Multi-family Highlights

Multi-family design and construction has cooled from 2023’s blaze of deliveries, but newly
built and upcoming projects are still looking to capture tenant interest in Utah. 
By Taylor larsen

Much like a good bonfire, multi-family construction in Utah, and especially Salt Lake County, has blazed.

According to real estate brokerage CBRE in their 2023 report, Utah multi-family builders delivered a steady burn of units between 2019-2022—over 5,700 units per year on average. And then the fire roared in 2023 with over 10,000 units delivered, nearly half of them coming from outside of Salt Lake. 

That’s hot.

But slow absorption, steady vacancy rates, and falling rents from 2023 to the present (1) have chilled the market somewhat since the “free money” era of the pandemic ended as Federal Funds Rate rocketed from 0.5% in March 2022 to 5.5% in July 2023. 

This cold water on the multi-family development fire made for a strange 2024 into 2025, even as deliveries reached similar heights from 2023’s delivery boom. 

While it’s made developers re-think a project or two, it has been excellent news for tenants. The growing range of options across the desirability and location spectrum from this recent delivery glut has pushed rents down in the form of concessions. Raise your hand if you’ve seen an apartment complex offering 10 weeks free—a substantial discount from the standard rental rate.

But make no mistake, even amidst a cooler period in development, there are plenty of recently completed, hot multi-family projects bringing unique features to the table for tenants, while showing how designers and builders are delivering successful work to a changing market. 

The Focal

New Ideas for Neighborhood Connection


Architect Beecher Walker and builder Pentalon Construction are nearly finished with The Focal—a three building mixed-use project in Murray. The development contains top-tier amenities for the tenants of the 400-plus units and, in a new trend, a shared community amenity in the form of ground-floor retail and a portion of two podium level plaza features—approximately 8,700 SF of the total 23,900 SF of podium and rooftop amenities.


Jory Walker, Principal Architect and President of Beecher Walker, mentioned that Murray City desired certain features for The Focal, such as ground floor retail and a portion of the amenities be shared to serve new residents and the surrounding community.


Is this idea a flash in the pan?


“We feel this ‘give back’ trend is here to stay,” Walker said of the shared amenities. “Both residents and the community are invited to ‘Come On Up’ to the podium amenity decks and make themselves at home.”


Community amenities rest on top of retail structure bump outs, one connected to Building A’s five floors of residences above one floor of concrete parking garage and the other connected to Building B’s five floors of apartments and two levels of parking garage. With design assistance from master amenity architect Loft Six Four, Pentalon constructed four-foot-tall, cast-in-place concrete planter boxes with flowering pear trees to create a privacy element for tenants on the rooftop floor and also a respite on sunny days. The plaza’s array of seating options, fire pits, festoon lighting, and BBQ areas are ready for future neighborhood parties.


Said Walker, “Fostering greater kinship between new developments and old and creating greater connection between the community and the apartments through sharing space encourages a harmonious neighborhood.”


Harmony continues in the building exteriors—metal paneling, stucco, hardie board siding, and masonry. The wood-framed structures of all the residential buildings stretch above two levels of post-tension concrete podium parking, said Richard Moffat, Pentalon Superintendent.


Gathering is a major theme in the property amenities—community rooms with kitchens, co-working spaces, rooftop lounges, clubhouse, state-of-the-art fitness center, and outdoor pool and spa, among others. And bringing it all together was a similar type of connection.


“If there was a definition for the word ‘coordination,’” said Walker, “it would be this project!”


On a site surrounded by commercial and residential developments, the freeway, and Little Cottonwood Creek, Pentalon accessed a lay down area across the creek with a tower crane to pick and place materials. Multifamily projects sharing The Focal’s site constrictions will be the norm, according to Carl Tippets, President of Pentalon. “All the easy projects are done,” he smiled.


While the project has challenged, living will be easy at The Focal. Residences come in studio, one- and two-bedroom varieties, with the latter containing essentially two-bath master suites. Each unit comes with quartz countertops, soft close cabinets, and full-size washer and dryer.


