Road Construction Session in Full Swing

UDOT’s top projects highlight a busy season in horizontal construction as the department seeks to connect communities through well-engineered and well-constructed roads.
By Taylor Larsen

619.

That’s how many projects in study, planning, and construction phases that UDOT has in the works at this moment in 2022—each one connecting communities across the Beehive State and allowing them to live, work, and play. The active involvement of UDOT in moving best practices forward is a testament to leaders like Lisa Wilson, Deputy Director of Engineering and Operations for UDOT.

She spoke at a NAIOP meeting in June about the department’s mission to enhance quality of life through transportation. UDOT’s mission of connected communities and its strategic goals of preserving infrastructure and optimizing mobility aren’t just for roads, either. UDOT takes its transportation mantle seriously, with Wilson mentioning lots of work going on with “digital roadways” and fiber connections to the internet in rural areas.

What else will Utah and UDOT continue to do with their mantle? They will embrace active transportation when connected with projects. Wilson said the millions that UDOT has dedicated to trail connections is money well spent. The inclusivity of these priorities has been a meaningful step in the department’s mission for better mobility, good health, strong economy, and connected communities.

The department has also taken a lot of pride in their work increasing safety and the overall character of Bangerter Highway, with Bangerter Three Interchanges recently completing construction. Wilson said that more Bangerter projects would be coming down the pipe to make the highway a true north-south corridor for western Salt Lake County.

As projects move forward, we profile some of UDOT’s top projects and highlight what makes the project essential to UDOT’s vision to “Keep Utah Moving.”

West Davis Highway (Davis County)

Cost: $750 million

GC: Farmington Bay Constructors (Ames Construction, Wadsworth Brothers Construction, and Staker Parson Materials and Construction)

Design: HNTB

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The grand poobah of UDOT projects in construction is the West Davis Highway. According to the public information team, the project is a 19-mile freeway segment that will connect western Davis County with the major traffic artery of I-15. The completed highway will improve access between western Davis County communities and link them to the Beehive State’s major vehicular artery, the I-15. As this area of the state grows, the new highway will help accommodate the continued rapid growth of Davis County and adjoining counties.


The four-lane divided highway will run from I-15 in Farmington to 4500 West and the future extension of S.R. 193 in West Point, and includes six new interchanges providing access to Farmington, Kaysville, Layton, and Syracuse.


The design-build project also consists of a system-to-system interchange, multiple local interchanges, intersection improvements, and construction of connecting roadways and a trail system.


With this massive project, Farmington Bay Constructors—a joint venture of Ames Construction, Wadsworth Brothers Construction, and Staker Parson Materials and Construction—was selected to utilize each member’s management, supervisors, equipment, resources, and specialties to accomplish the work.


Early work has set the project up for success. Initial research and a 7–8-month test fill by the project team provided good data about how the soil would behave during the pursuit. That early research pushed forward a high-quality design, lowered risk, solidified the schedule, and provided confidence in the cost estimate.


Construction on this new highway will continue into 2024.

U.S. 89 (Davis County)

$473 million

GC:Oak Hills Constructors (Ralph L. Wadsworth Construction, Granite Construction)

Design: Horrocks Engineers, Michael Baker International 

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Another Davis County project is getting lots of attention, and rightly so. The nearly half-billion-dollar U.S. 89 project is impressive. UDOT planned to widen U.S. 89 from four lanes to six and remove stop lights between S.R. 193 in Layton and Main Street in Farmington. The project includes four new interchanges and two new bridges over the highway, along with new frontage roads, pedestrian underpasses, a multi-use trail, and bicycle improvements.


The U.S. 89 reconstruction is the “first progressive design-build in the state and one of the largest in the country,” said Bryan Mouser, Operations Manager at Michael Baker International’s Utah office.


What is a progressive design build (PDB)? It has the qualifications-based parts of a CM/GC project with design-build’s (DB) penchant for effective teamwork, accountability, and quicker delivery times, while adding innovation and reducing risk for all parties. According to those interviewed, the contractual delivery method on this project has been a massive success.


“We’ve been able to interact with the state and contractors to come up with what everyone thought would be the best solution,” said Mouser of the work via PDB. His firm, along with Horrocks Engineers, Granite Construction, Ralph L. Wadsworth Construction, and UDOT all came together to solve right of way issues, work around an oil pipeline that delivers tens of thousands of barrels per day, perform 50 miles of utility relocations, and challenge a lawsuit from a local resident.


