Retail to Research

Booming Salt Lake-based Recursion Pharmaceuticals makes a bold expansion move in transforming 24 former retail stores at The Gateway into 120,000 SF of cutting-edge research laboratory space. 
By Brad Fullmer

From a building renovation standpoint, it's the perfect marriage: transforming aging, outdated—and totally empty, to boot—retail space into a thriving, modern research laboratory in the up-and-coming biotech industry.

That's exactly what Recursion Pharmaceuticals has done with the completion in June of a 120,000 SF expansion of its Salt Lake headquarters at The Gateway, a project that required the construction team to do the unfathomable—cut an 18 ft. by 18 ft. hole in a post-tensioned concrete slab, a delicate, highly-risky venture for any contractor.  

"There was a ton of risk with it," said Donavon Minnis, CEO/Founder of Salt Lake-based Engage Contracting, the general contractor. "My career has been comprised of projects that are very complicated, ones that have a huge amount of risk. It takes months of planning, while the actual task itself takes very little time in comparison."

Minnis said Vestar—a Phoenix-headquartered developer that acquired the 21-acre, 623,000 SF development in February 2016—had been considering ways to accomplish the feat a few times over the years, but were unable to find someone to execute it. 

Engage hired A-Core Concrete Cutting of Salt Lake for the task and according to Minnis they did an excellent job. "From the frontside to the backside we basically had to brace up the parking garage and three levels of floors [essentially the entire building] to release the cables, cut the hole, restructure the opening, shore up the edges of the slabs so we could retighten the cables in all directions, and put it all back together. It was monumental to be able to get that done,” said Minnis.

"To be able to cut a significant opening [...] was a huge undertaking," said Bryan Hill, General Manager at The Gateway. "We did extensive preliminary reports to see if it was even possible. We didn't anticipate the opening would be that large." 

From a design standpoint it was the most critical aspect in fulfilling the owner's vision of a grand staircase connecting the two 60,000 SF levels, seen by Recursion as essential to maintaining company culture and a high level of employee collaboration. 

"That was a major undertaking," said Jason Gordon, Sr. Facilities Manager for Recursion, a rapidly growing, clinical stage TechBio company founded in 2013. "It required 12 weeks of planning. We had to brace—pole bracing from floor-to-ceiling every two square feet—three levels from Rio Grande to 500 West before we could cut that hole. This was literally the only place we could do it."

"This is a cavernous, large space without connections, and we needed more connection for our team to operate and have a similar environment that we have across the street [Recursion's Corporate HQ, renovated in 2018]," said Jesse Dean, Principal, Real Estate and Workplace Experience Partner for the firm. "We now have over 200,000 SF at The Gateway—we doubled down in terms of ensuring this is going to be a great life science space. We recognized the value of creating a nice lab and office space in a former mall. It's adjacent to [mass] transit, it's right next to the Delta Center, we have a lot of amenities—our team loves it." 

Crews from A-Core Concrete Specialists of Salt Lake City performed yeoman-like work in cutting an 18 ft. by 18 ft. hole in a post-tensioned concrete slab, a delicate, highly-risky venture that was critical to achieving the owner’s vision of a more collaborative space that aligns with corporate culture. 

Complex Go/No-Go Checklist

The design-build team of Engage Contracting and Salt Lake-based GSBS Architects worked furiously during the planning phase to check off an intense list of variables in deciding how far they could push the envelope, beyond cutting a giant hole in the slab.


"The project was very complex," said Azy Sharp, Project Manager for GSBS. "Life sciences projects are naturally more complex project types. Prior to this I was working mainly on office buildings, and this was a whole other ball game. [...] Just fitting that complex of a space within the existing structure, working around [a difficult] concrete column layout and 18-in. thick shear walls that were very much in our way."


Converting individual retail shops into a cohesive, highly collaborative lab and office space, combined with the clunky layout of the building, provided myriad obstacles including a tall floor-to-floor height, a poorly functioning building envelope, inadequate mechanical/HVAC systems, and a very difficult structure to work around.