The Focal

Location: 447 West 4800 South, Murray, Utah 84123
Cost: $90 Million
Delivery Method: CM/GC
Size: 352,695 SF (residential), 12,885 SF (retail)

Project Team

Owner: IMH 4800 Lofts, LLC

Design Team
Architect: Beecher Walker
Civil: S.E. Science
Electrical: CR Lighting & Electric
Mechanical: Shakespeare Engineering
Structural: Dunn Associates
Landscape: STB Design

Amenity Deck: Loft Six Four

Construction Team
General Contractor: Pentalon Construction
Concrete: Pikus Concrete
Plumbing/HVAC: UMC, Inc
Electrical: CR Lighting & Electric
Masonry: Unique Exteriors
Drywall/Acoustics: Tolman Drywall

Painting: Paint-Tec LLC
Tile/Stone: Wasatch Floor Coverings
Carpentry: Acadian Builders
Flooring: Wasatch Floor Coverings
Roofing: Scott Roofing
Glass/Curtain Wall: All Purpose Windows & Doors
Waterproofing: Rocky Mountain Waterproofing
Steel Fabrication: SN Steel
Excavation: Covington Excavation and Construction
Landscaping: Sinc Constructors

CINQ

Historic Meets Modern with CINQ


Combining old builds with new construction always presents a monumental challenge. But in the case of CINQ, design from Dwell Design Studio and construction from RVC Construction wanted the challenge of reusing an existing warehouse and combining it with seven stories of new construction for a stellar multi-family project in Salt Lake’s Depot District. 


“Dwell Design Studio rejects boring,” said Evan Haslem, Associate Principal for the firm. “We like a challenge and this project certainly presented a challenge with the existing warehouse and the multi-family infill.”


Don Carroll, Project Manager for RVC, said the RVC team and their trade partners were up to the challenge, too, working around the existing Central Warehouse building, built in 1929 and counted among Utah historic sites. The design called for partially demolishing the warehouse, a prime example of Utah’s turn to commercial hub in the early 20th century, and repurposing it as an amenity feature and residences for 21st century living.


Meeting the challenge involved demolishing the back half of the Central Warehouse building while constructing the new apartments adjacent to the remaining building—all during a concrete powder shortage, an abnormal winter, and supply chain challenges, according to Carroll.


“What made this challenging was the design required us to cut the back 50% of the building off and coordinate the construction of the new building to the remaining warehouse,” said Carroll. “It involved protecting the old building during demolition and construction, getting the new buildings to line up with the existing floors of the old warehouse building, and then refurbishing the old finishes to be a focal point of the new project.”


Incorporating this existing build into the design without detracting from the new build and visa versa started with an industrial exterior. Cementitious, variable lap siding, metal paneling, and brick veneer create a connection between old and new for the post-tension cast-in-place podium sitting under the wood-framed new builds. Said Haslem, “The relationship and play between the warehouse and the new construction, as well as the bridge connection at midblock, brings a cohesion to the overall project.”


The first level of the warehouse is a two-story volume with mezzanine that houses the amenity clubhouse, mailroom, and other uses. Haslem said, “The remaining two levels of the space are very unique, industrial feeling units that have high ceilings and exposed structure of concrete and steel moment-frames.”


These amenity spaces and residences are great examples of design and construction expertise to build community. The exposed concrete slab sets a foundational tone, complemented by warm walnut, iron detailing, and vintage deco tile. Painted drywall, wood trims and doors, LVP flooring, tile backsplashes and showers all come standard across the modern studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom residences.


Modern multi-family must have amenities—CINQ has a warehouse full. Fitness center, BBQ, fire pits, yard games, and even pizza ovens make it a hosting dream. Co-working spaces and signature business booths nestled within the amenity building bring a modern flair, especially with the mezzanine-level speakeasy whiskey lounge, to give the historic building a new purpose.


These elements, and the team that designed and built it, form an environment that feels both lived-in and legendary.


CINQ Apartments

Location: 550 West 200 South Salt Lake City, UT

Cost: $48.6 million

Delivery Method: Design-Bid-Build

Size: 259,773 SF 


Project Team

Owner: dbUrban Communities


Design Team

Architect: Dwell Design Studio

Civil: CIR Civil Engineering and Surveying

Electrical/Mechanical: Phillips Gradick Engineering

Structural: Precision Systems Engineering

Geotech: GSH Geotechnical, Inc.