While traditional DB would have to wait until everything was resolved, PDB helped move pre-construction forward, with contractors on the Oak Hills Constructors team working as consultants to bring the best project forward.


Mike MacArthur, Vice President of Preconstruction with Ralph Wadsworth Construction (RLW), described the different delivery methods as different boxes that package up these complex highway projects. 


“When the box is harder to define and there are some unknowns, PDB is best,” he said. “Instead of staying inside of a square box” as one would do in other delivery methods, MacArthur detailed how PDB allows teams to change the shape of the box entirely. Progressive design concepts, similar to DB’s alternative design concepts, looked for best solutions on U.S. 89. One of those was highways going under crossing streets instead of bridging over, which maintains nearby residents’ iconic views of the mountains to the east.


As PDB pushes the highway forward, additional road safety will be at the forefront. U.S. 89 connects I-84 to the north to I-15 in the south, but has traditionally been more accident-prone because of the high speeds of U.S. 89 and the low speeds of the cross streets. These problems are being mitigated, said Mouser. “Now, you can travel straight through from one [interstate] to the other” with dedicated on- and off-ramps that help traffic integrate safely.


Beyond safety, Mouser praised the project for eliminating some of the pollution that came from the stop-start traffic in rush hour that has been commonplace on U.S. 89. Communities will soon have access to faster thoroughfares, less pollution from idling at stoplights, and an overall better road across Davis County thanks to the work done by the U.S. 89 project team.


The project will be complete in 2023.


I-80 & I-215 (Salt Lake County)

$146.5 million

GC: Ralph L. Wadsworth Construction

Design: Michael Baker International

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This high-use corridor on Salt Lake’s east side is going through a major overhaul. Construction teams are removing the existing pavement and replacing it with new concrete on I-80 from 1300 East to 2300 East and I-215 from 3300 South to 4500 South. 


“Anyone coming from Park City or utilizing Parley’s Canyon will pass through the job site,” said Darren Burton, Transportation Project Manager at Michael Baker International, of the extensive scope of the project and affected public. Beyond the paving efforts on the two-mile sections of each freeway, construction teams are adding another lane from 1300 to just past 2300 East to push available eastbound lanes from three to four.


The area around the job site has plenty of traffic, with lots of activity from nearby parks, residences, and high schools. With so much activity and right of way limited by nearby houses and a golf course, the full reconstruction was a little more challenging on both portions of the project, according to Burton. 


Working through these challenges, the design-build project team of Michael Baker International (MBI) and Ralph L. Wadsworth Construction (RLW) is pulverizing and recycling old concrete to create a road base for the new roadway. It is one way the team is working through concrete powder shortages as they triage different project needs. 


It’s one of over 10 projects that this design-build team of MBI-RLW has done together, which has helped make this project a positive impact on the state’s transportation network. “There’s a lot of trust and a lot of history that really benefits both of us,” said Burton. “We’ve worked through many issues and found a lot of great solutions.


Crews are building on westbound I-80 for a future lane-add project to accommodate the growing population in Summit County and eastern Salt Lake County and adding another eastbound lane from 1300 to just past 2300 East, too. New bridges on the I-80 portion of the project are another major feature and source of goodwill from the local community. It is one of the first times that Chris Dillman, Project Manager for RLW, said he could remember so much positive support for a roadway project. 


“Everyone who lives by those bridges feels ownership of those bridges,” said Dillman of the 1300 East and 1700 East bridges. Whether that is commuting to work, taking their kids to school, or biking over to the park, thousands of nearby residents use the bridges each day. They were appreciative of the project and even came out by the dozen to see one of the innovative construction methods on the project: accelerated bridge construction slides.


With this construction method, new bridges are prefabricated very near to their final destination. After demolishing the old bridge, construction teams slide the new bridges into place and install them. 


Dillman reported that nearby residents were outside as early as 2AM watching the bridge demolition with their kids and grandkids. As the bridge slide commenced, Dillman said steady streams of folks at the park or at nearby observation points would sit and watch the process for a few minutes at a time. The entire bridge slide process was completed in 20 hours and got traffic up and running to start the next work week.


The project is expected to complete in 2023.


