Late in the evening on October 26, 2022, the unthinkable happened when a four-alarm fire ripped through The Residences at Sugar Alley, a multi-family project in the heart of Salt Lake's Sugar House neighborhood, and gutted more than 80% of the completed building.

The devastation at the time was overwhelming, with the fire ranking among the largest in Salt Lake City's history. The effect on the project team was noticeable and, to a degree, expected.

"It was traumatic from a personal standpoint," said Clint Costley, President of Ogden-based Kier Construction, the general contractor that twice oversaw the construction of The Residences at Sugar Alley, with it ultimately opening this past April. "There were a lot of workers that struggled going back—we weren't able to use the same team. It was hard for some of them to process having to build it again.”

Paul West was the Project Manager for Kier, one of a few who stayed on board through an arduous 4.5-year process. For West, knowing the project’s history and what had been built previously "gave me assurance that we could build it again," said the 11-year Kier veteran. "There were a lot of hoops to jump through to get from original build to second build—demolition, insurance. I had never experienced it before, and I never want to experience it again."

He thoroughly understands the mental toll on someone who sees two-plus years of time and energy invested in a project literally destroyed overnight by fire. 

"We're there from the very beginning of the project, from the conceptual stage all the way to finishing out and handing it over to the owners," said West. "It's where we spend 70 hours a week—it's our life for that duration of time. So, we take a personal interest, a personal love and care for projects."

Having West stay on board, along with as many of the previous subcontractors as possible, was crucial to Salt Lake-based Lowe Property Group (LPG), which assumed full ownership of the project post-fire, having bought out California-based Eight Bay Advisors, who had managed construction during the first build, with LPG leading design and entitlement efforts. 

West described the post-fire process as "enlightening and eye-opening" and enjoyed the opportunity to "share my insight and help the developer and architect get through the process. Some of the subs we did bring back because they had availability and they were invested in the project as well."

Like a Phoenix Rising

The damage was thorough, toppling the eight-story project down to the original three-story concrete podium, which—remarkably—stayed mostly intact. The investigation and demolition process took until March 2023, at which point Kier began mobilizing operations and restoring the deck and performing other minor repairs, including some on compromised post-tension cables. 

"Everything got scraped down to the concrete," said Pieter Berger, Principal-in-Charge for Irvine, Calif.-based MVE + Partners. "We actually did an inspection of the concrete with the structural engineer [...] there were one or two areas that got patched up, but overall, that was good."

Berger said Sugar Alley was the second major fire MVE has had to contend with in its history, on a project in San Francisco about a decade ago that was also close to being finished. Allegedly, a "rogue welder" didn't get paid and set fire to the building. 

"In a weird way, we've gone through this before," said Berger, adding that a principal from his office worked on that previous project and was able to help with the process "because, sadly, he had lived it first-hand before." 

Berger said of experiencing the Sugar Alley fire, "It was tough; we were punching units—getting to a point where, you know, units were getting done and we were signing off on them. The building was almost done when it caught fire." 

By August 2023, the start of framing signaled that reconstruction was in full swing. "With the Lowe's taking over, it injected new life into the project," said West. 

Splendid Atrium Space, Upgraded Finishes Add to the Project's Allure

According to Katie Heald, Design and Construction Manager for LPG, once Lowe assumed control of the project, it decided to raise an already high bar on thoughtful design and top-shelf amenities, with upgraded, higher-end finishes in all units, in addition to bumping up the number of units to 193—a mix of studio, one- and two-bedroom units within the $61.7 million project. 

The upgrades were significant, said Heald, with GE Café appliances in bronze trim—a design accent used throughout the project’s finishes and details—waterfall countertops, and enhanced plumbing fixtures across the board, including touch kitchen faucets. 

A signature feature of the project is Sugar Alley's dynamic atrium—a gorgeous, open-air area directly connected to the adjacent Hill's Kitchen restaurant, bringing life and energy to a true communal space. The atrium is an actual public easement space, another unique attribute of the project.

