K-12 Roundup

Design and construction advances within Utah’s K-12 market illustrates the desire of local school districts and A/E/C firms to produce optimum learning environments and buildings that are functionally safe, flexible and sustainable. 
By Brad Fullmer and Taylor Larsen

According to August 2022 data from the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute at the University of Utah, approximately 675,000 students attend Utah’s public K-12 schools, with 88% attending a school in one of the state’s 41 school districts and 12% in one of more than 100 charter schools. 

Alpine School District leads the charge with more than 80,000 students, followed by Davis SD (72,000), Granite SD (62,000), Jordan SD (57,000), Washington County SD (37,000), Nebo SD (35,000) and Canyons SD (35,000). 

The total number of students represents a significant bump from 612,000 just a decade ago (2012-13 school year)—a more than 10% increase, in fact—and signals that the K-12 market in the Beehive State continues to be busy and active for firms who specialize in that arena. 

UC&D reached out to a half dozen of Utah’s largest school districts and received responses from three—Davis School District (DSD), Ogden School District (OSD) and Washington Country School District (WCSD). Each are considered progressive, forward-thinking districts that design and build premium facilities. 

Concerns about wildly fluctuating post-pandemic construction and material costs have school district officials thinking long and hard about how many schools they will be able to adequately fund in the future to keep up with Utah’s consistent (albeit slowly shrinking) growth rates. 

The sheer cost of schools has exploded the past decade. Consider that in August 2013, the 444,000 SF Granger High was completed for $78 million, while new schools currently under construction like Skyline High (slated final completion 2026) and Cyprus High (2025) are expected to sail past the $160 million mark, perhaps even hitting $180 million by final completion. 

At DSD, Bryan Turner, Director of Architectural Services, said country voters passed a $475 million bond last November, which will fund two new Jr. Highs, a new prototype elementary and replacement of another elementary, additions/remodels of three high schools (Clearfield, Layton, Bountiful), and two elementary remodels. New air conditioning equipment will also be installed throughout the District. 

“Bonds are getting harder to pass,” said Turner. “The amount of money we can spend is fixed with the bond. If construction costs keep rising, projects from the bond list will have to be cut or delayed. We are careful to avoid tax increases to the citizens of the County. The needs of the District far outweigh the amount of money available.” 

Reduced energy and utility costs are always a priority, Turner added, with DSD maintaining over 100 buildings, seven of which are zero-energy buildings in operation with another three currently under construction. Money saved on utilities goes directly back into the classroom. 

Turner said DSD routinely uses ground source heat exchange systems, thermal air displacement, PV panels, etc. to achieve net-zero ratings at its respective schools. He views LEED as a useful system to copy, but DSD typically does not chase certification on all its schools. 

Ogden School District has a handful of interesting projects on the docket as well, according to Jer Bates, Director of Communications, including a new Child Nutrition Program facility that will expand OSD’s food storage capacity and flexibility in purchasing/logistics. It will also house the Marketstar Student Resource Center. 

The District is collaborating with Ogden-Weber Technical College to build a new specialized high school adjoining the OWTC campus, will replace Hillcrest Elementary with a new building, and will begin a partial renovation of Odyssey Elementary. It also has three Jr. Highs and a new facility for adult education/alternative high school in the works. 

Bates said the District will aim to pass a bond in 2026 that could range from under $100 million to over $200 million depending on voter approval. Aligning with modern security needs, the Distrit is implementing secure entries in schools, along with gravitating to individual wings or pods in new schools, which improves student-teacher collaboration. 

Sustainability is also a premium issue moving forward, with a focus on solar PV panels and geothermal ground source heating on new and renovated buildings. 

Down south in Washington County, WCSD officials are looking to design an elementary prototype that is a two-story building, according to Craig Hammer, Executive Director of Secondary Schools and Facilities. The reason for the two-story design is to reduce the amount of acreage needed for a new school.

“With the price of property through the roof, we need to look at a different model,” said Hammer. “It’s a whole different look for us. We’re reducing our footprint from 11-13 acres to 8 or less.”

Building has slowed considerably for the District, but there is still a need for new projects. Over the next five years, Hammer anticipates the need for at least 2-3 new elementary schools, and another high school and middle school, along with a vocational building that needs replacing and seismic reinforcement projects on three older schools. 