I-15 and I-70 (Millard, Iron, and Beaver counties)

Cost: $20.1 million 

GC: WW Clyde, Intermountain Slurry Seal, Sunroc

Design: UDOT

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Multiple construction methods and contractors are involved on this expansive project that will repave roads and replace bridge pads with construction crews hard at work in three counties. This project will repave three sections of I-15 from Beaver through Cedar City and replace the driving surface and barrier walls on the I-70 bridges over I-15 in Millard County.


Caleb Mendenhall, Project Manager for WW Clyde said that their scope of the project includes bridge replacements on two bridges. At the junction he and crews are replacing bridge decks and bearing pads on the eastbound bridge to I-70 and the westbound bridge that moves traffic south from I-70 onto I-15.


The bridges have been repaired and overlaid since the final stamp of approval on these bridges was given in 1966, but that bridge decks and bearing pads have reached the end of their design life.


Mendenhall said that UDOT has a high standard for their bridges, with fiber-reinforced concrete a staple of bridge deck materials. In the mixing process for this type of concrete, bits and pieces of fiberglass are added in to give the resulting structure extra strength, with the concrete able to delay reconstruction for many more years than traditional concrete.


While the parapets, bridge decks, and bearing pads will be demolished, the original girders from 1966 will remain in place, with the steel beams that support the deck will still be there when crews pour the bridge deck later this month.


Another portion of the project is under the careful watch of Rusty Price, President of Intermountain Slurry Seal, the second of the three contractors involved on the project.


Their part of the project is divided into two separate jobs—one section in Beaver and one section in Cedar City. With thousands of people traveling through I-15 at these two points, the jobs are essential.


Price describes this micro surfacing project on the two portions of I-15 as the final wearing course over the hot mix asphalt to give the road its smooth ride. One of the main benefits of this type of preventative maintenance, according to Price, comes through sped-up cure times, with micro surfacing taking less than an hour to cure, far less than its hot-mix asphalt counterparts.


Their two parts of the project went relatively quickly, with the cold-mix paving system containing emulsified asphalt, mineral aggregate, portland cement, and water that goes into spreader box and then goes onto the roadway. The Beaver portion of their scope finished in seven days, while the Cedar City portion took five to complete.


With no loose shedding like a chip seal job, Price mentions that UDOT’s choice to go with micro surfacing on these jobs were good for the hundreds of thousands that travel these Utah highways. Not only that, but these improved roads will have some of the highest skid resistance and friction values. 


This type of preventative maintenance is a major way organizations like UDOT are so successful at keeping Utah’s roads in top shape. “Everyone needs to remember to keep your good roads good,” said Price. “Maintain what you have.”

Construction will continue through fall 2022.

S.R. 14 (Iron and Kane counties)

Cost: $13.5 million

GC: Western Rock Products

Design: UDOT

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Asphalt paving is getting more love on the S.R. 14 project in Iron and Kane Counties. UDOT will be building a new two-mile eastbound passing lane in Cedar Canyon east of Cedar City and repave several miles of the highway farther east in Kane County.


Motorists traveling to nationally recognized hotspots like Bryce Canyon National Park and Cedar Breaks National Monument will have some fresh asphalt and a smooth ride as construction presses on. 


Joe Wilden, Construction Manager for Western Rock Products, a CRH Company, said in a statement that the road is also a key corridor locally. The route passes by local recreation areas Duck Creek and Navajo Lake and connects this community with Panguitch and other communities located along Highway 89 in Garfield County. 

Pouring asphalt in the hot weather won’t be the biggest problem for crews on this project. Instead, it is the project’s ascent, as the road starts at 6,000 feet elevation and climbs through the thinning oxygen to 10,000 feet. 


Wilden said in his statement that pavement design life will be extended by incorporating a lift of fiber strand reinforced hot mix asphalt (FSR HMA). The typical pavement section includes 2 ¾-inch FSR HMA and 1 ½-inch stone matrix asphalt surface course. Other intervals of the project include a 2-inch lane leveling course of hot mix asphalt prior to placement of the surface course to optimize smoothness and ride.


Wilden said to expect delays of 15–20 minutes on week days when traveling SR-14.


The project will complete in 2023.

