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

Deer Valley Expansion

By Taylor Larsen • February 25, 2026
Start spreadin’ the news I’m leavin’ today I want to be a part of it… I can hear everyone singing the final line: Deer Valley Resooooooooort Fine. Frank Sinatra may not have had après ski on the mind in “New York, New York”, but if the famous singer were alive today, I bet he would want to be a part of Deer Valley’s East Village—even with no relation to the New York City neighborhood—and the transformational development ongoing across Mayflower Mountain and Deer Valley Resort. East Village—Deer Valley Style “Deer Valley East Village is a long-anticipated project that will serve as the heart of the expanded terrain at Deer Valley Resort,” said Gary Barnett, Founder and Chair of Extell Development Company (Extell), in a press release. “With careful planning, we’ve curated a village that will redefine luxury and offer unparalleled amenities for our guests.” The ability to curate such luxury came from 10 years of collecting. Since 2015, Extell has purchased over 20 land parcels, assembling well over 5,000 acres for development. Extell partnered with the Military Installation Development Authority (MIDA) and Reef Capital Partners (Reef) to create a highly capable development team. These efforts set the stage for the 2023 agreement between the developer and Alterra Mountain Group (Alterra), Deer Valley’s parent company, to fold Extell’s East Village property into its existing resort operations—what Deer Valley President and COO Todd Bennett called, “Your new Deer Valley.” Barnett, speaking of what’s to come with this partnership and the billions of dollars of work set to go in on the mountain, said, “Extell and Deer Valley collaborated to craft a village and ski experience where luxury, adventure, and experience come together effortlessly.” Thus began the monumental transformation of Mayflower Mountain. Big Name Arrivals Two projects helped get the party started in the East Village. The Residences at Pioche Village delivered four buildings comprising 400-plus condominiums built by New Star General Contractors in December 2023. Although the project is outside the epicenter of ongoing development, it is becoming increasingly important to the area, as MIDA recently purchased one of the buildings to set aside 42 units of workforce housing. The first finished project within the epicenter was the award-winning Grand Hyatt Deer Valley, designed by OZ Architecture and built by Jacobsen Construction, completed in 2024. Extell partnered with MIDA to develop the hotel on military land, offering 100 rooms at a discounted rate for service members. The opulent hotel and condo property introduced a total of over 380 guest rooms, 40 suites, 55 private residences, and nearly 40,000 SF of conference space. And it’s just the beginning. On a recent tour of the East Village, Michael Woisin, Extell’s Sr. VP of Construction in Utah, detailed the immense manpower required to bring the vision to life. The six tower cranes currently operating there, along with a handful of other cranes, combine with dozens of concrete trucks heading up and down the mountain to support around 1,000 construction workers on site, driving projects of all sizes. Reef is developing multiple residential properties in the coming years. On the single-family side, Marcella at Deer Valley has already sold out the 143 homesites in the future private community, which is currently under construction. Marcella Landing will deliver a gated community of 50 ski-in/ski-out luxury townhomes designed by Olson Kundig. Cormont will deliver five residential condo towers and a vibrant central plaza, with construction completed in 2027 and 2028, and local architectural experience provided by FFKR Architects. The big brands are coming, too. Four Seasons Resort and Residences Deer Valley, designed by ODA Architecture and built by Jacobsen Construction, will deliver 134 guest rooms and suites, as well as 123 for-sale residences, with completion in 2028. Canopy by Hilton will open a 180-key hotel near Pioche Village. The property will feature architecture by The Richardson Design Partnership and interior design by DLR/Brayton Hughes and will open its doors in summer 2026. Waldorf Astoria Deer Valley Resort and Residences was announced in late January, with plans to bring 132 guest suites and 105 for-sale residences near Deer Valley’s Green Monster, the resort’s 4.85-mile ski run—Utah’s longest. With architectural design from KPF and interiors by AvroKO, the project will open its doors in 2028. Beyond the ski-in/ski-out access at many of the above properties, the East Village will also feature a skier services building and an extensive, tiered pedestrian plaza designed by ODA for year-round enjoyment when completed. The building will serve as the heart of the ski village, surrounded by the “ski beach” at the base of the mountain—with a future holiday market, a snow maze, and The Ribbon’s state-of-the-art ice- skating circuit planned for winter months. In summer, the area will be activated by a music festival, farmer’s market, outdoor movie screenings, and other events.

