Q&A w Bryan Turner

As Director of Architectural Services, Turner has had a profound impact on K-12 design during his nearly 30-year career.

A native of Sugar City, Idaho, Bryan Turner's interest in the A/E/C industry was sparked following the tragic Teton Dam collapse on June 5, 1976, which destroyed his family's house. During the rebuilding process, he became fascinated with the building process and took a keen interest in the blueprint drawings, which led him to pursue a career in architecture. 


Turner worked for a couple of local Salt Lake-based firms, and also worked for a large grocery/retail chain prior to landing a position at Davis School District (DSD) in September 1996. Turner worked side-by-side with, Gary Turner, and ultimately took over for him as Director of Architectural Services, with Turner retiring in March 2024. 


Under their watch, DSD has become one of the most progressive school districts in the Beehive State, with the first Net-Zero K-12 building—Odyssey Elementary in Woods Cross—coming online a decade ago in 2014. Sustainability remains a priority for DSD, the second largest school district in Utah operating 92 schools that serve more than 74,000 students 

UC+D:  How was it working with Gary Payne for so many years? 

 

Turner:  His impact on the Davis School District will last many years due to the buildings that were constructed during his time. Rather than being satisfied with the status quo, we worked to develop school buildings that would accommodate innovate teaching styles and would be safe, economical, and exciting places where children would want to be. 

 

UC+D:  It's been 10 years since Odyssey Elementary was completed. What is the analysis of how it has performed?


Turner:  It is not very hard to create a truly Net-Zero building. We can produce enough electricity to offset the electricity used, plus the natural gas usage—however, the power company will not give us credit for electricity generated above what we use. An energy model was used to estimate the Energy Use Index (EUI) of Odyssey Elementary. It predicted that our EUI would be 22. The first year it was actually 17. An ideal Net-Zero building would not have any natural gas usage. We elected to install a gas boiler in the building to help control the "demand" charges that would occur on cold days when all the heat pumps would start up in the building. For 2023, the PV array produced 213,066 kWh; we used 188,088 kWh in electricity. We used 421 decatherms of gas, giving us a cost of $0.33/sf for energy usage, compared to an average building in the district (about $1.25/sf). 


UC+D:  What is the greatest success with Odyssey? What would you do differently?


Turner:  Odyssey Elementary, with all its energy-efficient features, provides an excellent educational experience that benefits both teachers and students. The building accommodates different learning styles, collaboration, and individual exploration. First and foremost, the building is a school, albeit one that is very maintainable. There is not anything I would do differently. Since this was the first of a series of prototypes, a lot of thought from a lot of people was put into it.

UC+D:  Who deserves credit for making that project happen the way it did?


Turner:  The credit for making it happen goes to the district leadership for allowing the time to get input from all stakeholders. This takes a lot of time and a lot of meetings. Meetings were held with district curriculum, administrators, counselors, teachers, students, parents, maintenance, utility, custodial, risk management, transportation, foods, and technology specialists. The design team collected all that information and came up with a design concept which was then presented to the same groups for buy-in. The length of time it takes to thoroughly get input from all user groups is a luxury most school districts are not willing to afford. 


UC+D:  When did Davis School District get serious about sustainability and how long did it take to begin implementing new policies about design and construction?


Turner:  One of the goals identified in our initial planning process was a net-zero building.  We did not really take it seriously thinking that we would not be able to afford it.  As we studied the various HVAC options, we realized that we were not too far off.  Basically, all we needed were PV panels.  We have always been interested in energy efficient buildings since money saved on energy goes back into the classroom.  We presented our Net-Zero plan to the Board of Education, expecting to get shot down.  Instead, our fiscally conservative board member said, "I think this is a great idea, we should do it." We never looked back. Since then, every new building, except for one, has had some form of solar power.


UC+D:  How much attention is paid to Odyssey given that it's Utah's first Net-Zero school?


Turner:  It was quite popular at first but now that we have several buildings built with the same features, our newer buildings get the attention now.


UC+D:  How sustainable are other DSD projects built since Odyssey was finished in August 2014? Any other Net-Zero schools? Have you gotten LEED certification on any projects?


Turner:  We have a total of seven Net-Zero buildings in operation with No. 8 coming online in August. We also have three more under construction and an additional one that will bid soon. We would have had one more, however the soil conditions were not right to install a ground-source heat exchange system, so we had to use a conventional HVAC system instead.