Economists Remain Optimistic about Utah

By Milt Harrison • February 28, 2025
Despite some minor economic headwinds, Utah is poised for another solid, if semi-unspectacular, year of construction and real estate development, according to top economists locally and nationally. Indeed, 2025 is shaping up to be much like 2024, a year where firms across the A/E/C spectrum completed dozens of life-enhancing, community-uplifting projects across every major building sector—in other words, a lot of projects were built outside of the still churning multi-family market. These firms thrived for the most part, posting positive revenue growth and maintaining momentum in the face of the usual challenges of shallow labor pools and volatile material costs. Utah continues to rank among the top states nationally on key economic drivers such as population growth, construction employment, a pro-business climate, and a legislative body that continues to be bullish on funding higher education and transportation projects. Prospects are good with a can-do mentality among developers, municipalities, and the firms designing and building the jobs. "Utah will continue to have above average growth and is in great position to continue its great track record with a growing population, and a strong economy and construction market," said Ken Simonson, Chief Economist for the Associated General Contractors of America (AGCA) in Washington, D.C. "Utah has been on a steady, strong upward path with 27% growth in construction employment—three times the national average of 9%—since 2020." Simonson said Utah's construction employment growth doubled last year, up 6%, which is twice the U.S. average. Growth would be even stronger, he added, if contractors could find workers, particularly skilled tradesmen. Simonson said a survey of 1,500 firms nationally stated 94% had openings for craft workers. "It's hard to fill (skilled) positions, more difficult than last year," he added. Utah's consistent population growth—the Beehive State ranked fourth according to the U.S. Census from 2023-24 with 1.8% growth (3.44 million to 3.50 million)—is a driver of demand for so many types of construction, as well as a course of construction labor. Simonson said the state has been more welcoming of immigrants, an important source of labor for contractors across the board. Utahns also have a reputation for being well-educated coupled with a strong work ethic and drive to succeed, making the state an attractive place for new businesses looking to expand. Developers Waiting Out Interest Rates; Hope for a Drop in '25 The Fed kept interest rates where they are in January—a decision not popular with many real estate developers simply itching to invest capital and have projects waiting to cut loose the minute rates become more favorable. That pent-up demand could heat up the market if rates drop by even half a point, particularly in the multi-family arena. Simonson said multi-family was down nationally 8% from September 2023-24, with Utah seeing an equivalent slowdown, despite a huge amount of inventory that hit the market in 2024, including attractive high-end downtown properties like Camber, The Worthington, and Astra Tower, and many others along the greater Wasatch Front. "Reductions in the [Fed]’s short-term interest rate target will make financing a bit less expensive but developers still can't get loans or want to proceed if rents aren't high enough to cover the financing and construction costs, including time to complete if there are extended delivery times for electrical equipment such as transformers and switchgear," Simonson added. "Utah isn't immune from these challenges, but if the underlying population growth will be supportive of rent increases, that may bring back multi-family construction sooner than in areas that aren't growing as fast, or at all." Spendlove Keynote at 2025 NAIOP Symposium Senior Economist for Zions Bank, Robert Spendlove, said Utah is well-positioned to maintain solid economic activity, with factors of low unemployment (hovering around 4%), solid wage growth (3.9% in December), and more than a quarter million jobs added at the end of last year. "Utah had unexpected, continued strength in the labor market," said Spendlove at NAIOP Utah's 2025 Symposium in January. "If we could pause the economy and stay where we're at now, we'd be in a perfect position." Consumer inflation, he said, remains sticky at nearly 3%, with the Fed targeting 2% before they can lower interest rates. "Until it's at 2%, they can't claim victory," he said. Overall, consumer prices are up a whopping 22% since 2020. "It's a struggle for people—those prices are never going back down. Inflation is just adding to those price increases. [Fed Chair Jerome] Powell said they will not make the same mistake as the 70s; they will not cut rates until inflation is down." In addition to strong 1.65% [WHAT TYPE OF] growth and 1.8% employment growth, Utah rebounded quickly from the pandemic. "That shows the strength of Utah's economy and labor market," said Spendlove. He added that Utah's GDP was up 4.6%, indicating the strongest economic growth in the U.S., with consumer sentiment improving and greater small business optimism. Utah Maintains Steady Growth, Says Eskic The Beehive State's remarkably consistent and steady growth remains a major reason why its economic outlook remains rosy, said Dejan Eskic, Senior Research Fellow at the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute at the University of Utah. "Utah's population growth has never dropped below zero since 1950—we're still increasing with net migration," said Eskic at an event hosted by the Intermountain Chapter of the American Concrete Institute in January, with growth slowing by only .08 to 1.65% "There is so much demand in our economy that even in a down year for housing, construction employment is up 6.2%," he said. "The American household, on average, has never looked better on paper when looking at financial stability," with 70% of household debt tied to mortgages. Living in Utah is still expensive, even though the state is now listed as the 10th most expensive state to live in, down from 8th. "It doesn't mean Utah is more affordable, other states are just more expensive." The housing crisis will remain among the biggest challenges, both with affordable housing and overall number of units that need to be built. Governor Spencer Cox has made his intentions known that communities need to prioritize ways to address all housing issues, with a desire to see tens of thousands of single family homes built in the next decade. Way easier said than done, simply because developers cannot be expected to be altruistic when market conditions are competitive and profit margins potentially volatile and risky. He expects rents to increase once absorption is reached. Other items of note: —Consumer Price Index dipped to 2.6%, where it is expected to stay. —Expect growth in wages and employment. —Commercial construction will be primarily flat, similar to the last two years. —Office is flat, medical and industrial markets will continue to grow; industrial may be dictated by international trade. —Utah expects to add 500,000 people in the next decade, and will need a jaw-dropping 275,000 more housing units in that time, primarily along the Wasatch Front. "We need to change the dialogue if we're going to solve the housing crisis," said Eskic. "Currently, 92% of renters are priced out of the market. Construction must be optimized."

