Man of the People

As Babcock Design marks its 40th anniversary this year, founder Fred Babcock reflects on his profoundly unique career.
By: Brad Fullmer

When looking back at Fred Babcock's architectural career in Utah, his list of local clients—some of whom he designed palatial homes for—has a certain "who's who" wow factor, with names like Huntsman, Redford, Romney, and Holding sure to grab one's attention. 


Not bad for a small-town kid from Pocatello, Idaho, whose father was a hardworking, blue-collar Union Pacific worker who encouraged his oldest son to chase his dreams, while extending himself financially to make it happen. 


"I didn't find out until years later the sacrifices my father made—taking out loans—to help me attend the University of Utah," said Babcock. "I was grateful for that."

As the Salt Lake-based firm that bears his name—Babcock Design—marks its 40th anniversary this year, the founder and mentor to those currently running the company took time to reflect on a career well-navigated and a life he continues to live well as a spry and active 86-year-old. 

Interest in Art = Career Path to Architecture

Babcock had a passion for art in high school and was intrigued by a possible career in commercial art and graphics, which led to an art teacher recommending architecture as a career with better stability and earning potential. 


After graduating from Pocatello High in 1956, Babcock spent a year at Idaho State. At the end of that year, the instructor counseled the young graduate to consider the University of Utah's architecture program as a superior educational option for a student of his caliber.


"I went home, told my dad, and I could see him [wince]," Babcock recalled. "But he was very supportive. The University of Utah had just hired Roger Bailey as dean, and he brought instant credibility to the program."


Babcock started over as a freshman at the U in the fall of 1957 with 60 others in the five-year Bachelor of Fine Arts and Architecture program and followed that up by earning a Master of Architecture from the University of California, Berkeley in 1962.


Babcock and his wife, Linda, returned to Salt Lake and he worked the next few years with prominent architects including John Clawson, Don Panuschka, and Boyd Blackner. While working with Blackner, Babcock was approached by a friend who was a dentist about designing a new dental clinic. The opportunity was exciting for the young architect, until he told Blackner about it, who promptly congratulated Babcock and told him that he would design it himself. The experience left Babcock with a bad taste in his mouth.


Shortly thereafter, Babcock was approached by two architect friends—Albert 'Ab' Christensen and Ralph Evans—and the trio formed Architects Planners Alliance (APA) in 1968.


APA quickly landed a notable project, a renovation of historic Trolley Square in Salt Lake, which later became the location of the firm's office.


Another prominent long-time client came about a couple of years later when Kem Gardner of Salt Lake-based The Boyer Company contacted the firm about a project directly across from Trolley Square.


"Because we were so close to the site, I think he saw some benefits having someone working on the project who was across the street," said Babcock. "He was happy how it turned out, and through him, I met Roger [Boyer]. Kem has been wonderful to the firm, as well, with ongoing work."

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    Fred Babcock’s ability to connect with people and a genuine desire to design a home or project that absolutely met a client’s vision and dreams led to many loyal clients and inspiring projects including this mountain gem in Park City.

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    Fred Babcock designed several significant projects for Jon M. and Karen Huntsman including Phase I of the Huntsman Cancer Institute (pictured)—a building that continues

    to age gracefully more than 25 years after its completion. (photo courtesy Sohm Photografx)

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Celebrity Architect; Niche in Designing Custom Homes

In 1974, tragedy struck when Christensen suffered a heart attack at 43 and passed away, a huge blow to the still up-and-coming firm.

"That really set us back," said Babcock. "Ab was the leader of the firm; the key principal—we depended on him."


His passing created a unique opportunity for Babcock to work directly with his first "celebrity" client, Hollywood legend Robert Redford. He said Redford was pleasant to work with and came across as a regular guy, considering his A-list, heartthrob status.


"When Ab died, I got a call from Redford saying, 'What are we going to do?' So, I followed up with him. That was back in the day of the 'Sundance Kid'—it was a big deal. I had more people wanting to know about [Redford's house] than anything else we were doing," he laughed.


He continued, "Our office in Trolley Square was surrounded by glass on the second floor. Every time we had a meeting with Redford, we'd go in that conference room, and before you knew it there were 50 people milling around, pretending they were shopping. That was exciting!"


Designing Redford's home was certainly a thrilling opportunity but Babcock was just getting started on an almost fairytale-like career designing homes and other generational projects for an enviable list of well-known clients.


His secret? An innate ability to connect with people, and a genuine desire to design a home or project that absolutely meets the client's vision and dreams.

By 1984, Babcock had teamed with John Pace to create Babcock Pace Architects, and they purchased an office in Exchange Place which remains the firm's Salt Lake headquarters, albeit with a sharp new makeover. Pace left two years later, and Babcock, along with Brent Davis—who Babcock spoke glowingly of all these years later—and a few others, soldiered on as Babcock Design.


Dynamic Relationships Key to Filling Project Pipeline

Babcock Design thrived in designing custom homes, and Babcock's relationship with commercial clients blossomed during the late 80s and early 90s, providing other opportunities to supplement residential work.


"I've always had a passion for residential work and fortunately was able to maintain enough work to sustain the office," said Babcock.


Babcock said designing a custom home for a client was always a thrill, a process he quickly mastered because he cared so much about the final product and fulfilling people's dreams.


"[Designing a home] is more of a privilege—they're depending on you to glean from them what their dreams are, without them having the knowledge of how to do it," said Babcock. "I found out early how important it was to listen. I love art, I love to draw, and I felt like what you present to people is an extension of who you were, through the pencil."


The ability to negotiate directly with an owner—whether it be a single residence for a homeowner or multiple commercial projects for a private developer—was where Babcock Design thrived.