We have not pursued any other LEED buildings since Odyssey. We design all new buildings to the same standard that Odyssey was designed. LEED has become the industry standard, but other than getting a cool plaque to put on the wall, the certification does not seem to be worth the extra paperwork and money.


UC+D:  What is the future of sustainability for DSD? How can it improve?


Turner:  We plan to continue it with all new buildings, as long as we can accommodate it on site. Our preferred hybrid HVAC system which we design around provides a more comfortable environment while being energy efficient.  As the County approaches build-out, the need for new schools will decrease, however, we have many older buildings that will need to be replaced. The biggest impact to the district's energy bill would be to replace an old inefficient building with a new net-zero building.


UC+D:  How supportive is the public (taxpayers) regarding the expense associated with implementing sustainability/green items in projects?


Turner:  The public has been very supportive of the solar power usage—it makes sense to them. The payback on the additional cost of the PV array may be a little longer than ideal. If the district can educate 800 kids each year for 25 years with no electricity cost, that more than pays back the added cost of the solar panels.

 

UC+D:  How would you gauge the general awareness and efforts to implement sustainable building practices among other Utah school districts?


Turner:  I don't know if other school districts in Utah are implementing this level of sustainable building practices or not, but they should, since we all struggle with adequate funding. The more money that can be saved on utility and maintenance costs goes into the classrooms and directly supports the education process.

Sustainability Gold

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Deer Valley Expansion

By Taylor Larsen • February 25, 2026
Start spreadin’ the news I’m leavin’ today I want to be a part of it… I can hear everyone singing the final line: Deer Valley Resooooooooort Fine. Frank Sinatra may not have had après ski on the mind in “New York, New York”, but if the famous singer were alive today, I bet he would want to be a part of Deer Valley’s East Village—even with no relation to the New York City neighborhood—and the transformational development ongoing across Mayflower Mountain and Deer Valley Resort. East Village—Deer Valley Style “Deer Valley East Village is a long-anticipated project that will serve as the heart of the expanded terrain at Deer Valley Resort,” said Gary Barnett, Founder and Chair of Extell Development Company (Extell), in a press release. “With careful planning, we’ve curated a village that will redefine luxury and offer unparalleled amenities for our guests.” The ability to curate such luxury came from 10 years of collecting. Since 2015, Extell has purchased over 20 land parcels, assembling well over 5,000 acres for development. Extell partnered with the Military Installation Development Authority (MIDA) and Reef Capital Partners (Reef) to create a highly capable development team. These efforts set the stage for the 2023 agreement between the developer and Alterra Mountain Group (Alterra), Deer Valley’s parent company, to fold Extell’s East Village property into its existing resort operations—what Deer Valley President and COO Todd Bennett called, “Your new Deer Valley.” Barnett, speaking of what’s to come with this partnership and the billions of dollars of work set to go in on the mountain, said, “Extell and Deer Valley collaborated to craft a village and ski experience where luxury, adventure, and experience come together effortlessly.” Thus began the monumental transformation of Mayflower Mountain. Big Name Arrivals Two projects helped get the party started in the East Village. The Residences at Pioche Village delivered four buildings comprising 400-plus condominiums built by New Star General Contractors in December 2023. Although the project is outside the epicenter of ongoing development, it is becoming increasingly important to the area, as MIDA recently purchased one of the buildings to set aside 42 units of workforce housing. The first finished project within the epicenter was the award-winning Grand Hyatt Deer Valley, designed by OZ Architecture and built by Jacobsen Construction, completed in 2024. Extell partnered with MIDA to develop the hotel on military land, offering 100 rooms at a discounted rate for service members. The opulent hotel and condo property introduced a total of over 380 guest rooms, 40 suites, 55 private residences, and nearly 40,000 SF of conference space. And it’s just the beginning. On a recent tour of the East Village, Michael Woisin, Extell’s Sr. VP of Construction in Utah, detailed the immense manpower required to bring the vision to life. The six tower cranes currently operating there, along with a handful of other cranes, combine with dozens of concrete trucks heading up and down the mountain to support around 1,000 construction workers on site, driving projects of all sizes. Reef is developing multiple residential properties in the coming years. On the single-family side, Marcella at Deer Valley has already sold out the 143 homesites in the future private community, which is currently under construction. Marcella Landing will deliver a gated community of 50 ski-in/ski-out luxury townhomes designed by Olson Kundig. Cormont will deliver five residential condo towers and a vibrant central plaza, with construction completed in 2027 and 2028, and local architectural experience provided by FFKR Architects. The big brands are coming, too. Four Seasons Resort and Residences Deer Valley, designed by ODA Architecture and built by Jacobsen Construction, will deliver 134 guest rooms and suites, as well as 123 for-sale residences, with completion in 2028. Canopy by Hilton will open a 180-key hotel near Pioche Village. The property will feature architecture by The Richardson Design Partnership and interior design by DLR/Brayton Hughes and will open its doors in summer 2026. Waldorf Astoria Deer Valley Resort and Residences was announced in late January, with plans to bring 132 guest suites and 105 for-sale residences near Deer Valley’s Green Monster, the resort’s 4.85-mile ski run—Utah’s longest. With architectural design from KPF and interiors by AvroKO, the project will open its doors in 2028. Beyond the ski-in/ski-out access at many of the above properties, the East Village will also feature a skier services building and an extensive, tiered pedestrian plaza designed by ODA for year-round enjoyment when completed. The building will serve as the heart of the ski village, surrounded by the “ski beach” at the base of the mountain—with a future holiday market, a snow maze, and The Ribbon’s state-of-the-art ice- skating circuit planned for winter months. In summer, the area will be activated by a music festival, farmer’s market, outdoor movie screenings, and other events.