Landscape: Landform Design Group


Construction Team

General Contractor: RVC Construction

Concrete: Wadsworth Brothers Construction

Plumbing: Progressive Plumbing & Piping

HVAC: JM Mechanical

Electrical: Hunt Electric

Masonry: Unique Custom Exteriors

Drywall/Acoustics: Whistle Construction

Painting: Paint Tech

Tile/Stone: Dowland Tile & Stone

Carpentry: ProCon Construction

Flooring: Phil’s Fine Flooring

Roofing: Pro-West

Glass/Curtain Wall: Tanner Glass & Hardware

Waterproofing: Rocky Mountain Waterproofing

Steel Fabrication/Erection: Trisquare Fabrication 

Excavation: Wind River Excavation

Demolition: Grant Mackay Demolition

Landscaping: Lawson Landscape

Salt Lake Crossing

Big Amenities and Community for Smaller Apartments


Salt Lake Crossing, designed by owners SALT Development, with Method Studio as architect of record and Big-D Construction as general contractor, is 300,000 SF of multi-family marvel. Ethan Bedingfield, Vice President of Design for owners SALT Development, said their research to create the project led them to a question: What if the project was all small units that maximized luxury? 


The project consists of three connected seven-story structures (five floors for residences, two for parking) and a separate, seven-story amenity building to the south. Among the three residential structures, two consist of “open” one-bedroom apartments, while the third consists of 150 furnished studios split between two masses connected via a communal space that form a U. What studios lack in square footage is made up for in community, lifestyle, and quality.



This communal, “third space” so desired from today’s tenants, comes through in multiple areas, starting with the communal spaces in the studio building. Their double gourmet kitchens and comfortable living/dining rooms total 2,500 SF and support 30 residents on each floor. Said Austin Vegh, President of project operator Aurum Property Management, “[this emphasis on third spaces] is great for meeting new people in a similar stage of life.”

 

According to Big-D Superintendent Jason Gates, building out the 300 units and amenity spaces came from communicating sophisticated sequencing and scheduling to control the construction flow. 


“When you're managing repetitive work across hundreds of units, maintaining momentum becomes crucial—one trade's delay can create a ripple effect throughout the entire project,” said Gates. “Our success hinges on our ability to synchronize these complex workflows while maintaining quality across every floor and unit.”


The industrial masonry, stucco, and the lumber aesthetic of the CERACLAD fiber cement siding is gorgeous on approach, and fits snugly in the neighborhood, too.  Said Bedingfield, “Instead of ageless materials, we wanted timeless materials that gained character as they aged.”


Interiors are similarly sweet, with a mix of lumber and concrete ceilings combining well with interior masonry, massive windows, and elegant furniture and lighting to create warm and inviting common areas. All units contain two large windows, with floor-to ceiling windows in corner units, daylighting every unit from floor to 10-foot ceiling.


Vegh and Bedingfield said that enchanting third space quality was key for the ritzy co-working space that extends across two stories—with rich leathers complimenting the industrial modern materials creating a welcoming space for today’s urban entrepreneur.


“Building out these third places, and the opportunity for that community engagement to happen,” said Bedingfield, “must have form to go with function.”


Vegh said that “function” is happening via programming, most notably in the wellness amenities in the project’s fitness center and studio—yoga, meditation, breath-work, and instructor-led group workouts.


Building places where people are empowered to live, work, and thrive, Bedingfield and Vegh said, makes all the difference in multi-family.



Salt Lake Crossing Apartments

Location: 470 W. 200 N. Salt Lake City, UT
Cost: $90 Million
Contracting Method: Lump Sum
Size: 306,775 SF

Project Team

Owner: SALT Development

Design Team
Architect: Method Studio
Civil: Kimley-Horn
Electrical: Hunt Electric
Mechanical: CCI Mechanical
Structural: BHB Structural
Geotechnical: Kleinfelder

Interior Design: SALT Development

Furniture: OFS

Landscape: Widmier Design Studio

Construction Team
General Contractor: Big-D Construction
Concrete: Pikus Concrete
Plumbing/HVAC: CCI Mechanical
Electrical: Hunt Electric
Masonry: JH Masonry
Drywall/Acoustics: Mitchell Acoustics

Painting: Accent Painting & Special Coatings
Tile/Stone: Smith Stone Supply Company
Carpentry: LKL
Flooring: Flooring Services
Roofing: ACE Gutter
Glass/Curtain Wall: Mollerup Glass
Waterproofing: Guaranteed Waterproofing & Construction
Steel Fabrication/Erection: Greens Welding
Excavation/Demolition: Cazier

Precast: RAM Exteriors
Landscaping: Sinc Constructors

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)