Literacy Level-up

The new Logan Library helps provide a lift to the community with this inspiring 32,000 SF facility.
By Talia Wolfe

Before the Logan Library ribbon-cutting ceremony began, two children eagerly ran past the staff toward the children's section. Inside the children's area, two girls, with their arms linked, skipped past the shelves of books while a little boy raced along the cobblestone path that weaves through the bookshelves. A young girl in the reading nook called her mom over to see, and a little girl with pigtails used the miniature-sized door into the children's section to enter the playhouse. 

The ribbon-cutting began in the lobby and adjacent community room, which were filled with patrons of all ages despite the stormy weather outside. As they entered, a string quartet greeted people with lovely music, and cameras lined the walls for press coverage; even the local firefighters came to show their support. 

Before the library's opening, Mayor Holly Daines shared how the facility was designed and built with modern and historical intentions. The mayor and various library donors spoke excitedly about the new library before the giant scissors were used to cut the ribbon.

Immediately after, patrons with arms full of books were perusing the bookshelves. Children read in the aisle, too excited to move to a table, while parents formed a line waiting to check out books for the family. Quiet laughter emanated from the "teen and tween" section, and Utah State University and the Logan Latter-day Saint Temple are visible from the third-floor windows. 

From 1985 to 2021, the previous library was in an old and converted Sears building. For the last 20 years, Logan City leaders have discussed providing residents with a modern library. 

"The library was old and dark, and the systems were failing. It never was a purpose-built library," said Daines.

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

Logan City and the mayor wanted the new Logan Library to be modern and iconic—yet match the local surroundings and historic buildings on Main Street. A brick veneer system for the façade matched the other buildings; however, to make the library unique, the brick was corbeled to create a pattern that reflected the Wellsville Mountains in Cache Valley. 


The design of each library floor mirrors the outdoor landscape. The main floor connects to the vibrancy of Main Street, the second floor connects to the city's tall, monumental buildings, and the top floor spans the tops of the Cache Valley mountains. Patrons are further connected to the city's climate and natural space through the terraces on the second and third floors. 


"The three floors have color schemes that correspond to the valley's color elevation zones," said Design West Architects' Senior Project Manager Kent Craven. "The color of the library's main level corresponds to the valley floor, the second floor to the benches, and the third floor to the high mountains."


Even the ceiling tiles were meticulously selected to create a cohesive design.


The building's orientation and window system were configured to maximize natural light, allowing strategic filtration and energy savings while illuminating the entire floor. The large window walls let patrons view the surrounding mountain ranges, bringing the outside in. 


"The key component of the building is the lobby," said John Cox, VP, project director and manager with Hogan & Associates Construction. "It sets the tone for the new building."


Because the building is narrow and three stories tall, the massing provides space for an outdoor plaza and an impressive lobby. The entry is the visual focus and the central hub. The lobby features a massive, cantilevered staircase, giving the building a strong civic identity. The building has many beautiful wood finishes, including the trees in the children's section and a wood accent wall in the three-story atrium. Behind the trees is a mural by Traci O'Very Covey of whimsical woodland creatures with stuffed animals on the shelves, giving the children the feeling of reading in a magical forest. 


"Regardless of history or culture or relationship to the community, one thing that everyone shares is the landscape of an individual place," said David Keltner, principal and lead designer at Hacker Architecture and Interior Design.


Each floor is a dedicated space for each age demographic—the first floor houses the children's section, the second-floor mezzanine is for teens, and the top floor is for adults.   


Hacker and Design West's composition of each floor to a particular age group draws parallels to life. The active and vibrant main floor is the most significant space, with many areas akin to the plethora of options we have in the early years of our lives. The world opens to the children as they walk along the cobblestone path through the bookshelves to the trees and the woodland creatures— life's options remain open as patrons climb the wide staircase to the teen and tween area. Its prominent feature is the large window that captures the ever-changing sky, likening to our adolescent years as we grow, change, and work to solidify our identities. Heading to the adult section on the top floor, the stairs narrow to represent a life stage that is the quietest and most contemplative. 


The library's design features multiple gathering spaces for communal events. The large community room on the main floor, where the ribbon-cutting ceremony was hosted, is a local gathering space Logan residents have wanted for years.