AGC of Utah Installs Gary Ellis as 2026 Chair at Annual Convention

By Bradley Fullmer • February 25, 2026
If the turnout for the 104th Annual Convention for the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of Utah is any indication of the current state of the construction industry in the Beehive State, 2026 will indeed be a robust year. The popular industry convention—held January 29-30 at Little America Hotel in downtown Salt Lake—continues to draw room-busting crowds at its events. The AGC's 2026 Awards Breakfast kicked off the convention on January 29, with the Utah chapter handing out nearly 50 awards for innovative projects and dedicated people. The second day—an all-day event—included entertaining keynote speakers at breakfast and lunch, along with informative breakout sessions in between. The convention was capped by an always-entertaining Installation Banquet, where Gary Ellis, President/CEO of Salt Lake-based Jacobsen Construction, was installed as 2026 AGC of Utah Chairman of the Board. Brett Nielsen, President of Brigham City-based Whitaker Construction and 2025 AGC of Utah Chairman, thanked AGC's staff of 13 for their efforts to elevate the association, and highlighted the work of the Construction Learning Committee (CLC), which aims to cultivate the next generation of construction industry leaders. "Earlier today, I made a comment that the generation that's coming into our industry today is about 20% of our population, but they are 100% of our future," said Nielsen. "We owe it to them to make sure we're providing the same tools, the guidance, the leadership that we received as we were coming up in the industry." Ellis followed with an initial plug for Nielsen, who is in line to serve as the AGC of America's 2030 President—a first for the Utah chapter. "We're excited to share Brett and his wisdom and terrific leadership to the entire country with regard to our industry—he'll do a great job and carry Utah in his heart," said Ellis. Ellis said he never imagined working in the construction industry, thinking he'd rather be a river running guide or physical therapist. Ultimately, he pursued accounting, earning a Master of Accounting from Provo-based Brigham Young University in 1995 and spending the first five years of his career as a Senior Auditor for KPMG in Salt Lake. He was hired in December 2000 at Jacobsen Construction as a Financial Controller, later ascending to his present title of President/CEO in January 2021. "The amount of construction experience I had before I landed at Jacobsen Construction was two weeks sweeping floors at a residential construction site," said Ellis. "I never imagined I would be part of the construction industry, but it's been life-changing for me. Our theme for the convention this year is Building What Matters—I wanted to do something that mattered [...] I wanted to be part of growing something, something I could put my arms around and say, 'wow, look what we just did together'. That's really what my motivation was when I found the construction industry." During the first five years of his career at a large corporate firm, Ellis said the gig lacked fulfillment. Joining Jacobsen opened his eyes to a new world, one he quickly gained a true passion for. "My kids are sick and tired of me pointing out every [Jacobsen] building as we go up and down I-15, I-80—I know, I'm preaching in the choir. There are incredible things that we do at Jacobsen; quite often, we talk about the 'wow factor'. That is what we have in this group. It is the wow factor, being able to [bask] in the pride we feel." Ellis also thanked his team at Jacobsen for believing in the AGC's mission and recognizing the importance of giving back to the industry. "I'm indebted to Ted [Jacobsen] and his family for what they've created at Jacobsen. The day I was asked [...] to take over as President, my very first phone call was to Ted Jacobsen [...] to let him know that I commit to making sure his family name is known in good standing in this marketplace."