Ross Wentworth’s Career Defined by Notable Impact on K-12 Market

By Brad Fullmer

“Ross is the epitome of a great boss. He’s very level-headed, very deliberate with the thought process, so it made him a stabilizing force in our firm. Often times he would play devil’s advocate just to make sure we’re not all a bunch of yes men. That happened many times, just trying to shake things up if he thought we were being too comfortable with our decision.” — Chris Lund 

Ross Wentworth has had a unique career spanning five decades—the final 31 years at Salt Lake-based NWL Architects—with experience as an engineering draftsman, a school district administration official, and an accomplished architect renowned for his K-12 design prowess. 


He admits his career path after high school “wasn’t a plan—it just kind of came together.” But he certainly made the most of the opportunities that came his way. 

A native of Salt Lake’s Glendale area, he graduated from South High in 1970 and spent six months in National Guard basic training before to serving a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to the North Central Mission in Mexico from 1971-1973. Upon returning home, the brother of Dixine, his girlfriend and future wife, helped him get a job as a draftsman at Key Engineering, a Salt Lake-based electrical firm, where he worked under Jerry Harvey and Brent McKay. Dixine urged Wentworth to attend school with her at the University of Utah, and he ended up taking a series of design classes from Tom Case, a professor at the School of Architecture.

“Tom Case was inspiring—he was quite a character and convinced me I could get through architecture school,” said Wentworth, who earned a Master of Architecture in 1979 while working at Key Engineering, which led to exposure to local architectural firms.


“There was a time we were working with [Salt Lake-based] Brixen and Christopher on a new Jewish Synagogue on 2700 East off I-80, and their level of commitment to this synagogue just impressed me,” said Wentworth. “I thought, ‘I want to work for Jim Christopher’. I pestered him for three months and he finally said to come in. Jerry Harvey tried to steer me to engineering, but I liked the artsy side of things.”


Wentworth started at Brixen and Christopher in 1979 and received mentorship from the likes of Christopher, Arthur Pett and Myron Richardson. He earned his professional license during a five-year stint with the firm, then decided to strike out on his own in 1985. The venture fell flat, in part due to brutal economic conditions at the time. That led to a conversation with a previous professor, Ted Smith, where he learned about a position at Granite School District as Director of School Facilities. Smith gave him a glowing recommendation, and he landed the job in 1986.


Working for Granite proved invaluable to Wentworth, giving him unique insight into how design firms approach K-12 projects, from proposal submissions and interviews to the overall design process. 


“It was really interesting,” he said. “I went from this young architect to the head of school building [at Granite].” He described that 10-year period at Brixen and Christopher and Granite combined as “two major milestones” in his career, as the former helped him understand the commitment it takes to do good work, and the latter gave him exposure to schools and classroom environments.


Two Fire Incidents Prove Fortuitous

A fire at Lincoln Elementary towards the end of the ‘80s led Wentworth to meeting eventual partner Ken Naylor. He hired Silver Naylor Architects on an emergency basis to repair the South Salt Lake school, and the firm “knocked it out of the park,” Wentworth said. He awarded the firm another emergency project—a renovation of Cyprus High’s pool in Magna—and was impressed with Naylor’s attention to detail. 


“Ken did a great job—he was sharp. Shortly thereafter, he started bugging me about working together,” Wentworth recalled. So the two joined forces in 1990 and were awarded Snow Canyon High School in St. George that year, Wentworth’s first K-12 project. 


They convinced Washington County School District (WCSD) that it could save money by utilizing tilt-up concrete, a revolutionary design concept for the K-12 market at that time. Panels were integrally cast in a red rock earth color and the project was a roaring success. 


“We made a great connection on that school with the client—it was lean, it was mean, and we have been doing work for [WCSD] ever since,” said Wentworth. “That school cemented a great client relationship. We’re still doing tilt-up concrete work on all their schools today.” 


Wentworth remained fixated on the K-12 market for the next 30 years, and estimates having designed over a hundred total projects, including 50 major new or fully renovated schools, an impressive number by any measure. 


The second fire occurred in July 2003, a five-alarm blaze that gutted the Latter-day Saint Apia Samoa Temple while it was being renovated (it was originally dedicated in 1983). NWL had no prior design experience on temples, but Principal Chris Lund managed to get an invite, largely based on the strength of a courtroom renovation project for the Frank E. Moss Courthouse in Salt Lake. 


“We never expected to be doing that work,” said Wentworth. “The Church wanted to make something happen quickly, and we had just enough experience to get invited to the interview. We didn’t have any temple experience, but we took in pictures of the historical courtrooms, and suddenly we look credible. Chris has done a great job of maintaining the client relationship and delivering great projects. It’s taken us internationally.


