Hearth and Home

Having built residences of all types across the state, CW Group's corporate headquarters showcases the firm’s penchant for high design and construction.
By Taylor Larsen

Hop off the Parrish Lane exit into Centerville, and a few turns later sits theHIVE, CW Group’s recently completed mixed-use, multi-family and single-family project. But close by is another testament to their work to design, develop, and build the best spaces in Utah—their gorgeous concrete and glass office headquarters.

“We’ve been heavy into Davis County,” said Darlene Carter, CEO of CW Group. Their work creating townhomes, apartments, and single-family homes in Layton, Farmington, Kaysville, North Salt Lake, and directly east of their new office in Centerville has made their foray into designing and building their office more personal. 

Not only is it the epicenter of what they are developing, Centerville has been home since the company was founded in 2016.

The three-story, 18,000-SF office culminates years of planning and growth for the vertically integrated developer via two of their five business lines: CW Urban (developer and builder) and CW Design (architect and interior design firm).  

Vision Takes Shape

“This office is a vision from Colin,” Carter said as conversation rolled forward at her office table, the interview taking on the feel of a Sunday dinner with family. 

The luxurious office came from many bits of inspiration, none more critical than a CW Group executive trip to San Diego in 2017 to find additional ideas for their multi-family work. The team was deeply inspired by projects from Jonathan Segal, the renowned architect best known for his intricate and contemporary designs that boast impressive concrete and glass finishes. 

Three years later, it was time to head back on a different kind of trip. Once the company was ready to move across I-15 to a new headquarters, Bryce Willardson, VP of Commercial Operations, said the team grabbed the concrete subcontractor, architect, and superintendent for another trip to the San Diego sunshine.

They knew they wanted to jump on their glass and concrete material choices. The remaining question was, “How high?”

CW Group opted for a darker design palette, with wood grains and cabinetry giving the space a comfortable warmth. The daylight bathing all three floors accentuates the cozy feel of the office, especially the organic wood features, metal accents, and glass transparency that looks out all around. (all photos by Malissa Mabey Photography)

Plans Coalesce


“One of the biggest things was planning for growth,” said Willardson of the challenges designing a space befitting the firm. “From start to finish, we were in completely different macroeconomic conditions.”


With the company bursting at the seams in their old office as the design of the new space moved forward before the pandemic, the initial question was, “How do we create space for everyone?” he continued. Then, when the single-family residential housing market shifted in 2022, the question switched to, “Have we designed for too much space?”


“It’s like designing a custom home,” he said. “It puts strain on whoever designs it.” 


Designing and building that home amidst the maelstroms of supply chain issues, inflation, supply shortages, and residential housing swings certainly didn’t help.


Carter agreed about the mental and emotional burden of creating an office befitting the entire team. “Expectations were off the charts,” she said. Throughout the two-and-a-half-year design and construction process, Carter said one priority never left their minds: “We had to get it right.”


Connection


As a work-from-office company and builders of neighborhoods—in every sense of the word—company goals centered around creating the same type of unity built into their residential work. Carter said the trademark “We Build Community” started in-house.


“We wanted it to feel like a ‘hive,’” said Carter. “A place when industry, hard work, and community meet.”


But collaboration didn’t default to the traditional, bright and white, open office concepts. Instead, CW Group embraced more individual offices to give many in the firm more privacy, more ownership of their space, and a higher level of productivity in a space tailor-made to how the company works.


The third floor holds the bulk of CW Group’s visible work. Commercial and residential construction teams work here, with drop-in desks for field team members. The architecture team is close by, with a more open, collaborative feel to their space—especially with the 10-ft, hive-inspired chandelier hanging above the steel stairway. 


Marketing, sales, and materials purchasing teams round out the third floor, with the walnut wood cabinetry and marble throughout the space adding a level of sophistication and opulence befitting CW Group’s desire for the highest quality materials and finishes in every project they build.


“As a creative, this space inspires me every day,” said Abbie Wardle, VP of Marketing for CW Urban. “I want to be here.”


Concrete Standards


Traveling down the beautiful metal and wood stairway to the second floor displays the company’s land, entitlement, and acquisition teams. Executive offices for Carter and Wright sit on this floor, too, with Willardson recognizing the importance of having executives ready and available—and centralized.


“I don’t have to climb the floors on the way up to the ivory tower,” he said of executive availability. Everyone interviewed said those doors are nearly always open and seats available around the kitchen table in each office.


Visible concrete ceilings, walls, and polished concrete floors are as durable as they are majestic—a material nod to the firm’s work. While utilizing concrete for its staying power, the unforgiving nature of the material required precise design and well-executed construction. 