The post-tensioned slab was but one of the immense challenges. Exhaust placement and a comprehensive hazardous plume analysis was the second major critical item to navigate around, given the location of multi-family apartments directly above the building. Vibration control, structural capacity, electrical service capacity, central plant capacity, and meeting Salt Lake City's strict noise ordinance comprised the most critical scope aspects.


The project carried a fast-track schedule where early procurement and a phased approach were critical to its success. The post-tensioned deck required all floor cuts and cores to be x-rayed prior to cutting, to protect the building's structural integrity. In addition, shear wall modifications, structural steel fabrication and installation, and significant utility upgrades were other critical improvements.

 

Robust Infrastructure Upgrades

Laboratory spaces generally require beefy electrical and mechanical systems and Recursion's needs were expansive, with mechanical systems that provide water purification, pure oxygen, and liquid nitrogen, and electrical systems designed with ample electrical power for future expansion needs.


The pure water system is highly advanced, requiring engineered PVC piping and needing to be constantly monitored, so as not to over-purify the water, which would become corrosive over time.


In addition, all air pressurization systems, backup battery systems, and liquid nitrogen tanks are carefully engineered with multiple fire suppressant systems to give the client the proper methods of fire mitigation, based on the respective function of the space.


According to Roger Hamlet, Vice President of Salt Lake-based Colvin Engineering Associates, the need for substantial ventilation rates in laboratories required two new air handlers and dedicated exhaust fan systems, which had to be designed into the building since there is no rooftop. In addition, stringent requirements (per SLC Dept. of Utilities) dictated that dedicated wastewater sampling stations be implemented into lab spaces.


Fully redundant backup systems for power, plumbing, and mechanical are another hallmark of this project that helps ensure the safety of lab testing results in the event of total power loss. The system can switch over to battery back-up generators and can maintain operational power without interruption.


Dean said the scale of mechanical and electrical upgrades was beyond what the company needs at the present moment—'future-proofing' the building and keeping it flexible as the company's needs change—was a key strategic decision based on Recursion's aggressive growth goals.


"Our team has this challenge where we're trying to get ahead of growth," said Dean. "We try and anticipate what we're going to need 2-3 years before we actually need it.”


"We built it with this idea of how we can be flexible [...] as our business model changes, as our laboratory needs change," said Jan Gardner, Director of Site Services for Recursion. It's difficult to do with this physical space [..] but it has served us well. We'll be able to adjust and accelerate the work we're doing."

 

Structural, Electrical Complexities

According to Bryant Nielson, an Associate with Salt Lake-based Reaveley Engineers, because scientific instruments are highly sensitive to vibrations of the floor, a comprehensive vibration evaluation of existing floors explored various strategies to modify the floors to required tolerances. In lieu of upgrading the floor system, off-the-shelf vibration isolation tables were purchased for each piece of equipment.


Reaveley collaborated with Engage and Penhall throughout the cutting of the post-tensioned slab and helped design a new steel support frame around the opening to support the stair systems and a specimen lift.


Another unique challenge was the transportation and installation of a specialized 50,000 lb. Verso Machine. Engage created a structural steel hoisting system to lift the machine and assist with its installation. Adding structural support to the subterranean foundation was required to safely handle that additional weight.


Another slick design element was the addition of a new structural mezzanine that capitalizes on the unique 12,000 SF overhead space. This mezzanine closely matches a similar structure in Recursion’s HQ and added four new conference rooms, a large lounge area above, and additional meeting spaces below.


To facilitate a more intuitive entrance experience, significant modifications were made to the building’s entrances, including a redesign of the exterior façade, relocating doors, and installing new energy-efficient security glazing.


Special electrical and acoustical systems were designed by Salt Lake-based Spectrum Engineers including significant changes to the existing retail metering switchboard, with the elimination of nearly 30 electrical meters, while combining the separate services into a single meter. An emergency/standby natural gas generator was bumped from 300kW to 750kW to ensure uninterrupted power.



The building was upgraded to state-of-the-art, customizable LED lighting systems which include daylighting and vacancy sensors for maximum energy efficiency.

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The new 120,000 SF facility was built with an eye on the future, giving the rapidly-growing firm plenty of space to expand capacity as needed.