The entire team, consisting of Logan City, Hacker Architecture and Interior Design, Design West Architects, and Hogan Construction, worked to create and budget for the project's number one goal— to meet the community's needs by providing a range of spaces. These range from reading areas for children to outdoor spaces for people to gather. Small and medium collaboration spaces within the library are available for groups of all sizes, from four to twenty. These spaces will accommodate many patrons, from teens needing a study space to adults needing a meeting area. 


"We can't wait to show off our big community room," said Karen Clark, the director of Logan City's Library.


Additionally, every design component was carefully considered, such as potential operations and maintenance issues like cleaning challenges, which were mitigated throughout the design and construction phases. This will make upkeep easier for the staff and less expensive for the city. For example, solar panels on the roof will make the building Net Zero in the summer months.


"The library will be a great building that will serve the community for the next several decades," said Brian Richards, lead estimator with Hogan & Associates Construction. "We are all proud of what we accomplished as a team amid the recent challenges we are all familiar with."

Project Name: Logan Library Rebuild

Start-Completion: 6/2022-3/2024 

Cost: $15,633,500 

Delivery Method:  CM|GC

Stories/Levels: Three

Square Footage: 32,998 sf


Owner: Logan City


Design Team

Architect: Design West Architects and Hacker Architects

Civil Engineer: Sunrise Engineering

Electrical Engineer: Envision Electrical

Mechanical Engineer: VBFA

Structural Engineer: BHB

Geotechnical Engineer: ACache Corp.

Interior Design: Hacker Architects

Landscape Architect: Design West Architects


Construction Team

General Contractor: Hogan & Associates Construction

Concrete: Scoffield Concrete/Hogan Concrete

Plumbing: Carson Plumbing & Mechanical

HVAC: Advanced Heating

Electrical: Bates Electric

Fire Sprinkler: Frontier Fire Protection

Masonry: Shane Demler Masonry

Metal Panel: Southam and Associates

Insulation: USI Cardalls

Drywall: Valley Drywall

Painting: Accent Painting

Tile/Stone: Joel Hill Tile       

Millwork: Huetter Mill

Flooring: Stone Touch / Wall 2 Wall Flooring

Roofing: Mountain Peak Builders

Glazing/Curtain Wall: Gordon’s Glass

Waterproofing: Guaranteed Waterproofing

Steel Fabrication:  Fineline Steel Fabrication / JT Steel / Steel Encounters

Steel Erection: Hogan Steel / Paul Higley Field Welding

Excavation: Legrand Johnson Construction

Demolition: Sage Demolition  

Shades: Midwest Division Solutions

Doors & hardware: Robert I. Merrill

Fencing: Custom Fence

Soil Mitigation: Geopier Northwest

Partition Doors: Alder Sales

Acoustical Ceilings and Sound Panels: All-Star T-Bar Designs

Other Specialty Contractors: Cannon Sales, Thomas & Sons, Rocky Mountain Rebar, All Metal Fabrication, Landscape Specialties

Soaring High in Tooele

By B. Garn • April 30, 2026
The new Deseret Peak High School delivers out-of-this-world design for a welcome addition to the growing Tooele Valley. 

Ahoy!

By Taylor Larsen • April 30, 2026
The eight-year odyssey to deliver Cyprus High was worth the voyage, as designers and builders created a stellar learning environment for Magna’s growing community.

Trending on Trail, Rail, Highway, and… Skyway?

By Taylor Larsen • April 30, 2026
Engineers note the emerging trends among Utah’s different transit modes and how evolving technology and partnerships set the state up for success.  By Taylor Larsen

Making Hay Under a Shining Sun

By Bradley Fullmer • April 30, 2026
UC+D profiles four new firms who aim to make a name for themselves in an A/E/C market that refuses to slow down. By Bradley Fullmer

Dixie Rising

By Bradley Fullmer • April 30, 2026
Led by the City of St. George, Washington County has experienced explosive growth of more than 50% over the past 15 years, ranking in the top 5% of all U.S. counties and fueling strong demand for commercial construction projects.  By Bradley Fullmer

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)