AGC of Utah Installs Gary Ellis as 2026 Chair at Annual Convention

By Bradley Fullmer • February 25, 2026
If the turnout for the 104th Annual Convention for the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of Utah is any indication of the current state of the construction industry in the Beehive State, 2026 will indeed be a robust year. The popular industry convention—held January 29-30 at Little America Hotel in downtown Salt Lake—continues to draw room-busting crowds at its events. The AGC's 2026 Awards Breakfast kicked off the convention on January 29, with the Utah chapter handing out nearly 50 awards for innovative projects and dedicated people. The second day—an all-day event—included entertaining keynote speakers at breakfast and lunch, along with informative breakout sessions in between. The convention was capped by an always-entertaining Installation Banquet, where Gary Ellis, President/CEO of Salt Lake-based Jacobsen Construction, was installed as 2026 AGC of Utah Chairman of the Board. Brett Nielsen, President of Brigham City-based Whitaker Construction and 2025 AGC of Utah Chairman, thanked AGC's staff of 13 for their efforts to elevate the association, and highlighted the work of the Construction Learning Committee (CLC), which aims to cultivate the next generation of construction industry leaders. "Earlier today, I made a comment that the generation that's coming into our industry today is about 20% of our population, but they are 100% of our future," said Nielsen. "We owe it to them to make sure we're providing the same tools, the guidance, the leadership that we received as we were coming up in the industry." Ellis followed with an initial plug for Nielsen, who is in line to serve as the AGC of America's 2030 President—a first for the Utah chapter. "We're excited to share Brett and his wisdom and terrific leadership to the entire country with regard to our industry—he'll do a great job and carry Utah in his heart," said Ellis. Ellis said he never imagined working in the construction industry, thinking he'd rather be a river running guide or physical therapist. Ultimately, he pursued accounting, earning a Master of Accounting from Provo-based Brigham Young University in 1995 and spending the first five years of his career as a Senior Auditor for KPMG in Salt Lake. He was hired in December 2000 at Jacobsen Construction as a Financial Controller, later ascending to his present title of President/CEO in January 2021. "The amount of construction experience I had before I landed at Jacobsen Construction was two weeks sweeping floors at a residential construction site," said Ellis. "I never imagined I would be part of the construction industry, but it's been life-changing for me. Our theme for the convention this year is Building What Matters—I wanted to do something that mattered [...] I wanted to be part of growing something, something I could put my arms around and say, 'wow, look what we just did together'. That's really what my motivation was when I found the construction industry." During the first five years of his career at a large corporate firm, Ellis said the gig lacked fulfillment. Joining Jacobsen opened his eyes to a new world, one he quickly gained a true passion for. "My kids are sick and tired of me pointing out every [Jacobsen] building as we go up and down I-15, I-80—I know, I'm preaching in the choir. There are incredible things that we do at Jacobsen; quite often, we talk about the 'wow factor'. That is what we have in this group. It is the wow factor, being able to [bask] in the pride we feel." Ellis also thanked his team at Jacobsen for believing in the AGC's mission and recognizing the importance of giving back to the industry. "I'm indebted to Ted [Jacobsen] and his family for what they've created at Jacobsen. The day I was asked [...] to take over as President, my very first phone call was to Ted Jacobsen [...] to let him know that I commit to making sure his family name is known in good standing in this marketplace."

Tick Tock from the Water Clock

By Taylor Larsen • February 25, 2026
Time is running out. Not for Utah water. Not yet. But it is for negotiations on the Colorado River. Recently, Utah and six other states, Mexico, and Native American Tribes missed another deadline to revise the current Colorado River Compact. Like family members negotiating a handwritten will, their agreement, or lack thereof, will determine who gets what from the Colorado River in 2026 and beyond. The compact has dictated water rights for the Upper Basin states of Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and Wyoming, and the Lower Basin states of Arizona, California, and Nevada since it was signed in 1922. The agreement, a result of phenomenal collaboration and compromise, has worked out as well as something written 100 years ago could. But the compact is starting to look it’s age. As the desert sun is unkind to the skin, the prolonged megadrought of the American Southwest has been unkind to the Colorado River. Overallocation of the river, droughts, drastic population growth, and a lack of consideration for all of the water-drawing entities mean compromises are on the horizon to ensure that each party at the table can provide Colorado River water to the estimated 40 million people who rely on it. The seven states and the federal government have tried previous facelifts with federal guidelines and plans to draw less water, but blemishes remain. Native tribes are still awaiting corrective surgery to remove the scars of historical injustice, especially after the Supreme Court ruled in 2023 that the federal government was not required to take steps to ensure the tribes’ water rights. While Colorado River negotiations reach the end, four of Utah’s biggest water conservancy districts are pushing past existential drought to create solutions with their water users and industry partners to ensure taps flow for generations to come.

