No Waterway? No Problem for the Utah Inland Port Authority

UIPA aims to build on its successes over the last seven years and continue its mission to enhance the lives of Utahns through municipal collaboration and well-positioned industrial development.
By Taylor Larsen

Ports? In landlocked Utah?

Sure, the traditional idea of a port in Utah, with cargo ships, cruise liners, container cranes, dockworkers, barges—not to mention coastal water—is farfetched. But the Utah Inland Port Authority (UIPA) has broadened the meaning of a port since its formation in 2018. Even without a coast, UIPA has worked to strengthen rail, air, and road cargo infrastructure to turn Utah into a 21st century logistics hub and changing the economic trajectory of the Beehive State in the process. 

It’s been seven years of increased industrial development that has been a boon for the A/E/C community, but more importantly the logistics and manufacturing network to build for an ever-growing consumer demand. There have been plenty of detractors to UIPA, especially as it relates to ecological conservation. Ben Hart, Executive Director of UIPA, has heard it loud and clear as he sets the organization on a path to aid in development goals that benefit the entire state and the values Utahns hold dear.

Origin Story + Coordinated Efforts

UIPA was created to pioneer and implement strategic and sustainable logistics-backed economic solutions that enhance the lives of Utahns and establish Utah as a global industry connector. 

While UIPA began its journey overseeing 16,000 acres in the northwest portion of Salt Lake County, the Northwest Quadrant, it has grown in area and emphases since 2018. Today, UIPA is associated with 110,000 acres in 12 project areas across the state. Most importantly for the organization, Hart said, is how developments within UIPA project areas create high-paying jobs to strengthen Utah communities.

Where regional logistics infrastructure does not exist, UIPA can make strategic investments to
unlock regional economic growth.

“Part of the [UIPA] charter is developing projects that provide economic strength for their entire
region. Regional projects need regional infrastructure, which most importantly includes
transportation infrastructure,” said Hart, detailing UIPA tools to build out transportation infrastructure intended “to help grow the entire regional economy.

Hart said that UIPA has grown its overall area scope to help meet statewide initiatives from current Governor Spencer Cox and regional initiatives from municipal leaders around the Beehive State. Speaking specifically of many of Utah’s rural counties, “There is more commerce going on in those areas than what people recognize,” Hart said, “and you still have a really good workforce in those areas as well.”

Municipalities and counties of all levels (see project area map) have been willing to go through a four-step process to access UIPA capabilities in route to industrial development and the high-wage jobs that come with it.

1. Resolve: The municipality or county adopts a project area resolution in a public

meeting.

2. Draft: UIPA staff work with the municipality or county to develop a project area plan

or amend a project area plan for the UIPA Board to review in at least two public UIPA

Board meetings.

3. Adopt: The UIPA board may adopt a project area or project area amendment in a

public meeting.

4. Build & Measure: During this 25-year phase, construction, development, and recruitment will occur in the project area. Project area budgets are annually prepared and adopted by the UIPA Board. In addition, project area metrics are reported and shared.

Lakeshore Learning Materials’ 1.2 million-SF manufacturing and distribution facility brought high-paying jobs to the cities of Garland and Tremonton thanks to UIPA incentives. (photo courtesy Millstream Partners)

In the “Build & Measure” phase, companies looking to locate to UIPA project areas put in an incentive application on where they would like to locate, which Hart said sometimes come with a request on where the company thinks it will most likely succeed. The UIPA Board then evaluates the application and determines which of the UIPA tools—public infrastructure districts, loans, business incentives, and more— are available for the project before awarding it and beginning the development process.


Industrial Development Expands


Hart is confident that UIPA’s formula for success—working with communities who want development help and then responding to market demands—will continue to grow. 


“We feel like, from an industrial perspective, Utah is hugely under-built,” Hart said. “We want to be able to capture the manufacturing moment that we feel like has been going on the last few years and seems only to be getting bigger and more significant across the country.”


Jared Boyer, Director of Development and Acquisitions for Colmena Group, saw a similar outlook. Colmena Group, along with Wadsworth Development Group, and Stokes Partners, oversees the 3,000 acre logistics park, the Global Logistics Center, within the Northwest Quadrant project area. 