Hammer also praised the members of WCSD’s ‘Green Team’, an energy-efficient team that has been operating for 12 years and has allowed the District to add five million square feet of new buildings to its portfolio without adding extra energy costs. 

World-Class K-12 Projects in Utah
A/E/C professionals are collaborating at high levels to produce robust, modern-day schools that combine form and function in ways that enhance and improve day-to-day learning programs. Schools are built with sustainability in mind, but also with the intent to foster creativity and excellence from the students within these inspiring spaces. 

In this K-12 section, UC&D takes a look at four of Utah’s newest schools, including Canyons School District long-time high school rivals Hillcrest High and Brighton High in Salt Lake County, Ellis Elementary in Logan (it was originally built in 1893), and South Sevier in Monroe. 

LABOR OF LOVE

The new Hillcrest High gave FFKR's Greta Anderson the serendipitous opportunity to redesign her alma mater.

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When Greta Anderson was taking drafting classes at Hillcrest High School in the late 1980s, she never could have envisioned that one day she would be tasked with leading a team of architectural professionals on the redesign of her alma mater. 


“There may have been one or two of us (women) in the class—I was undecided (about architecture). It was a lot of math, which I wasn’t good at, but I persevered,” said Anderson, a proud ’89 Husky alum who found out she would serve as Principal-in-Charge for Salt Lake-based FFKR Architects in November 2017 for the new school, making it a true labor of love.


“When I met (current Hillcrest Principal) Greg (Leavitt) I said, ‘Can you imagine redesigning your own high school!’,” said Anderson. “We got to flex our design muscles and do progressive learning environments, which not a lot of districts are doing yet. It was a huge team effort. And it’s green—finally! 


Indeed, the visually stunning green glass façade is a dazzling aesthetic—much of it comprised of floor-to-ceiling windows offering unparalleled views of the mountains and both sides of the Salt Lake Valley—and among the hallmarks of the overall scintillating design. 

“It’s a beautiful building, but functionally, it checks all the marks and meets the needs of all the different departments,” said Anderson. “It’s so rewarding for us!” 


Anderson, along with FFKR Project Manager Liz Morgan, worked closely with Leavitt throughout the design process of the new four-story, 421,000 SF school, which opened in August 2021. They praised Leavitt’s attention to detail and genuine care and consideration of even minute elements, which he said is due to having been Principal at Draper Park Middle School during its design and construction a decade previously. 


“Liz and I both said we won the lottery getting this guy for a principal on this project,” said Anderson. “Every moment of this process was just a delight.” 


“It helped having been through this process before,” Leavitt said. “It was important for us to find architects who could find out what the community wanted as well, and I felt like I had that with Greta and Liz,” said Leavitt, who is in his eighth year as Principal at Hillcrest (22 years as a principal overall) and looking to retire in 2024. 


“He’s visionary—he thinks about what is best for the future of the school,” said Morgan. “It’s about examining all aspects of the design to make sure we were choosing the right things for the school.” 


“His vision can be seen in every square foot of this school, because he cares so much about the kids,” Anderson added. “The kids know him, and they love him.”


“Some,” Leavitt countered, chuckling. 


Another hallmark of the new school, and one that Leavitt lobbied hard for—while admitting it is among the most “controversial” design elements—is having glass partitions in all classrooms, a trend that isn’t necessarily new or innovative, but one that continues to gain traction in certain school districts in Utah as a vital programming function related to improving safety. 


“We wanted visible public practice—windows and light—in our building,” said Leavitt. “I did the same at Draper Park and didn’t get as much pushback.” 


Leavitt said of the 80 faculty members and teachers who attended design charettes, about 10—mainly older, veteran teachers—don’t particularly like the glass partitions. “(Some) teachers still want to be left alone—it will always be an adjustment,” he said. “Teachers never want to be in a fishbowl.”


“It’s the right thing to do,” said Morgan. “It’s what first responders want to see. It’s better for social and emotional learning […] and for checking out what teachers are doing. There are benefits of having transparency (that will aid) generations of students and teachers. It’s a safety feature for teachers as well as students.”


Collegiate Vibes 

The new Hillcrest High campus was divided into three phases spread out over three years, proving challenging for Orem-based general contractor Westland Construction in numerous ways, especially with the pandemic (and subsequent supply chain disruptions) hitting during the peak of construction activity at the project’s midway point. 