Waterworks in the Wilderness

By Taylor Larsen • February 28, 2025
July 23rd, 1847 was a pivotal day for the pioneers. Records from the time detailed how the advance party trekking into the Salt Lake Valley built a dam to convey water from City Creek to freshly plowed land. Years later, the city hired civil and hydraulic engineer Herman Schussler to design a system to bring water through laminated wood pipes to 20,000 Salt Lake City residents while preparing for future growth. Schussler said, in a presentation to Brigham Young in 1872, “I propose to construct the pipe system of the City of such dimensions as to be capable of supplying five million gallons per diem.” While those original pipes couldn’t make it to year two, the design was in place for cast iron pipes to go in their place in 1876. The 37 carloads of cast iron pipe, plumbing tools, water gates, and more came from multiple suppliers from eastern US industrial hubs of St. Louis, Boston, and Louisville, KY. Those collaborative efforts brought modern waterworks “in our lovely Deseret,” collecting water from 19.2 square miles of watershed that feeds the 14.5-mile-long City Creek stream. Modernity Fast forward nearly 150 years, past chlorination that arrived in the 1920s, past the first water treatment facility constructed in Utah, the City Creek Water Treatment Plant in 1953, past filter installation in 1966, and past the canyon reopening for recreational use in 1975—Salt Lake City needed a new treatment facility to keep clean water flowing. The Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities (SLCDPU) partnered with engineering firm Brown and Caldwell in design in 2018 to envision and engineer something new to ensure resiliency and reliable water service to its customers. While the plant escaped any critical damage in the March 2020 earthquake, it was a reminder of the urgent need to create a new facility. Design and construction would work around a coterie of barriers and challenges—keeping operations ongoing while building on a challenging site three miles into the wilderness—to produce the future of water treatment for Salt Lake City.