Colorful Elements and Amenities Liven Up the Lab

Many of the design decisions were based on Recursion’s dedication to reshaping what a traditional pharmaceutical company is. Modern materials such as polished concrete floors, laminate wood paneling, and ceramic tile are paired with color gradients of purples, blues, and greens.


Custom hand-painted exterior mosaic graphics tie into the strong brand identity of Recursion. Within the boundaries of the existing building, the finished project will allow Recursion to expand into adding additional clean room areas, laboratories, gowning rooms, and lockers. Additional workspaces, conference rooms, and breakout areas were added throughout the building where employees are encouraged to collaborate.


True to Recursion’s attitude towards workplace culture, productivity is emphasized and on display. Large floor-to-ceiling glass curtain walls separate laboratories and workspaces to establish a feeling of connection. LED lighting utilizes light harvesting to adjust to the time of day, or for personal preferences.


A custom hexagon carpet system was developed to connect through rooms while custom laminated pine wood paneling adds warmth and color to predominantly exposed concrete spaces. In lab spaces, 70,000 SF of industrial vinyl flooring was installed.


All in all, it made for one ultimately unique, highly satisfying project.


"What's fun in doing this kind of project is, it's really cool when you learn what you're supporting, and you feel like you're a part of creating an environment somebody can do really cool stuff in," said Shaw. "I want to create their space because it's instrumental to bringing humanity forward. It's fun to get behind."


Shaw added that solutions to complicated problems can always be achieved via hard work, collaborative synergy, and ingenuity.


"It doesn't matter whether it's a lab, or some foundation problem, or whatever it is, you just have to be interested and capable of taking a lot of things into mind to find the solution," he said.

 

Salt Lake Biotech Market Strong  

In May, Shaw, Minnis, and Cynthia Walston with lab design consultant Scientia Architects of Houston collaborated on a presentation titled Retail to Research to a group of national professionals in the biotech field. It included information on the complexity of the Recursion expansion, and highlighted Salt Lake's strong biotech industry (ranked No. 10 in the U.S.) with eight prominent SLC-headquartered companies (Recursion, Merit Medical, Ultradent, Biomerics, Myriad Genetics, etc.) and another nine biotech giants that have a significant presence in the Beehive State's capital.


With Recursion now taking up more than 200,000 SF in The Gateway, Hill said fully one-third of Vestar's Gateway property is now leased to firms in the biotech/life science industry, an unlikely market development the owner could not have imagined when it bought the property more than seven years ago.


Hill said tenants love having a plethora of restaurant and entertainment choices for their employees within walking distance of the workplace, another big factor driving the retail to research trend for existing buildings.


"It's obviously a very different direction than The Gateway once was," said Hill. "It's truly been a big win for Salt Lake City [...] and obviously a big win for The Gateway."


Hill said another 80,000 SF renovation is also being done by the GSBS-Engage team for Perfect Day, a food technology-related project slated to finish by the end of the year.



Indeed, this unexpected trend playing out at the Gateway is eye-opening. According to Minnis, "retail to research—every time I say that to developers, their eyes light up because [...]  research is off the charts right now!"


Recursion Pharmaceutical

Location: Salt Lake City

Delivery: Design-Build

Stories/Levels: 2 (+ mezzanine)

Square Footage: 120,000

 

Design Team

Architect: GSBS Architects

Electrical Engineer: Spectrum Engineers

Mechanical Engineer: Colvin Engineering

Structural Engineer: Reaveley Engineers

Lab Design: Scientia Architects

Sound Engineer: Spectrum Engineers

 

Construction Team

GC: Engage Contracting Inc.

Concrete: S. Lemke Concrete

Plumbing/HVAC: American Chiller

Electrical: CR Lighting & Electric

Drywall: Wallboard Specialties

Painting: Grow Painting       

Tile/Stone: Floorstyles         

Millwork: Boswell Wasatch

Doors: Architectural Building Supply

Flooring: Floorstyles 

Glass/Curtain Wall: Flynn

Steel Fabrication & Erection: Daniel’s Welding

Demolition: Red Rock Demolition

Concrete Cutting: Penhall, A-Core

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)