 3,000 SF single-level commercial structure into a state-of-the-art, two-story, zero-energy building that will serve as UCE's home for the next half century. "Within a 3,000 square foot footprint it has urban infill, is an adaptive reuse site, Net-Zero, combustion-free, hybrid mass timber structure—we really packed in a lot," said Backe, Principal-in-Charge for Blalock & Partners, who worked closely with Salt Lake-based Okland Construction to ensure optimum sustainability throughout the construction process. The $5.4 million, 5,260 SF project officially opened in June to much pomp and circumstance, and rightfully so. The center showcases the potential of what homes and buildings can be—spaces that are not only comfortable and inviting, but also produce zero pollution. The building will offer a space dedicated to learning, exploration and collaboration centered on climate solutions and improving local air quality, and a place for the community to engage and create solutions to the challenges we face. The project is a testament to CEO/Founder Sarah Wright and her team at Utah Clean Energy, and their commitment to increasing awareness of environmental sustainability. Their new home makes a bold, walk-the-walk statement about the importance of renewable energy in the built world. "There needs to be an education and understanding that renewables (solar, wind, hydro, geo-thermal) are our cheapest resources," said Wright, a Chicago-native whose diverse background includes work in geology, environmental consulting, air quality, and occupational health. She founded UCE, a mission-driven non-profit, in 2001 and is thrilled to see the CIC finally come to fruition after years of planning. The project, she said, embodies UCE's dedication to transforming Utah's built environment to be zero energy and emission-free, while helping the community reimagine the places we live and work. "This is a living laboratory and teaching tool for the public and the business community, demonstrating the tremendous role that buildings have in solving climate change," said Wright. "Everyone that's been here loves it and other owners say they are inspired by it." Kevin Emerson, Director of Building Decarbonization and an 18-year UCE veteran, said the project became a necessity in recent years as UCE's staff swelled to 15 people. "We've had a dream to really 'walk to talk' through our office headquarters and (CIC) is the result of that dream coming to fruition," said Emerson. "It is more than just office space—it's meant to be a showcase and teaching tool for the construction and design industry." "There is nothing more sustainable than reusing our existing buildings and breathing a new 50-year-life into a structure than was slated for demolition," said Backe, adding that construction crews seismically braced the primary existing CMU block wall, in addition to reusing over 65 tons of CMU and 50 tons of concrete.
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