“Utah’s industrial development outlook remains incredibly strong, driven by our central location, business-friendly climate, and growing population. The Northwest Quadrant, in particular, is quickly becoming one of the most attractive industrial hubs in the western United States,” he said.


Fundamentals match the sentiment. Utah's low industrial vacancy rates (around 5% across the state), more on-shoring from multinational corporations, Trump administration federal policy advocating for domestic manufacturing, and the robust workforce across the state combine for an appealing pitch for companies seeking to expand.


Utah’s lack of navigable waters be damned, the Inland Port ethos shares one trait with water: fluidity. As supply chains broke or unwound during the pandemic and linked together in new ways in the years that followed, Hart said the importance of adding a Utah manufacturing link into statewide supply chain plans became more important than ever in industrial development.


“Manufacturing in particular brings with it an incredible economic multiplier,” said Hart. “Consider that Boeing alone has 139 suppliers in Utah. Aerospace, bio-manufacturing, and other types of advanced manufacturing bring new investments and help to lift the entire Utah economy.”


Greg Nelson, Managing Partner for Farmington-based developers Millstream Partners is seeing it firsthand. With Millstream Partners as project creator and sponsor for the recently opened Lakeshore Learning Materials, Nelson sees the indirect benefits that this manufacturing project will provide the cities of Garland and Tremonton (since the building itself is on the border of both cities) and greater Box Elder County. It’s a recipe where discretionary income and ancillary businesses surrounding the project quickly turn into a thriving, growing community.


But there are storm clouds on the horizon, even with operations ongoing at Lakeshore Learning Materials and other projects in development. The situation regarding industrial development is getting choppier, especially as the Trump administration continues to yo-yo on tariffs.


“We all have to go through these times of correction, and we’ll see what they look like in the next 12-24 months,” Hart continued. “I think demand is going to stay high, but I think investment is going to check up” and be more cautious than in prior years, with less speculative building and more build-to-suit coming in the industrial market.


The Beehive State is a resilient one, but Hart said getting the best projects into Utah requires alignment between UIPA, the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity (GOEO), municipalities, and local entities to bring prosperity to residents and their communities.


Nelson shared similar thoughts, saying that without UIPA, EDCUtah, GOEO working together with Box Elder County and the cities of Garland and Tremonton, the Lakeshore Learning Materials project would not have materialized. Nelson described the work to bring the company to Northern Utah as “a lot of cooks in the kitchen,” but said UIPA was integral keeping everyone aligned and satisfied after leaving the negotiating table.


“There are road blocks,” he said, praising UIPA’s role in creating a healthy incentive structure for projects to move forward while recognizing the developer’s “quarterback” role must be made in a spirit of collaboration. “When developers look to cities as either handouts, a vending machine, or even as adversaries, people feel it. We approached this group as literal partners. We created a huddle that everyone wanted to be in.”

Company: Lakeshore Learning Materials

Market: Education

Location: Box Elder County, Golden Spike

Incentive: Post-performance 2.5% tax rebate capped at $1.7 million; 60% property tax liability rebate for 25 years

Expected Jobs: 500+


Lakeshore received the green light in 2023 on building 1.2 million SF of industrial space in Garland. The $62 million manufacturing and distribution facility opened in late 2024 and operates with modern robotics and automation.


Company: Northrop Grumman

Market: Aerospace

Location: Salt Lake County, Northwest Quadrant

Incentive: Post-performance 10% property tax rebate over 25 years

Expected Jobs: 100-250 


UIPA’s first incentive awarded in 2023 went to Northrop Grumman’s $70-100 million capital investment plan to convert a 300,000-SF warehouse into an aerospace- and defense-focused manufacturing facility. 


Company: Savage

Market: Logistics and Transportation

Location: Tooele County—Twenty Wells

Incentive: $10 million Authority Infrastructure Bank loan over 10 years at an interest rate of 3.45%.

Expected Jobs: Indirect job growth to be determined


Savage is advancing a transformative rail expansion project with a $25 million investment to construct/rehabilitate 11 miles of rail line in Tooele County and connect to the 1,700-acre Lakeview Business Park in Grantsville.

(Pictured) Nautilus 1 is the first of a three-part industrial complex completed in Cedar City’s BZI Innovation Park as part of UIPA’s Iron Springs project area. (Right) Savage Transload Facility, also in Cedar City, plays a critical role in delivering rail service to Southern Utah as it continues to grow. (photos courtesy UIPA)

Rose Colored Glasses?