Rural Roots

By Taylor Larsen • February 25, 2026
Little did the team at KMA Architects know how much a proposal for one high school would change their fortunes forever. Duchesne School District released its RFP for a new Altamont High School in 2011. Wes Christensen, then Project Architect, felt like it was a winnable project. After all, KMA Architects had built a stellar reputation designing schools throughout Utah since the firm opened in 1996. There was just one problem with this RFP: KMA didn’t design new high schools. While the firm focused primarily on elementary and junior high schools, Christensen and others on the KMA team were confident in their design proposal and threw their hat in the ring to win the job. “I was certain our competition was going to present a two-story high school,” said Christensen, recalling the various brainstorming sessions that hinged on how to best present their design for a durable and economical one-story school with easily accessible mechanical mezzanines over the corridors. The district's response had the KMA team ecstatic: “We love it.” Winning the Altamont High job with a one-story design is one of many examples of KMA’s emphasis on listening first, a legacy established long before the firm relocated its headquarters in 2020, and long before the team sat for this interview, overlooking Spanish Fork Main Street from their stylish second-story conference room. Sometimes two stories are best, and KMA’s history is among them. Starting Shop in Provo It starts with Kevin Madsen initially pursuing engineering at the University of Utah, graduating in 1972, but with a passion for the entire industry. He earned his contractor license in 1974, but he made his mark in design. “I was good at drawing and drafting,” Madsen, now retired, said from the comfort of the drafting table of his Palmyra home. Madsen even taught drafting and CAD at the former Utah Valley State College (now Utah Valley University) from 1990-1993, saying, “That’s when I realized I wanted to run an architectural firm.” After Nebo and Sevier school districts personally requested Madsen’s services, he founded Kevin Madsen & Associates Architects in January 1996, bringing Christensen and others to work on the firm’s many projects. One of which began when Madsen bought a historic Victorian home at 195 East and 100 North in Provo and turned it into the KMA office in 1998. “It was a work in progress all the way,” laughed Madsen over the phone. That contractor license came in handy; Madsen salvaged high-quality carpet scraps from schools and brought them back to the office. Christensen, now KMA’s Owner and Principal, remembered sanding beams, tearing out old carpet, and stapling in the new flooring in its place—he’s got the scars to prove it. Other famous memories the entire senior KMA team recalled involved creating original blueprints with ammonia and venturing up I-15 to the old Service Blue print shop in Salt Lake to print off dozens of client copies. “We called it a ‘Printing Event’,” Christensen said, recalling the various times that the team would yo-yo between Provo and Salt Lake to drop off their specifications and drawings, often at midnight or later, before returning the next morning to fill an entire truck bed with boxes of freshly printed copies.

Seasoned to Perfection in Providence

By Taylor Larsen • February 25, 2026
The new Weber Blackstone headquarters project involved significant civil work in dewatering and wetland preservation so close to Big Ballard Springs and Blacksmith Fork River. Once completed, the finished build’s Prodema wood paneling exterior gives the building take-off. (all photos courtesy R&O Construction except where indicated)