The phased approach allowed for consideration of future enrollment projections (current student population is 2,000), curriculum, program improvements, and comprehensive safety, perhaps the most highly scrutinized design aspect of all modern-day, K-12 buildings given the number of gun-related school shootings the past quarter century in the U.S. 

Anderson and Morgan said there were three major shootings during the design process; each time it prompted a review of overall campus security measures being implemented. 


Other key amenities include:

—A multi-purpose fieldhouse and athletic center (separate on-campus facility).

—High-tech auditorium and performing arts classrooms.

—Group study and teacher collaboration areas.

—Weight training room with dynamic views to the Wasatch range.

—Classroom wings that lock down and are configured to provide administrators with clear lines for safety.

—Improved site access, parking and traffic flow. 


Leavitt said the new school offers everything he could have hoped for, particularly the overall feel of the campus, which has a mature, grown-up vibe.


“I really wanted a collegiate feel, and this is sort of a mini-college,” said Leavitt. “I’ve gotten a lot of feedback from people who say that.” 


“I believe kids act (according to) their space,” said Anderson. “If it feels sophisticated, that’s how they’ll respond.” 

Leavitt said an important student amenity—Husky Market—addresses the fact that approximately one-third (34%) of Hillcrest students are impoverished, suffering from a social discrepancy (homeless, neglected, food insecurity, etc.). Husky Market is part of a trend of including “student centers” in schools that include a laundry room and food pantry, and is accessible to students on weekends and holidays. Gender neutral restrooms are also on every floor, and another important social consideration. 


Anderson and Morgan said the school has been such a hit within FFKR’s office, it’s prompted a deluge of requests from co-workers who want to get in on some K-12 action. 


“Since this school got up and running, we have had more interest in our K-12 studio than ever before,” said Anderson. “It’s like designing a little city—you have a business center, a rec center, performing arts and entertainment, CTE, trades, art. You can (learn) every aspect of a lot of different sectors of design. Liz has a good sports and recreation and performing arts background, for example, so we can take that expertise and apply it at a high level on a school.” 


Hillcrest High School

Owner: Canyons School District

Architect: FFKR Architects

General Contractor: Westland Construction

Civil Engineer: CRS Engineers

Electrical Engineer: Envision Engineering

Mechanical Engineer: VBFA

Structural Engineer: Calder Richards

Interior Design & Landscape Architect: FFKR Architects

HVAC Subcontractor: Koch Mechanical

Electrical Subcontractor: Taylor Electric

Masonry Subcontractor: Buxton Masonry, Doyle Hatfield Masonry

Concrete: Cornerstone

Steel Fabrication: Clegg Steel, Tushar

Steel Erection: Clegg Steel

Other Specialty Contractors: Prolific Painting, Utah Tile & Roofing, Lotz Construction, Cazier Excavating, Great Western Landscape


BRIGHTON UP

Best-in-class learning environments are the theme of Brighton High as design and construction came together for a gorgeous school built over a four-year phased construction process.

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“How come we didn’t have that in high school?” seems to be coming up a lot during a tour of Brighton High School in late February. 


While everyone on the tour is at least a few years—maybe decades—removed from pep rallies and home room, it’s still exciting to see what Brighton High has become since its extensive design and four-year rebuilding process.


Kelly Hall, Superintendent of Centerville-based Hogan & Associates Construction, and Scott Later, Principal of Salt Lake-based MHTN Architects, wanted the school to be so noteworthy that it would seemingly belong at any campus of higher education.


Site and Phasing Challenges

Keeping the school functional during construction required extensive egress paths for students, staff, and the public to travel safely through the site and existing building.


“It was a lot of head scratching,” Hall said, “wondering ‘How do we keep people going where they need to go and keep spaces and functions going?’”


The limited site and 30-foot grade change from the academic wings to existing football field proved challenging for material placement. Space near the softball field became a de-facto staging and storage area. 


The project team’s focus on phasing coordination paid dividends during construction. They completed the project with a three-phase demolition plan that allowed portions of the school to remain in operation as construction progressed.