According to Lund, NWL has provided design for 49 temples worldwide on six continents—including start-to-finish design for 35 temples. Lund praised Wentworth for being a significant mentor on his career and for his long-term impact on the firm. 


“Ross is the epitome of a great boss,” said Lund, President/CEO, who started at Naylor Wentworth Architects in 1995 after earning a Master of Architecture from the University of Utah. “He was a great partner and mentor. He’s very level-headed, very deliberate with the thought process, so it made him a stabilizing force in our firm. Often times he would play devil’s advocate just to make sure we’re not all a bunch of yes men. That happened many times, just trying to shake things up if he thought we were being too comfortable with our decision.”


Lund continued, “He was very trusting in what he allowed me to do as a young architect.” Lund mentioned Murray High and the Dixie Center in St. George as major projects he designed with Wentworth early on. “He helped me develop some design muscle. I’m indebted to him in my career, and in how I treat my partners.”


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Federal Courthouse Proves Immensely Satisfying 

Perhaps the crown jewel of Wentworth’s career project list is the Orrin G. Hatch U.S. Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake (completed in 2014), a dynamic, modern glass building highlighted by a stunning 10-story atrium in the center that houses a spectacular sculpture comprised of 380 tubes of optical aluminum. It includes slick interior finishes of rich wood paneling, white oak floors and a circular glass staircase that connects the first three floors and serves as a focal point of the entry atrium. 

Wentworth said he spent 20 years—two-thirds of his NWL career—working on various aspects of that project, serving as project manager/project architect in addition to being part of the selection process as the local architecture firm tasked with bringing in a nationally recognized lead designer. NWL chose Thomas Phifer and Partners of New York City, and together they submitted the winning proposal in a hotly contested design competition. The $185 million project stands as one of the most recognizable buildings in Utah’s capital. 


“It consumed me for 20 years—we turned in our first proposal in 1996 and our final pay request in 2016,” said Wentworth. “We had to find a lead designer and we really struggled. Tom Phifer calls, and we don’t know who he is. He had been with Richard Meier’s office [Newark, NJ] and had a resume of significant courthouses that were very modern. He had just started an office and had a good friend connected to GSA. We had no other choice. We hooked up at the last minute and we cranked for a month on the design competition. It was way beyond anything we had ever done.


“It’s an amazing project,” he added. “It was recognized with a National AIA Honor Award. We played second fiddle, but the nice thing for me was we carried the contract and he worked for us. That was fun […]and as satisfying as many of the school buildings I’ve designed.”


Reflecting on NWL’s 70th Anniversary 

Wentworth was born in 1952, the same year Roy Silver originally founded NWL. Wentworth officially retired at the beginning of 2022 but still visits the office on occasion, sometimes simply to see what’s going on, and to connect with long-time co-workers and friends. 


Wentworth is presently serving as a Latter-day Saint Bishop (Salt Lake Central Stake 12th Ward), with his local congregation having recently moved to the new chapel located within 95 State at City Creek, a towering 25-story downtown office tower. He’s been in this role for five years, in addition to serving as President of the Liberty Stake for 10 years prior to that, and Bishop of the Liberty Ward for five years, giving him 20 years of ecclesiastical service (whew!). 


As he gets ready to celebrate his 70th birthday in June, the significance of NWL marking its 70th anniversary is certainly a special coincidence. He couldn’t be more proud of what the firm has accomplished in its long history. Confident it’s in great hands and brimming with young talent, as he rides off into the sunset. Two of his final projects, Skyline High and Cyprus High, are under construction and likely to finish sometime in 2024 after many years of planning and design. 


“I come in here and we have all these young people, and I ask myself, ‘Where are they going to go?’ The firm provides a place for young designers and architects to build a career. Some stay with us, some move on,” he said. “[70 years] shows a lot of good people working hard to keep something going. I think of the people who have a place to land and try out a career, to find out if they can give it a shot. That’s the cool thing. You feel good because you feel like you didn’t blow it. Businesses come and go. We worked hard, we made some good decisions, we lucked out to some degree. You’ve got to be there and trying for that luck to take effect. You don’t get awarded that commission unless you go after it.” 


He continued, “I’m not sure I was ready to retire, but once you step away from day-to-day activities, you recognize the pressure you were under, whether it’s chasing work or hiring someone or meeting payroll or finding the right insurance package. It’s someone else’s problem, and it feels so good. I can be a little lost some days. I’ll come visit these guys, get my free Diet Coke, and see what’s going on. It's fun not carrying that pressure.”

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)