New Trajectory for New Star

By Taylor Larsen • February 25, 2026
Midlife crisis? Try mid-life calm for New Star General Contractors as the Salt Lake-based construction firm celebrates 40 years of building great projects. As President Jeff Pettit sits in the firm’s conference room on the second story of the New Star office (self-performed in 1996), he reminisces on his 37 years there, as well as plenty of lore established when the firm emerged. In 1986, carpenters Dave Love and Steve Williams were building a home for their boss’s lawyer in Salt Lake City’s Federal Heights. Their boss, Ranch Kimball, was the owner of Cannon Construction, and announced he would be closing shop later that year. Love and Williams vowed to continue the good work, but under a new venture—New Star General Contractors. Based in Bountiful, New Star performed any small project or remodel they could, even venturing east to remodel an Episcopal church in Vernal. The two owners ran New Star from a “carpenter’s perspective”, Pettit said with a smile, “A good, honest trade.” As employees gained a deep understanding of fieldwork and constructability, New Star self-performed much of the concrete, framing, and interior and exterior finishes, buoyed by a large pool of high-level union carpenters from Utah Carpenters Union Local #184, ready to build. Pettit came aboard New Star in 1989, joining his father and uncle at the firm, two journeymen union carpenters, while he apprenticed as the company grew. Early Years; Midlife Struggles Pettit praised the foundation established by Williams and Love in New Star’s first decade, recalling how both owners worked as estimators and project managers as they sought to win work, while Treasa Love and Patti Williams, Love and Williams’ respective wives, ran accounting, billing, and payroll. The firm was at the cusp of taking off when Williams passed in 1997, but Love and the few dozen members of the New Star team pressed on, working for Deer Valley’s former parent company, Royal Street, on projects like Royal Plaza and Goldener Hirsch Phase 1. “Those projects helped put New Star on the map,” Pettit said. Another foundational project was Peace House, a four-bedroom domestic violence shelter for women and children built in 1995. “It was Dave’s way of giving back to the community,” said Pettit of the relationship between New Star and Peace House that has burned brightly ever since. Love joined the organization’s board of directors, and New Star built Peace House’s 40,000-SF expansion over 20 years later—a massive upgrade that delivered eight units of emergency shelter and 12 units of transitional housing for mothers and children. The project, a monumental community victory, eventually earned UC+D’s “Publisher’s Pick” award in 2019. Company culture in those early years benefitted from the “New Star Band”, a six-member ensemble of New Star employees. Love, his office wall lined with a notable guitar collection, led the charge. “Dave was a great musician and a great guitarist,” said Pettit of the culture- and relationship-building efforts of the New Star Band. “Anyone who knew New Star knew of the band.” But it wasn’t all roses, as New Star’s union roots counted for little as the firm and many other general contractors battled trade unions in the early 2000s. Pettit recalled the picket lines that formed around their Salt Lake City office and their job sites. As the Great Recession hit in 2007 and dragged on into the next decade, Pettit grimaced at how New Star laid off many employees as he, Love, and the remaining executives took massive pay cuts, following through on Love’s advice: “Keep money in the company, because there will be lean times.”