First In Class

Phase I—creating the Career and Technical Education (CTE) wing—required the team to design the new building to make a step in grade. By building the foundation wall for retention and utilizing a lightweight concrete mix, the design decreased the structure’s slope load and the soil infill weight against the retaining walls—ultimately lessening the number of structural systems and reducing costs. 


The prominence of the many trades exhibited in the school extends as high as the four-story CTE wing. The commercial kitchen has all the gear and utensils ready and waiting for the next Michelin-star chef. A high-end auto shop classroom on the second floor looks down on multiple hydraulic vehicle bays and a different type of Michelin—this one a tad more rubbery. 


The wood shop looks reminiscent of today’s commercial mill operations, complete with sawdust and the ventilation systems needed to keep students and faculty safe. Art classes even open up out onto an outdoor patio above the auto shop garage.


Brighton High’s breadth doesn’t stop there. Engineering, ceramics, and even jewelry-making labs emphasize the new CTE wing's powerful first move in an ongoing shift toward career and technical education.


School in Sequence

For Phase II, Hall spoke of literally cutting the existing building in half. This provided a safe and secure learning environment, while achieving an efficient construction pace. The emphasis on simultaneously meeting both goals drew rave reviews from Brighton Principal Tom Sherwood


“At the core, everything we did throughout the build has been ‘What is best for students [now, and] what [will] be best for students in the long run?’” Sherwood said. “To have the architectural firm and the contractors also look at a project with an eye on students first was surprising and refreshing […] and it really made our conversations pretty easy, knowing that we all had the same ultimate goals in mind.”


The school’s only sacrifice during construction, Later said, was parking. 


As portions of the existing campus were demolished, delicate care was given to keeping the existing main electrical room in operation. Later called it “the sacred electrical vault,” and it was treated with proportionate reverence. The final building design adapted to work around this critical existing element and keep the existing building electrified during construction.


Learning in Session

Academic wings sit on either side of the main hallway, or the “canyon,” that forms the central artery of the academic building. At 480 ft. long, it surpasses the length of the school’s football field, which runs parallel to the building. 


According to Later, the three-story corridor is “a place to see and be seen. High schools are social, and this became sort of a ‘Main Street’.”


The canyon connects 12 Learning Communities on three levels to other amenities across the campus, creating a comprehensive school experience. Learning communities contain multiple classrooms gathered around a central, collaborative flex space, as well as teacher support areas and smaller breakout rooms. Three themes, Later explained, correspond with each of the three levels—trails, peaks, and waterways. Trail markers, lighting, floor patterns, and branding graphics at each learning community provide unique accent elements.


“The Learning Communities help to support the different learning styles of the students,” Later explained. “If [students] need a place that’s quieter to focus, or if they need a place where they can talk with a small group, they have that. These diverse spaces are supported with flexible, comfortable furniture and robust technology infrastructure. (All) help students feel comfortable and engaged.” 


Large-scale graphics, particularly in the auditorium lobby, celebrate the school’s colors and pride. The building’s thoughtful design lets in the most controlled natural light possible to create strong visual connections to the outdoors and surrounding landscape.


50 years of memorabilia adorns hallways of not just the main school, but the new and improved athletic wing on the campus’ east side—the Hillcrest v. Brighton jug a notable piece of nostalgia. The main gym sits on one side of the 119,000-SF athletics wing, with auxiliary gyms housing a wrestling room, dance studio, and a synthetic turf field house.


Brighton High School Replacement

Owner: Canyons School District

Architect: MHTN Architects and Lake|Flato

General Contractor: Hogan & Associates Construction

Civil Engineer: Gardner Engineering

Electrical Engineer: BNA Consulting

Mechanical Engineer: Olsen & Peterson Consulting Engineering

Structural Engineer: Reaveley Engineers

Geotech: Consolidated Engineering Laboratories

Interior Design: MHTN Architects

Landscape Architect: 

Plumbing Subcontractor: Western States Mechanical 

HVAC Subcontractor: Shoppe

Electrical Subcontractor: Tri-Phase Electric and CR Lighting

Concrete: AK Concrete

Steel Fabrication: Utah Ornamental

Steel Erection: Tushar Iron Erectors

Glass/Curtain Wall: USI All-Purpose

Masonry: AK Masonry

Tile/Stone: Ace Tile & Stone

Demolition: Grant MacKay

Other Specialty Contractors: Commercial Interiors Construction, Ceiling Systems, Hegemann Paint Co., Huetter Mill, Wall2Wall, Utah Tile & Roofing, Jones Excavating, Great Western Landscape


FLY EAGLES FLY

Sustainability a hallmark on Ellis Elementary, which was originally designed by Design West Architects before the turn of the 20th Century.