AGC of Utah 2025 Convention

By • February 28, 2025
The Associated General Contractors (AGC) of Utah successfully hosted its 103rd Annual Convention January 23-24 at Little America Hotel in downtown Salt Lake, a popular event that brought together A/E/C industry leaders, professionals, and stakeholders for two days of celebration, education, and networking. The convention highlights the outstanding achievements of Utah's construction industry and provides valuable insights into emerging trends shaping the economically impactful sector, along with the announcement of new chapter leaders and board members for the 2025 season. Brett Nielsen, President of Brigham City-based Whitaker Construction, who has served on the AGC of Utah board since 2017, most recently as National Governor, was installed as 2025 Chairman, taking over the reins of the venerable association from Slade Opheikens, President of Ogden-based R&O Construction. In addition, Nielsen is in line to become the first Utahn to serve as AGC of America President in 2030. "What an honor to be standing here, to be in front of a group of people I have the utmost respect for," said Nielsen at Friday night's Installation Banquet. "It's still surreal to me to be here and know that I'm getting the opportunity to work with a group of people that I'm so passionate about. This chapter is truly one of the finest chapters in all of America." Nielsen started as a Laborer at Whitaker Construction in 1992, gradually climbing the company ladder until taking over in 2021 as President of the powerhouse municipal/utility contractor, the first non-Whitaker to lead the firm. The firm cracked the $288 million mark in 2024 in annual revenues, a notable increase from $109 million in 2018. Nielsen's introduction to the AGC was unassuming, attending the packed annual summer golf tournament and then his first convention in the late '90s. "I saw it as more a networking opportunity, primarily with other Whitaker employees, vendors, and occasionally competitors," he said. His eyes were opened to AGC's real value when the chapter hosted a Young Constructors Forum in 2000, which is the predecessor to the Construction Leadership Committee (CLC). "I remember meeting other young contractors from throughout the country, and discussing the nuances of our markets, type of interstate pavements [this is when the original I-15 was constructed pre-Olympics], margins to the segment of construction, etc." he recalled. "I vividly remember a general contractor telling me their margin and how low it was compared to our underground utility segment, and I for the life of me couldn’t understand why a contractor would subject themselves to such headaches for such a low margin." In 2013, Nielsen became Chair of the Utility Infrastructure Committee for the Utah chapter and attended an AGC of America (AGCA) meeting in Phoenix later that year related to highway and utility contractor issues, something he called "an eye-opening experience." It was held at the posh Biltmore Resort and didn't know anybody. At the opening reception, he was standing alone when several individuals—including Toby Crow, AGC of South Dakota Chapter Executive, and his wife Liz—approached him to strike up conversation. They in turn introduced Nielsen to Scott Berry, who at the time was Director of AGC's National Utility Infrastructure Division, which led to dinner with long-time AGC CEO Steve Sandherr and several other AGC of America staff, along with fellow contractor members. "The rest is history," said Nielsen, who has been a member of the AGC of America Utility Infrastructure Division since then, including a stint from 2018-2020 on the AGCA Board. "I'm a relationship guy. They are important to me, and AGC provides the platform for me to collaborate with like-minded individuals to work on being informed, educating, and ultimately protecting not only our company the livelihoods of our employee-owners, but our industry. The benefits that AGC brings are real and measurable. AGC members are the 'Voice of the Construction Industry' both on the hill here in Utah, as well as in Washington, D.C. The issues that face our industry are complex, and those who want to exploit regulation, slow growth, and leverage legislative change to benefit their personal or industry interests cannot be overstated. We as contractors need a collective voice and for the Construction Industry, that voice is the AGC." Nielsen talked about the unique relationship that forms between AGC member firms, and how they work together for the good of the entire industry, despite competing against each other weekly to land new projects. "It makes me proud for what we accomplish here within this state," he said. "We come together, we solve tough problems related to our industry and we compete fiercely against one another." He mentioned competing that week head-to-head with Orem-based W.W. Clyde & Co., led by its President, Dustin Olson, on two sizable projects. Each team won a job, and subsequently lost a job. Said Nielsen: "I reached out to Dustin and congratulated him and told him it was a hell of a bid—he congratulated me as well [...] and followed up with the statement: 'If I'm going to lose to a contractor, I want it to be someone like you'. Many of us do that day-in and day-out. To be a part of a group that can accomplish what we accomplish, and then to turn around and be able to come to an event like this and celebrate all our hard work, is something that is astonishing to me." Nielsen said recruiting and retaining new skilled talent for the industry will be one of his top priorities this year and encouraged AGC firms to get involved with the Construction Leadership Committee (CLC). "I'm passionate about the future of people in our industry," he said. "I realize we're not the young spring chickens that we once were. It's our duty that we are setting the stage and making sure we're prepared to continue what we do. We all have great people who have gotten us where we're at today—we want to make sure we're bringing [new people] along." Nielsen closed his remarks by thanking his immediate family, including wife Hilary, daughter Emery, his mother, Shirley Harding, and mother-in-law, Ginny Butikofer, in addition to the Whitaker family and fellow co-workers.

One for the Ages

By Brad Fullmer • February 28, 2025
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At Home in the Mountain Modern

By Taylor Larsen • February 28, 2025
Salt Lake City finally has the modern take on mountain living it has needed with Camber, the 422-unit multifamily project developed by Endeavor Real Estate Group, designed by Texas-based GFF Architects and built by Murray’s very own Zwick Construction. Camber’s neighborhood environment extends inside and out, bringing comfort on multiple levels. The commitment from the project team to lead on the multifamily front resulted in community over commodity with a luxury, mountain modern example of an apartment community.