Sky High-End Club

By B. H. Wright • February 25, 2026
When it comes to classy sophistication, the sparkling new Delta Sky Club—Concourse B at Salt Lake City International Airport sets an incredibly high bar in both form and function. The opulent 34,000-SF club—Delta's second at The New SLC—offers members myriad ways to relax and decompress from the rigors of travel, highlighted by the truly unique Digital Immersion Room. Salt Lake-based HOK worked with Zenapptic of Novato, Calif., on the impressive display, which was designed with neuroinclusive principles in mind. The innovative space surrounds guests with seven expansive screens featuring aerial views of Utah’s iconic landscapes, including the state’s five national parks and cityscapes of downtown Salt Lake architecture. Synchronized natural soundscapes enhance the visuals, creating a calming, immersive, and four-dimensional experience. Velvet drapery, darker tones, and curved acoustic baffles further support the sensory environment. As the only club in Delta’s network to offer this experience, Salt Lake City sets a new benchmark for innovation and traveler comfort. "We wanted it to feel like a cocoon, a space you can get away from the hustle and bustle, even from what's going on within the club," said Sarah Oppenhuizen, Director of Interiors at HOK. The seven screens are tied into the speaker system, "so you're hearing birds chirping, or a plane flying by, or a storm rolling in. Zenapptic did a fabulous job of taking these scenes, images taken all across Utah, and splitting them into layers [...] that can move in a way that makes it feel like you are actually viewing that scene." The material palette and lighting selections also reflect and amplify Utah’s natural beauty. From warm tones to reflective surfaces, every detail connects travelers to the spirit of the state. The club itself is a diverse wonder of breathtaking spaces created from a highly curated and layered material palette. Each space was meticulously crafted into "neighborhoods" appealing to myriad client tastes and preferences. There are eight specific ceiling systems, eight custom terrazzo blends, a dozen tile products, and dynamic specialty lighting—creating a refined ambience inspired by Utah’s diverse landscapes while maintaining the elevated experience synonymous with Delta's iconic brand. The distinct neighborhoods highlight the club's supreme functionality supporting a robust 600-seat capacity—it's Delta's second-largest club after La Guardia in New York City—while maintaining comfort, intuitive circulation, and a soothing acoustical environment. Larger-scale stone flooring with red accents evokes a natural hiking path while providing durability and ease of movement for guests with rolling luggage. Sound-absorbing properties are integrated into ceilings and select walls throughout the space to maintain a serene guest experience. “Creating distinct neighborhoods gave us the flexibility to increase seating capacity without sacrificing comfort,” said Mishael Thompson, Design Lead at Delta Air Lines. “Guests can easily find a space that fits how they want to travel—whether that’s social, private, or somewhere in between.” “The goal was to bring a true sense of place into the space without overwhelming the guest,” added Oppenhuizen. “By layering materials, color, and technology, we were able to reference Utah’s landscape in a subtle way while maintaining the timeless, hospitality-driven feel of a Delta Sky Club.” Design elements on Level 2, which serves as the entry experience, incorporate cooler whites and blues inspired by a Park City winter, while Level 3 transitions to warmer reds and bronze tones that reference Utah’s caves and caverns. A signature seating area at the top of the escalators—featuring layered blue furnishings and a rippled metal ceiling—draws inspiration from the Great Salt Lake. An expansive, curving bar is an eye-catcher—a unique reflective ceiling above with twinkling lights is a highlight that recalls the state’s copper mines. Blue-veined marble countertops in the space reflect crystal-like light fixtures reminiscent of stalactites, adding a sense of natural wonder. Emphasis on High-Quality Finishes, Resort-like Feel Maintaining the Delta brand is always a top priority for designers, and while explicitly branded elements in Delta Sky Clubs are minimal—primarily limited to the check-in area and select touchpoints—the broader brand strategy centers on elevating the airport experience through high-quality design, materials, and comfort. Branding is subtly expressed through a hospitality-driven environment that conveys both luxury and durability. “We want all our guests to feel like they’ve just stepped into a high-end hotel lobby—not an airport,” said Thompson. “That sense of arrival, comfort, and quiet luxury is fundamental to how we think about the Delta Sky Club experience, and this project truly delivers on that vision.” While program standards remain consistent across all Delta Sky Clubs to ensure familiarity, hub locations such as Salt Lake City provide opportunities to further elevate the experience through regionally inspired materials and design cues. This balance of consistency and localization reinforces Delta’s brand promise while allowing each club to feel distinctive and connected to its location. The new club is larger than its sister Delta Sky Club in Concourse A—that one checks in at 29,000 SF. The expanded footprint provided opportunities to further elevate the experience through additional amenities, greater spatial variety, and a stronger emphasis on regional design elements while still maintaining consistency with Delta’s established Sky Club standards. Attention to detail is a Delta hallmark, added Thompson, with high-quality finishes essential to the project's overall aesthetic. Achieving this level of quality required extensive coordination, including detailed submittal reviews to ensure each material and design element met Delta’s performance and durability standards. Attention to craftsmanship played a critical role in delivering a club that aligns with Delta’s elevated brand experience. “Our guests notice the details,” Thompson emphasized. “From the durability of finishes to how materials feel and perform over time, quality was non-negotiable on this project.”