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Bringing everything together on the new Ellis Elementary was a test in patience and flexibility, nonetheless the project excelled by utilizing existing site resources and contemporary construction methods to create a dynamic new school, one shaped by its predecessor that was orginally built in 1893. 


That was school was designed by Logan-based Design West Architects is also noteworthy, as the orginal Ellis Elementary was designed by the firm’s founder, K.C. Shaw.


Go With the Flow

While every facet of the project received its due attention from the project team, their favorite was utilizing the canal water that flowed through the site. 


Wayne Anderson, President of Logan-based general contractor DWA Construction, said a significant percentage of complaints he hears from K-12 facility operators—and possibly everyone who looks at an electric bill in the summer—is the cost of air conditioning. This is mitigated at Ellis by a modified geothermal system, which keeps the building at a reasonable temperature while reducing costs and water usage. 


Mechanical engineers at Salt Lake-based VBFA designed a system that pumps water from an adjacent canal into the basement. Exchange water is then sent downstream. Since the canal water’s temperature varies only slightly, the resultant cooling of the building is constant and will help keep temperatures well-regulated year-round without requiring a newly built system.


Anderson described how box culverts were installed to cover the waterway and give students more blacktop, field, and playground areas. This site work has been great for kids while also giving staff increased visibility and supervision of students on the play areas over what existed previously.


Poured on Thick

Stephen Williams, Principal with Design West, designed the building walls with ICF, a popular feature in school construction. The highly-durable and energy-conscious façade is a reliable way to meet a tightening energy code for schools. A nearly three-inch layer of foam surrounds the layer of concrete and functions like a coffee cup, minimizing heating and cooling loads while stabilizing indoor temperatures. Composite strips that tie foam and concrete together provide a connection point to attachable sheetrock layers.



On the exterior, Corbeling, a new iteration of the clock tower, and masonry pay homage to features from the previous school.


The thin-brick façade includes three different colors and styles. The soldier course ebony brick provides a nice break in the standard red brick that takes up a large percentage of the walls. The running bond of “Logan Brick” is a nod to the masonry of much of Logan’s historic architecture and helps to provide plenty of visual intrigue to the school. 


The choice of thin brick, Anderson mentioned, reduced the needed load-bearing capacity for the foundation and saved around $300,000 on overall project costs. Thin brick on this project was not limited to the exterior of the building. Designers also added the rich masonry to the interior walls, columns of the main corridor, and the resilient low wall surface of the school gym.


Past the gym and offices at the entryway, learning spaces on both levels of the school are premium in their accessibility and features. Sunlight shines into the entire building, from vestibule into offices, through the gym, and up into the two levels of classrooms and collaboration spaces.


Pocket doors connect classroom to the shared spaces outside, with Williams mentioning that the novelty of the sliding doorways make it the preferred way for students to enter and exit the classes at Ellis Elementary.


Overall, combining modern design and construction methods on Ellis Elementary made for a lovely homage to the previous school, where ICF and the thin-brick join to make for a school designed and built to last well into the next century.


Ellis Elementary School Replacement

Owner: Logan City School District

Architect: Design West Architects

General Contractor: DWA Construction

Civil Engineer: Cache Landmark Engineering

Electrical Engineer: Envision Engineering

Mechanical Engineer: VBFA

Structural Engineer: ARW Engineers

Geotech: Gordon Geotechnical

Landscape Architect: Design West Architects

Plumbing & HVAC Subcontractor: KR Plumbing and Mechanical

Electrical Subcontractor: Golden Spike Electric

Concrete: DWA Construction

Steel Erection: Paul Higley Field Welding and Erection

Glass/Curtain Wall: NGI Glass

Masonry: IMS Masonry (ICF Masonry), Hunsaker Exteriors (Thin Brick/EIFS/TAFS)

Tile/Stone: Bird Tile

Other Specialty Contractors: Hart Flooring, Island Heights Construction, Shane Martinez Sealants and Waterproofing, Edge Excavation, Reliance Precast, Distinctive Landscaping

FITS LIKE A GLOVE

Monroe’s newest school, South Sevier Middle, is a perfect fit in the community.

