No Challenge Too Much
By Taylor Larsen
I asked Chris Layton, Principal Architect, with Layton-Davis Architects, “How does this industry keep bouncing back from setbacks?”
Layton joked, “Fear.” But his honest answer was telling. “What else are you going to do? […] Time is marching on—we don’t have another choice. These people need this structure.”
Valley Behavioral Health’s (VBH) Adult Autism Center of Lifetime Learning (Adult Autism Center) in Murray, designed and built by a project team consisting of Layton-Davis Architects and Big-D Construction, marched forward amidst a myriad of obstacles with their 15,000-SF structure.
Building the Team
Unlike a resource center, the Adult Autism Center has more of a training focus. Staff and clients work on practicing daily routines like upkeep in an apartment, going to the dentist, or expectations during a job interview—all in dedicated rooms and spaces—to help clients with autism confidently participate in society.
The building is laid out like a school, covering “different aspects of our lives and experiences that, for some, they need training and assistance to help [make them] feel comfortable,” said Layton.
He asked to bring on a general contractor capable of managing the particulars. It was VBH’s first try at a project like this, according to him, so he proposed bringing on longtime partner Big-D Construction, a shift from the general contractor’s usual commercial work.
The shift included those picked in the bidding process. “We turned to a different group of subcontractors that we don’t cross paths with very often,” said Brian Murphy, Project Director for Big-D Construction. “It’s a bit of gamble, but it’s a great opportunity to develop good relationships.”
Learning from the Client
It was Murphy’s first experience working with the social services provider, and it turned out to be a good one. He attributed that to new-project excitement and his focus on learning owner expectations.
Murphy explained that they learned a lot from the adult autism spectrum and what was important to VBH’s clients and staff. Selecting the right colors and textures as well as creating a comfortable environment were paramount—and they received plenty of help from ownership to articulate that, according to both Layton and Murphy.
“They’re specialists,” said Layton. “They really understand their clients and understand what helps them be comfortable. […] [The owners] were great to work with and had a lot of great design ideas.”
They helped the project team in other ways, too. One family, whose son has autism and is a client at the Adult Autism Center, was instrumental in designing certain graphics.
Initial Challenges
Even with an understanding owner and dedicated project team, challenges arose as excavation began.
“There were a lot of curveballs on the site,” said Layton. “There was no record of some of the things we discovered.”
Old irrigation lines were only one of many unforeseen site conditions, the reality not matching the records given the project team on many issues. But there was no fear here—the only option the project team considered was to finish the project successfully.
With a collective deep breath, the project team added Murray City to the group discussion to solve the site problems—not just for the Adult Autism Center, but for the city, too. Layton was very appreciative of the good faith in which everyone approached the issues.
“I’ve seen this movie before,” said Layton. He was quick to keep the seriousness of the problems in perspective. “It ends well when everyone is honest and willing to come together to solve a problem.”
Solving Weather and Pandemic-Related Issues
External factors brought about additional challenges.
“We had a period of rain at a bad time in the project”—Layton paused—“and the earthquake.”
But there was no moaning from Layton or Murphy in the project team. To them, it was just another problem to solve. To deal with the rain-soaked job site, Murphy and the Big-D Construction team built the roof of the building first to dry out the land before pouring the slabs.
COVID added another constraint after that. Murphy mentioned that owners looked to be more cautious about their expenditures. Instead of stacking trades, Big-D Construction made it more linear, “one trade at a time,” according to Murphy—and trade partners stepped up.
“We brought in the framing crew for two weeks to work all by themselves with no interruptions or distractions,” he said. It lengthened the schedule, but Murphy is confident that VBH got a higher-quality project as trades could focus exclusively on their work. “Our subs stepped it up,” he concluded.
Finished Project
The final form, according to Layton, is “calm, homogenous, and quietly elegant—it’s not trying to out-Pope the Pope.”
On the interior, durability of materials was a focus, with reinforced drywall and easily cleanable surfaces and materials chosen for the building. An inviting entry, decorative stair railings, and expansive windows contribute to the end-user experience.
Layton mentioned rooflines and exterior materials helped meet the architectural intent to give the building a residential feel while becoming a value engineering point that helped the building fit in its neighborhood. Additionally, the building’s siding is HardiePlank, a durable and affordable fiber cement product.
Observation rooms, activity spaces, library and media center, craft room, medical & dental procedure rooms, among others provide the “mix of elements that adds to the complexity of the construction process,” said Murphy. Even still, “It’s satisfying and gratifying to know our efforts have contributed to such a unique and vital service.”
The project teams’ overall willingness to persevere in the face of challenges big and small was instrumental in building up this needed structure. Today, the Adult Autism Center serves clients to help them with daily living, vocational skills, and more.
Adult Autism Center of Lifetime Learning
Location: Murray
Owner: Valley Behavioral Health
Design Team
Architect: Layton-Davis Architects
Civil: Wilding Engineering
Electrical: Rocky Mountain Consulting Engineers
Mechanical: JTB HVAC & Plumbing Engineering
Structural: Structural Design Studio
Geotech: AGEC
Construction Team
General Contractor: Big-D Construction
Concrete: Flatiron Development
Plumbing: Precise Mechanical & Plumbing
HVAC: MJ Mechanical
Electrical: Gerrard Electric
Masonry: McQueen Masonry
Drywall/Acoustics: Wallboard Specialties
Painting: C5 Coatings
Tile/Stone: OC Tile
Carpentry: RAM Builders, Nils Bigler Construction, and Great Basin Cabinetry
Flooring: Certified Sales and Service
Roofing: D-7 Roofing
Glass/Curtain Wall: NGI Glass
Waterproofing: Bonneville Caulking & Waterproofing
Steel Fabrication: Precision Welding
Steel Erection: Precision Welding
Excavation: Advantage Excavating
Landscaping: Waterscape Landscaping
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