Towering Construction Adds to Glistening Skyline

By Taylor Larsen • February 28, 2025
Glittering in copper metal cladding and reflective glass, and towering in the capital city skyline, is The Worthington. Developed by Chicago-based Convexity and designed by SCB’s Chicago office, the Worthington stands tall and cracks the top 10 tallest structures in Utah. Ownership Marks the Spot But long before residents took a dip in The Worthington’s 12th-floor pool, Convexity saw an opportunity with both site and market, said Jessica Minton, the developer’s Senior Vice President. A high-rise on the eastern edge of downtown could offer spectacular views from above and afford residents walkability through the city below. Research from the firm included tours around the city to see what the market had in place, but crucially what it wanted. “Luxury high-rises are our niche. We knew we were capable of delivering a product that was successful in other markets,” said Minton. “And we knew it would succeed in Salt Lake City.” Construction was a joint partnership between Sandy-based Layton Construction, who helped to bring the local know-how, and Chicago-based high-rise building experts W.E O’Neill. The luxury amenities and high-quality residential finishes came from a project that looked toward accountability and collaboration in construction to take Worthington all the way up. Safety for Tenants, Public, and Builders Phased delivery, a newer process for Salt Lake City in high-rise construction, was an essential part of Convexity’s plans to bring the project to market. Minton praised the collaboration between Salt Lake City officials and the project team for “a smooth transition to get us to market.” “There’s a liability and a risk involved from the city to sign off on life safety measures while construction is ongoing,” she said. "It was a fully vetted and well-thought-out process from all of us—developer, city, and contractor— no party took this lightly." Phased delivery dictated that construction would turn over the first 16 floors for occupancy before moving on up to finish the rest. Rick Millward, Project Manager for Layton Construction, thanked Salt Lake City for being as forward-focused as the project team to ensure a high-quality building, namely helping to fine-tune solutions provided by the project team. He said the construction team was up to the challenge on multiple fronts to be a good neighbor and partner as they built. The give-and-take was brilliant as construction installed fire sprinkler systems throughout the structure instead of just completed residential floors, limited road closures to late night hours, and shifted pedestrians to a new walkway—simultaneously meeting city and construction goals. Millward said the team created a buffer zone of three completed floors as construction finished on floors 1-20 to keep construction noise from reaching the floors below. “You have to have residents come in and expect not to have to care about us at all,” said Millward. Minton added that the construction team’s commitment to an ironclad logistics plan created dedicated entrances and exits for workers and residents. “It needed to be a fully coordinated, daily effort,” she said. After all, “Residents aren’t moving into a construction site. There is no margin for error when people live there.” They went so far as to perform “concierge” duties to ensure residents only accessed specific elevators programmed to keep people from accidentally stumbling into active construction. Coordination between construction teams and apartment staff was seamless, actively informing residents 48 hours in advance on water and power shutoffs to keep people comfortable and in the know. With a busy street below, coordination kept pedestrians worry-free as they passed by. A covered and reinforced canopy sidewalk went in along 300 South, as Millward said, for the construction team to take full ownership of safety. Being a good neighbor paid off in more ways than one. Millward said Kathie Chadbourne, who runs From the Ground Up nearby, served coffee to the concrete truck drivers who worked through the night during the 13-hour foundation pour. Her work added to the buzz on site as the construction crew placed 3,600 yards of concrete foundation for the main structure. Three pump trucks took concrete from a cycling set of six trucks delivering slurry from “all of Geneva [Rock’s] concrete plants in the area” to help pour through the night. Millward says The Worthington isn’t going anywhere, especially with a super-stable matte footing that dips between 18 and 24 feet below street level.