Development is exciting, certainly, but development doesn’t come without drawbacks, an especially sensitive subject as stewardship of Utah’s wetland resources has come more into focus. Four UIPA project areas surround the Great Salt Lake across Salt Lake, Davis, Weber, and Box Elder counties and include wetlands identified by the Utah Geological Survey. 


Calls for ecological stewardship have been a constant since UIPA began. Protests from Stop the Port Coalition and their supporters—one which postponed a UIPA Board meeting in 2021—opposition from Utah Physicians for Healthy Environment, and a bevy of lawsuits calling for UIPA Board transparency and ecological preservation show that not everyone is on board.


To answer some of those concerns, Hart pointed to a $2.5 million grant issued by UIPA to preserve existing wetlands.


“We’ve also put protections in our project areas that provide protections for existing wetlands, but also funding to protect additional wetlands,” Hart said, detailing how tax revenues within certain project areas are earmarked for wetland conservation. “We feel very comfortable that we're developing in a responsible way around sensitive land areas, and that includes both generating money for their protections.”


Hart emphasized that UIPA does not have regulatory land use authority in land it does not own. What UIPA does have “is the position to work with landowners in their project areas to require certain standards for conservation and protection of ecologically sensitive areas and precious natural resources before sharing financial tools of the [UIPA]. It can also use financial tools to incentivize more environmentally friendly developments and the recruitment of sustainable businesses.”


“There is this belief that [UIPA] comes in and destroys everything,” Hart said of the major misunderstanding of UIPA’s role in development. “Zoning is what dictates what can and cannot go in project areas. […] The thing that that governs all of this is local land use authority. We cannot overstep local land use authority.”


Said Boyer, “One of the most impactful aspects has been UIPA’s coordination with other key state entities, particularly the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity. This kind of collaboration ensures that development isn't happening in a silo, but rather as part of a broader, forward-thinking strategy that considers environmental quality, long-term job growth, and responsible resource management.”


Less Trucks, More Trains and Planes


Hart understands the concerns from UIPA detractors in their fears about Utah air quality. The Executive Director sees alignment where UIPA stewardship can be a critical component to improve air quality by prioritizing alternatives to truck-based logistics.


Hart said rail expansion is an important way that UIPA seeks to keep commerce flowing while improving air quality by shifting as many as 300 trucks worth of materials onto a train. According to Canadian freight marketplace Freightera, when compared against truck transport, rail can be five times more fuel-efficient, emit 60% or fewer greenhouse gases, and consume up to nine times less energy per tonne kilometer traveled.


Projections from the above-mentioned Savage Tooele Railroad show that it will help eliminate approximately 5,000 truck trips annually in its first year of operation and remove 20 million truck miles over 20 years in operation.


Within UIPA’s Iron Springs project area in Cedar City, BZI Innovation Park will be an 820-acre rail-served project. The greenfield development will include 8.5 million SF of businesses in construction, aerospace, and advanced manufacturing, as well as warehouse distribution and data centers.


Air transport is also a critical component of UIPA’s logistics plan, namely the aptly named “Aerotropolis” around the SLC International Airport. These efforts are buoyed by the airport’s main carrier Delta Airlines’ 250 peak-day departures to more than 90 destinations. Progress continues on that front with the new direct flight from Salt Lake City to South Korean’s Seoul Incheon Airport coming in June 2025.


“With UIPA’s commitment to growing air freight on this route, we see an opportunity to further solidify SLC as a competitive logistics hub connecting the Mountain West to the world,” said Bill Wyatt, Executive Director of Salt Lake City Department of Airports.

 

Work between both airport and UIPA will leverage the area’s logistics network to develop air cargo facilities and attract dedicated international freighter service to key international markets that work in tandem with Utah’s growth in health sciences and aerospace industries.


Utah—Port of Call


UIPA continues its work to bring industrial projects and high-paying jobs to Utah and fulfill their mission to make Utah a global industry connector. Hart said the UIPA and the greater public are aligning more and more in understanding what the organization is trying to accomplish in conjunction with municipalities in their project area.


Even in choppy waters, Hart said there are plenty of tailwinds for industrial investment to bring prosperity across the state. With UIPA’s help, Utah can be a 21st century port of call.

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)