"Therein lies the essence of a successful practice—maintaining relationships," Babcock added. "That was a big part of our residential work [...] I don't remember getting a house [to design] that didn't come as a referral. And designing those homes led to some significant experiences for me."

Word-of-Mouth Referrals Lead to Remarkable Opportunities

One of those experiences came about when Babcock one day got a call from a real estate agent in Park City who knew of the firm's reputation. He had a client from New York who needed an architect and Babcock's name was mentioned.


He ended up meeting with Martin “Marty” Granoff, and ultimately designed not one, but three homes, which led to a genuine friendship between the men.

Granoff later called Babcock regarding the design of a Hillel for Tuft's University in Medford, Massachusetts, a request that left the architect rather speechless, given that he was just getting to learn a bit about Granoff's Jewish faith.


Granoff proved to be a very philanthropic individual who was funding the Tuft's Hillel project, a project Babcock said is for Jewish students to socialize, fellowship, and practice their religion, much like a Latter-day Saint Institute building.


"I didn't even know what a Hillel was, but because he had confidence in me and wanted me to design that, it put myself in a spot I never dreamed of," said Babcock. "We ended up designing three more Hillels and consulted on many others across the country. It was really impactful to our firm. I still talk every month or so with Marty—we're dear friends. And it all started with a relationship with a real estate agent in Park City!"


Huntsman Connection Proves Fruitful

Babcock's relationship with Jon and Karen Huntsman was also ignited by a referral. He said the Huntsman’s were planning a "fairly significant residence" on a 35-acre spread in Park City, and Karen became aware of Babcock's name and called him out of the blue one day.


Three other significant projects from the Huntsman's followed, including a remodel of their home in Salt Lake, and two major commercial projects near the University of Utah: the Huntsman Corporation offices, and Phase I of Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI).


"That turned out to be a wonderful honor," said Babcock. "Jon said to me, 'Fred, I am committed to curing cancer, committed to funding a cancer institute.’ He had [cancer] at the time. I had no idea it would turn out the way it did!'


At the request of the State of Utah DFCM and the University of Utah, Babcock Design had to bring on a partner, which turned out to be Jensen-Haslem Architects (later Architectural Nexus) on Phase I, a building that continues to age gracefully more than 25 years after its completion.


Babcock Design Continues to Build on Founder's Legacy

Babcock Design today is led by a trio of Principals—Rob Cottle, Darin Bell, and T.J. Winger—who combine to have more than 80 years of experience in architecture, with the majority of it with the firm. Each sings Babcock's praise as a mentor and friend, a man with great design acumen and even better people skills. They all realized early on that Babcock's ability to connect with clients was a true hallmark, a skill to emulate.


"I remember asking Fred one time, 'Everyone who knows you, loves you. Are you that good?'" Winger recalled. "He said, 'I'm pretty good, but bring your talent—don't bring your ego. It's the client's money, it's the client's project. We help them make good decisions.' It's the relationship that matters."


"Custom residential was the basis of Fred's firm from the beginning. He fell into [great projects] through his relationships and his hard work," said Cottle, who has been President since 2008, and who worked with Babcock on Huntsman Cancer Phase I in addition to having 30 years of experience at the firm. "His whole ethos, his business development ability, is because he's a genuinely nice guy and he's attentive to them. When we took over, we wanted to continue that approach. One of the reasons we kept the name [Babcock Design] is because there is a lot of goodwill associated with his name."


Cottle said the firm did $1.5 million in revenue that first year, which was followed by three lean years as it weathered the great recession. Cottle, Bell, Winger, and Brent Davis learned from the recession the importance of diversifying their work and becoming proficient in multiple market segments.


"He put in a good word for us on occasion and has always been there for us," said Bell. "He handed us the keys and let us figure it out."


"We learned from the downturn that we had a lot of eggs in a fairly small range of projects. When the economy tanked, it really hurt us," said Cottle. "We needed to diversify our project sectors and widen our influence over the market. Second, we learned the hard way that you have to hire the right people, people that fit your company culture. Our law became 'Must play well with others.’ Having people that don't get along with others can mess up the vibe."


Babcock Design's decision to open an office in Boise—a direct response to getting a plethora of new work from Gardner Company in and around the Idaho capital city—has been a boon to the firm, as it now has 46 employees in the two offices and projects in multiple market segments.


Babcock Design eclipsed the $12 million revenue mark last year and is primed for another banner year in 2024, with 2025 also shaping up nicely.


"We've grown organically, but incrementally," said Cottle. "We've added new people and expanded our range of expertise that addressed our needs." That includes hiring Jackie Black six years ago to establish the firm's Interior Design division, which led to creating an in-house FF&E installation division.


"I have such high regard for these guys—I have a great love for them," said Babcock. "That they would go forward using my name, the great projects they've done. I never would have gone to Boise—I wouldn't have had the nerve to do that! To see what they've done has been a highlight."


Cottle and Bell both have a few more years to go before considering retirement, while Winger has at least another decade ahead of him. The firm has brought on new Principals as partners and shareholders, and the expectation is for Babcock Design to remain a Top 10 Utah architectural firm.


"The best part of our firm is we have different strengths," said Cottle. "I genuinely feel like we build off each other's strengths. We're just all in it together [...] and we try to let each person work where their natural genius lies."

(from left to right) TJ Winger, Rob Cottle and Darin Bell have led Babcock Design to new heights and helped diversify their design portfolio and widen the firms market influence—including opening an office in Boise, Idaho.

Q&A with Nathan Goodrich

By UC&D • August 1, 2025
Nathan Goodrich

100 Years & Five Generations

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

State of Industry; State of Progress

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

Showroom Showstopper

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

ASCE 2025 Report Card For Utah

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

Toward The Promised Land

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

Limitless Sky

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

One for the Ages

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

Community First

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

Daybreak: Then and Now

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