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It’s always a special event in Small Town USA when a new prominent community building goes up. With South Sevier Middle School in tiny Monroe (pop. 2,593), KMA Architects of Spanish Fork designed a school that merged contemporary architecture with community needs.


Blending Old and New

With enrollment of around 350 students, the previous school required replacement to meet the needs of the students, staff, and the community of Sevier County.


“We were able to look upon this project with new eyes from our design team and with the school district and decided to move forward with a replacement school that would be a new, modern take on the existing school and surrounding area,” said Wes Christensen, Principal Architect with KMA.


The existing structure was still in good condition and seismically sound, so interior walls were removed with career and technical education (CTE) shops and three classrooms designed in the shell of the existing structure—a cost-effective blend of old and new. 


Phased construction provided another value-engineering and scheduling win for the middle school. Christensen said the project was designed in phases so that students could move into each recently-completed new phase while other phases were demolished and built. 


As new areas were constructed in phases, the gym, locker rooms, and shops were remodeled and included as part of the new design. 


Location, Location, Location

Set at the base of the mountain side in Monroe, the new school sits proud with the red tinted foothills as a backdrop. The second floor library, positioned over the administration area, looks out across the town, providing inspiring views of the natural surroundings of the valley.


“We felt that if the materials and function of the school are appropriate for the surroundings, the rural community would be accepting of the architecture,” said Christensen. As a hub of the surrounding community, "we wanted the new building to complement the natural beauty of Monroe and the landscape that serves as its backdrop.”


The picturesque foothills nearby inspired the colors and materials utilized for South Sevier Middle School. The brick, block, and stone choices created a unified design palette to complement the surrounding neighborhood and landscape. Copper-colored panels also match the natural hues within the nearby mountainside. Sevier Plateau, located behind the school, includes several canyons whose geographic form provided an additional inspirational spark for the school.


Prioritizing Needs

The main entrance, Christensen explained, acts as a pseudo-canyon through the building, with ceiling clouds rising to the second story. The front staircase looks up into the media center with aluminum-framed storefront windows. A stairway at the base of the long, narrow, two story “canyon” corridor links the classroom stacks to the north wing and its functions.

Security, Christensen said, was a top concern for the new, energy-efficient build. The two classroom stacks can be closed off in an emergency situation and accessed by the main stairway at the main entrance of the building. 


“To help with shutting off the classroom section from the cafeteria,” Christensen explained, “we designed an operable fire door that can be used to separate the spaces at the canyon.”


The new middle school has 19 standard classrooms as well as gymnasium, locker rooms, stage, media center, and  kitchen with a lunchroom. Equipped with a "maker space,” the school houses science labs and hands-on educational experiences like 3D-printing and virtual reality workshops.



Stained polished concrete floors in all common areas measure up to the wear and tear of middle school students, with South Sevier’s compass logo etched into the front entryway. Ample skylights and windows bring in natural light and open the space up.


South Sevier Middle School

Owner: Sevier School District

Architect: KMA Architects, Inc.

General Contractor: Valley Design & Construction

Civil Engineer: Great Basin Engineering

Electrical Engineer: Royal Engineering

Mechanical Engineer: Olsen & Peterson Consulting Engineers

Structural Engineer: Dynamic Structures

Geotech: CMT Laboratories

Landscape Architect: KMA Architects, Inc.

Plumbing & HVAC Subcontractor: SR Mechanical

Electrical Subcontractor: Snow Electrical Inc.

Concrete: RJ Christensen Construction Inc.

Steel Fabrication: OP Steel

Steel Erection: Prosteel, Inc.

Glass/Curtain Wall: G&B Glass Co.

Masonry: IMS Masonry

Tile/Stone: Westech Tile

Other Specialty Contractors: B&S Drywall Inc., Keith Pulham Painting, MC Mill & Design, Premier Floor Company Inc., All Weather Waterproofing Inc., Guaranteed Waterproofing & Construction, Carlisle Excavating, TID Demo, Hatch Precast Products, RBI Inc., Tri-Phase Electric

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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