UC+D Most Outstanding Projects of 2024

By LADD MARSHALL • January 1, 2025

Dynamic Electrical

By Taylor Larsen • November 1, 2024
Electrical contracting is competitive as hell. With a plethora of mega projects upcoming, a bidding war for the best electricians and estimators, and even a race to secure the energy to power Utah buildings, the competition at every level seems to grow more intense with each passing year. How can electrical contractors respond to upcoming trends and win work in the Beehive State? It Starts with Labor Ken Hoffman, Preconstruction Manager at Ludvik Electric, said that the competition for labor has been particularly fierce since he and his team began working on the New SLC International Airport some years ago. Competing for great people has always been the case, but the influx of high-level projects over the last decade, he recalled, “pulled everyone up” with drastic increases in wages that helped electricians bring more money home and brought in a cadre of workers from out of state to push jobs past the finish line. There is additional work to be done to bring in the next generation of fieldworkers to help build the state’s future, specifically the financial incentive to enter into a demanding, sometimes dangerous field. Contracting tech company ServiceTitan reports that salaries for entry-level electricians have risen 9.14% since the beginning of 2023, but is it enough? No, and it is hampering project execution. At a recent Urban Land Institute (ULI) Trends Conference, Hunt Electric CEO and President Troy Gregory offered a sobering statistic: currently, for every electrician who enters the trade, three electricians depart. Nathan Goodrich, Division Manager of Helix Electric, said that the industry needs to find solutions fast, as competing for the same people in a wage-based arms race is unsustainable. “We have to promote the trades as people are coming through high school,” he said. Exposure through industry days and other presentations is one way while granting release time for high school student workers was another that Goodrich mentioned as two ways to bring in the next generation of electrical contractors. Gregory agreed, saying that Hunt Electric and other industry groups have become much more involved at the high school level by showcasing and giving interested students career opportunities. He and his team have had success working on pre-apprenticeship that gives the most eager hands-on experience in prefabrication, an area that only grows in importance for contractors. “We’re getting them in a better position to be more productive on a job site on day one,” said Gregory.

Youthful Impact

By Taylor Larsen • November 1, 2024
Editor's note: UC+D's annual look at age 40 & Under A/E/C professionals includes individuals from a wide range of market segments including a general contractor VP, an interior designer, a rising UDOT director, a steel industry entrepreneur, an equipment dealer owner, and an electrical contractor safety/HR executive. Each holds a key position at their respective firm and has proven their skill and capability along their unique career paths.

Scintillating Sustainability

By Bradley Fullmer • November 1, 2024
Architect Brian Backe was succinct when he stated, "when I try to describe the Climate Innovation Center, one of the phrases is 'big things comes in small packages'." His words couldn't be more profound. An ambitious adaptive reuse project that is generating significant buzz in the sustainable building arena locally, Utah Clean Energy's new Climate Innovation Center (CIC) is the transformation of a modest, nearly 70-year-old, 3,000 SF single-level commercial structure into a state-of-the-art, two-story, zero-energy building that will serve as UCE's home for the next half century. "Within a 3,000 square foot footprint it has urban infill, is an adaptive reuse site, Net-Zero, combustion-free, hybrid mass timber structure—we really packed in a lot," said Backe, Principal-in-Charge for Blalock & Partners, who worked closely with Salt Lake-based Okland Construction to ensure optimum sustainability throughout the construction process. The $5.4 million, 5,260 SF project officially opened in June to much pomp and circumstance, and rightfully so. The center showcases the potential of what homes and buildings can be—spaces that are not only comfortable and inviting, but also produce zero pollution. The building will offer a space dedicated to learning, exploration and collaboration centered on climate solutions and improving local air quality, and a place for the community to engage and create solutions to the challenges we face. The project is a testament to CEO/Founder Sarah Wright and her team at Utah Clean Energy, and their commitment to increasing awareness of environmental sustainability. Their new home makes a bold, walk-the-walk statement about the importance of renewable energy in the built world. "There needs to be an education and understanding that renewables (solar, wind, hydro, geo-thermal) are our cheapest resources," said Wright, a Chicago-native whose diverse background includes work in geology, environmental consulting, air quality, and occupational health. She founded UCE, a mission-driven non-profit, in 2001 and is thrilled to see the CIC finally come to fruition after years of planning. The project, she said, embodies UCE's dedication to transforming Utah's built environment to be zero energy and emission-free, while helping the community reimagine the places we live and work. "This is a living laboratory and teaching tool for the public and the business community, demonstrating the tremendous role that buildings have in solving climate change," said Wright. "Everyone that's been here loves it and other owners say they are inspired by it." Kevin Emerson, Director of Building Decarbonization and an 18-year UCE veteran, said the project became a necessity in recent years as UCE's staff swelled to 15 people. "We've had a dream to really 'walk to talk' through our office headquarters and (CIC) is the result of that dream coming to fruition," said Emerson. "It is more than just office space—it's meant to be a showcase and teaching tool for the construction and design industry." "There is nothing more sustainable than reusing our existing buildings and breathing a new 50-year-life into a structure than was slated for demolition," said Backe, adding that construction crews seismically braced the primary existing CMU block wall, in addition to reusing over 65 tons of CMU and 50 tons of concrete.
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