"We love the atrium!" said Heald.  "What I enjoy most is seeing how comfortable people feel using it in so many ways—studying, working, meeting a friend for coffee, or enjoying food. It's a space that naturally invites people in and allows them to linger, which is exactly what we hoped for."

Heald said the success of the atrium is the result of thoughtful collaboration between lighting designer Kristine Paterno and Cactus & Tropicals plant shop. 

"The lighting design, in particular, allows the atmosphere to shift beautifully with the time of day and the weather," said Heald. "You might expect a glass atrium to feel its best on a sunny day, but I'm especially looking forward to seeing how the atrium evolves at different times of year—I think it will become even cozier and more dynamic in autumn and winter as the seasons change."

Heald said raising the quality level throughout the building was highly important to LPG owners Ben and Alex Lowe, and that the opportunity to build it a second time helped them make strategic improvements. 

"I think the nature of doing something twice is that you want to improve on it," said Heald. "When the fire occurred late in the project, we had already started to see the spaces take shape. That gave us a unique perspective—we could see how the design was being executed and envision how to evolve it further.

Because the design was already so far along, it was easier to identify opportunities and introduce special details during the re-envisioning process, and Steven Rosier at MVE and our equity partner, Ascentris, really embraced this with our team."

LPG refined details, strengthened spaces that hadn't reached full potential, and raised overall quality, with an expanded amenity package that includes conference rooms for remote work, an expansive, modern gym with top-shelf equipment, a spa with top-of-the-line infrared sauna technology, a cold plunge pool, a sweet outdoor pool/patio, a treatment room with optional massage therapy, and scintillating rooftop deck areas with sweeping views of the Wasatch mountains. 

"In the end, it was about turning a setback into an opportunity to create something even better than originally planned," added Heald. "On every project, we carry forward a list of lessons learned, and Sugar Alley was able to benefit from those insights mid-build. That experience continues to inform how we refine floor plans, consider quality-of-life features, and approach the design of future projects."

Heald was impressed by how MVE and Kier responded to their needs and put aside the drama of the fire to deliver a world-class building.

"Both MVE and Kier were excellent partners," said Heald, "but what stood out most was how well they worked together. MVE created a strong rapport with Kier's on-site team, which made problem-solving, [especially when unique challenges arose from the fire and rebuild], far more efficient and collaborative.” 

This collaboration likely influenced LPG's decision to hire MVE and Kier for its next project, a massive mixed-use development called Silo Park, which sits directly west of The Post District and will include an eye-popping 740 residential units, a boutique hotel, and significant retail and restaurant space. 

“When design and construction are aligned like that, challenges get resolved quickly, decisions come easier, and the entire process runs more smoothly. That team chemistry truly elevated the project,” said Heald. 



Not only was the project elevated—like a phoenix, it literally rose from the ashes.

The Residences at Sugar Alley



Location: Salt Lake City

Start/Completion: September 2020/April 2025

Cost: $61.7 million

Delivery Method:

Stories/Levels: 5 stories over 3 parking levels

Square Footage: 210,362 sq. ft.

Owners: Lowe Property Group, Ascentris, Eight Bay

Design Team

Architect: MVE + Partners, Inc.

Civil Engineer: McNeil Engineering

Electrical Engineer: AME Design Group

Mechanical Engineer: AME Design Group

Structural Engineer: Dunn Associates

Geotechnical Engineer: AGEC

Interior Design: Lowe Property Group

Landscape Architect: Loft Six Four

Construction Team

GC: KIER Construction           

Concrete: Climb Concrete

Plumbing: Robert W Speirs

HVAC: MJ Mechanical

Electrical: Knight Electric

Masonry: Thueson Masonry

Drywall: Quality Drywall Specialties

Painting: Kieth Pulham Painting

Tile/Stone: Act Tile & Stone

Millwork: Oakler Interiors

Flooring: Designteam

Roofing: D-7 Roofing 

Glazing/Curtain Wall: AL2, Inc

Waterproofing: C&R Coatings

Steel Fabrication:  Essency Iron Works

Steel Erection: Rightway Steel

Excavation: Cazier Excavating

Precast: New Cast Stone

Landscaping: Waterscape

Demolition: Cazier Excavating