Willardson said everything had to be right the first time. “You only get one shot at things. […] That board form concrete look was something we really wanted […] and getting it right was essential.”


He continued by saying that the enduring nature of the building was a testament to Green Construction and their partnership on the project. “They made it easy on us.”


Interior Splendor


The welcome at the ground floor comes with marble, concrete, glass, steel, and brass accents of the grand lobby. Asset management and underwriting just behind the desk form a solid base for the entire firm.  The dual conference rooms donned “The Legacy” and “The Arena,” featuring custom fabricated marble tabletops, nod to past heroes while looking out the windows to the future for the company. 


The team opted for a darker, more residential palette, with natural wood grains and cabinetry giving it a comfortable warmth. The daylight bathing all three floors accentuates the cozy feel of the office, especially the organic elements of walnuts wood features, metal accents, and glass transparency that looks out all around. It creates a powerful combination with the quiet reverence in the universal and powerful nature of the concrete present here.


“Sometimes you do things in your home that you pay for regardless,” Carter said. The economics of it may not make the most sense. “But it’s what is going to make you feel energy, safety, inspiration, and love. And this office is a representation of that.”


The offices, collaborative spaces, and even bathrooms are swanky, the latter with the feel of a high-end hotel.


“We took the time to bring in things that would be in a residential space or create commercial-quality furniture that withstands the test of time,” said Carter of the soft materials of some furniture and the regal leather of others.

These choices have changed how team members interact on an interpersonal level, too. Collaborative gathering spaces pepper all three building floors, with “The Pantry” being the cream of the crop as a first-floor break room and kitchen.


“It’s feels like a school cafeteria in all the good ways,” said Wardle. Instead of people huddling over their desks for lunch, she said, the mid-day hour signals the time to enjoy a good meal and some colleague camaraderie, especially at the bi-weekly company lunches.


Just a few months ago, March Madness provided a fun space to catch some basketball games and excitement for company bracket challenges. The black and gold bee-themed wallpaper is both a tribute to the Beehive State and the industrious, collaborative nature of CW Group.


A Fitting View


Even as far back as when they were looking at the acreage to build their office and the nearby residences, Carter said they worked with numerous non-profits and other partners to ensure that the previous site’s existing residents would have a safe landing spot before development moved forward.


“We go into these spaces and ultimately, we are creating a new community,” she said. But a crucial aspect of their mission as developers was to honor the existing fabric of the neighborhood: what goes in still fits in seamlessly, responds to market needs, and improves everything around it.


As the tour moved back to the second-floor stairway, Carter said this view, looking east, made it all worthwhile.


“You look out into the most innovative townhomes and single-family homes,” Carter said of the stairway vantage point. 


Seeing the eastward panorama, it is not corporate fluff. CW Group’s vision is captured in that single view, inspiring team members in how the company lives and breathes its creeds and mottos. With the Wasatch Mountains as the backdrop to theHIVE, the scene is a painting of their work to build community, displayed in the medium of their new office.




CW Group Office

610 N 800 W, Centerville, UT


Project Team

Owner:  CW Group

Developer: CW Urban


Design Team

Architect: CW Design

Civil: PEPG 

Electrical: Spectrum Engineers

Mechanical: Spectrum Engineers

Structural: BHB Structural

Geotech: CMT Technical Services

Interior Design & Furniture: CW Design


Construction Team

General Contractor: CW Urban

Plumbing: Progressive Plumbing

HVAC: Salmon HVAC

Electrical: Wilkinson Electric

Concrete: Green Construction Inc. (GCI)

Steel Fabrication: Right Way Steel

Steel Erection: SPR Steel Erectors

Glass/Curtain Wall: Linford Contract Glazing (LCG)

Drywall/Acoustics: Tolman Construction

Painting:  Stauffer Enterprises

Tile/Stone: Apollo Stone

Carpentry: Contempo 

Flooring: Floor Styles

Roofing: D7 Roofing

Waterproofing: D7 Roofing

Excavation: Six Star Management

Landscaping: Boulder Landscaping

Q&A with Nathan Goodrich

By UC&D • August 1, 2025
Nathan Goodrich

100 Years & Five Generations

By Brad Fullmer • August 1, 2025
Paul founded Paulsen Construction in 1925 after immigrating from Norway 16 years prior. Sprague Library in Sugar House was originally built by Paul, and then restored nearly 100 years later, led by current President John Paulsen.

State of Industry; State of Progress

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

Showroom Showstopper

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

ASCE 2025 Report Card For Utah

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

Toward The Promised Land

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

Limitless Sky

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

One for the Ages

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

Community First

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

Daybreak: Then and Now

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