2026 Economic Outlook

By Bradley Fullmer • February 25, 2026
Dejan Eskic was blunt in his assessment of Utah's 2026 economic outlook during a January 13 presentation to the American Concrete Institute (ACI), Intermountain Chapter, remarking in his opening statement, "I feel like we're living in a season of the [television] show '24', where every episode, you're holding your breath." Eskic, Sr. Research Fellow at the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute at the University of Utah, was talking about geopolitics, specifically referencing the economic impact of the Trump Administration’s global tariffs after a year, and how economic outlooks are not so easy to predict when dealing with the potential impact of national and international factors. "Part of talking about economics, it can get political," he continued. "I try not to be political about it, but it's hard to unravel the two, right? Whatever [information] President Trump releaes on whatever media platform has influence on the market. Tariffs really brought a lot of uncertainty and made the market very skittish." Eskic said tariffs are his "least favorite subject, because we haven't had to talk about it for 100 years, and all of a sudden it's gone haywire—there's a lot of uncertainty with tariffs." He added that the Gardner Policy Institute will release a white paper detailing tariff impacts later this year. Interest Rate Cuts Not Anticipated in 2026 The Fed did not cut interest rates at its first meeting of the year on January 28, and Chair Jerome Powell believes keeping the current rate of 3.5% to 3.75% is prudent, with stabilizing unemployment and inflation rates signaling a steady economic year. "Employment rates have stabilized to the point where they're not forecasting a rate cut. I think they're anticipating steady rates between 3.5% and 3.75%," said Ryan Starks, Executive Director of the Economic Development Corporation of Utah. "Just having that predictability is the most important thing." Home mortgage rates took a sharp dip in January, Eskic reported, from 6.8% to 6%, which is something "you pay attention to" considering it happened in just a few days. Steady rates mean developers know exactly what to expect and can determine whether or not to pull the plug on projects that have been paused while more favorable rates are seen. Utah Expected to Have Moderate Economic Growth Eskic cited the Gardner Institute's 2026 Economic Report to the Governor when announcing a slew of favorable projected stats that underscore moderate 1.5% economic growth, including: • Steady job growth of 1.5%, including a robust 3.2% construction job growth (143,000 jobs); • Rising average wages of 3%-4%, with some construction trades expected to eclipse 5% wage growth; • Continued population growth, albeit at a slower 1.3% clip overall; Utah County led the way with 2.1% growth; • Low state unemployment rate of 3.3% in 2025, significantly better than the national average of 4.4%. While these numbers are down from peak totals within the past decade, they still portend a growing economy, with construction playing a vital role in the state's overall economic health. AGC Optimistic for Another Solid Year The Associated General Contractors of Utah (AGC of Utah) remains a steady voice for construction in the Beehive State, and its members "are cautiously optimistic about 2026, with the strongest confidence in infrastructure, power, and data-driven projects," said Joey Gilbert, AGC of Utah President/CEO, citing his association's record-level 700+ members statewide as an indicator of the health of the industry. “Utah's biggest structural advantage is that it's still a growth state with strong population gains and job growth creation with durable demand for housing, commercial space, and public infrastructure," added Robert Spendlove, Chief Economist for Zions Bank. "We also benefit from a relatively healthy labor market and strong household fundamentals. Utah's unemployment rate (hovering around 3%) remains lower than the national average (4.4%), and wage growth has been running above the U.S." That's not to say everything is peaches and cream, as job growth "has cooled compared to the post-pandemic surge," said Ken Simonson, AGC of America Chief Economist. "Contractors are still dealing with labor pressures, wages are expected to keep rising 4%-5%, and policy actions affecting labor availability could make staffing harder in 2026. At the same time, the national data show job openings have fallen, which is consistent with a market that's still tight in key trades, but less overheated than a year or two ago." Gilbert agreed that construction labor in Utah has steadied a bit, saying "the labor market is still tight but stabilizing, with steady wage growth and increased focus on workforce development and retention." There are other tailwinds in Utah's favor as 2026 begins. Spendlove said, "Utah's underlying economic fundamentals remain strong: population growth (about 1.5%) and employment growth (north of 2.0%) are still outpacing the U.S., which supports a steady pipeline of construction demand. “ Simonsen agreed that Utah remains a hot business market—yet again—to have another solid year. “Utah remains resilient. The opportunity set in 2026 looks best where demand is most durable—data centers, power, and infrastructure. Utah is well-positioned to compete [nationally] in those areas. Even with uncertainty, contractors are planning, not freezing. The main watchouts are financing conditions and cost volatility, but there's still meaningful work in the queue.” Gilbert added, ”Utah's construction industry is well-positioned in 2026 due to strong economic fundamentals and sustained demand in key sectors.” Demand Brisk for Data Centers, Infrastructure, Energy, Other Markets Contractors and designers recognize the rapidly rising demand for data centers, and therefore, the energy to drive power-thirsty—not to mention water-thirsty—projects, and are positioning themselves accordingly. Utah Governor Spencer Cox has "Operation Gigawatt" rolling, a 10-year initiative started in 2024 to develop new energy production across multiple power sources. "It's absolutely essential that we get in front of energy," said Starks. "We're seeing that from a population growth standpoint, but also from a commercial growth standpoint. With more development taking place, somebody's got to take the lead, and we feel like Utah is well-positioned to be that leader. The Governor wants to double energy production as part of the 'Operation Gigawatt' initiative. Our approach to energy is an 'all-of-the-above' approach—natural gas, solar, nuclear, geothermal." Gilbert said Utah's legislative leaders are keen to see Governor Cox's energy ideas come to fruition. "Their priorities are energy production and reliability," said Gilbert. "Senator [Stuart] Adams believes the state that controls AI will control the world. AI demands power and a lot of it. [State legislators are] dedicated to making sure Utah has infrastructure and power resources. We're looking at energy resources, from nuclear to solar and everything in between."

Like a Phoenix Rising

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

Mission In Progress

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