The New Workhorses of Construction

Equipment dealers and manufacturers are responding to the different barriers that plague construction, but will it be enough to keep up with insatiable project demand?
By Taylor Larsen

It was another record year for equipment dealers, reported Daniel Fisher of the Associated Equipment Distributors (AED). Business has been so good that the only common complaint is that dealers can’t supply for all the demand out there. Fisher, Senior Vice President for Government and External Affairs for the trade association, said that, “You go to some of our member’s [machine] yards and they have never seen them this empty.”

Parts, equipment, and machines for construction, mining, and broadband infrastructure are being snapped up at such a rate, “you are getting deposits from contractors who don’t know when it will be there and unsure how much it will cost,” he said.


With solid backlogs on available work, the current unpredictability won’t hit construction and heavy equipment as hard as it may hit other areas. There may be uncertainty with inflation, trade, and wars, but Fisher reported, “there is confidence that infrastructure construction will be able to weather the storms” of a volatile market, with infrastructure spending totaling $1 trillion over the next five to seven years.


He explained the difference between the 2008 recession and what has been happening over the last few years by detailing how the current administration’s plans for infrastructure spending $1 trillion will be done gradually, instead of on “shovel-ready” projects like what happened over a decade ago.


Demand remains powerful for equipment for ongoing and future projects but also in labor. With tons of people leaving the equipment servicing workforce from COVID, retirement, or some other reason, the need for service technicians has never been greater.


“Any one of our members would hire 10 technicians if they could,” he said. Wage increases are happening across the board, along with bonuses and other financial incentives to not just technicians, but everyone involved in equipment enterprises.


“It’s a workforce shortage issue,” explained Fisher of the dearth of equipment technicians, operators, and others that go to keep the equipment world—and job sites—operating at full capacity. “We’re all robbing each other of the same people [from other industries].”


While the supply of labor looks to catch up with demand, Fisher reported that mining and aggregates sectors are also growing to help meet that infrastructure demand domestic and international. Construction equipment demand, he said, remains hot on the news of the infrastructure package. The only struggle in equipment is in mining and exploration of oil and gas, something Fisher attributed to the current administration’s focus on emission-free vehicles and curtailing the need for fossil fuels.


But, as prices at the pump show, some adjustment on policy is needed to help America’s car- and gasoline-centric society. Advancements in electrification seen in passenger vehicles may be exciting for some, but it is not moving the needle much in equipment.


As a result, “manufacturers are moving toward more efficient equipment,” he said. Whether or not that comes from electrification will be up to consumer demand. Getting more done with less energy, he said, is always the goal, “but the diesel engine is here to stay for the foreseeable future.”


Much like other sectors of A/E/C, heavy equipment is in a good position. Will it be able to weather the ongoing labor crisis? With the three pieces of equipment that follow, the answer is yes.


CAT 150 Motor Grader

CAT 150 Motor Grader

Make / Model: CAT 150 Motor Grader
Utah Dealer: Wheeler CAT/Campbell Companies

Tech Specs Change the Game in Grading
“It’s a changing world,” said Jonathan Campbell, Executive Vice President with A/E/C equipment titan Campbell Companies. He’s talking about the technology that is changing the world of heavy equipment and construction, specifically GPS systems on heavy equipment. 

One of the key features of these GPS systems is that operators can perform their roles at a much higher level. How high? “It allows an 18 year old with two weeks of training to perform comparably to an operator with 20 years of experience,” said Campbell.

“What most people understand is that the largest expense over the life of a machine is the operator,” he continued. Combine that with the current shortage of operators, and technologies like these will only grow in importance.

While the equipment remains top of the line, GPS systems are allowing heavy machinery like the CAT 150 Motor Grader to reach its full potential. Before the project ever starts, Campbell said, “you are telling the machine what to do.” Graders like this CAT model can do its work where the blade meets project specificities to within millimeters. Hydraulics are controlled to the exact specification, too, meaning compaction happens at a perfect level and minimizes the need for more or less material. No more over-compaction, no more regrading, no more rework.

Combined with the advancements in telematics, construction is aiming to trim out inefficiencies at every level of the job site, keeping machines well-maintained with operators who can guide that same equipment to operate at full-throttle.

These solutions from GPS systems address every level of concern the industry is currently experiencing—safety, materials costs, labor constraints, and scheduling. Campbell explained, “In an industry where margins are tight, every rock counts, every hour counts, every truckload counts” toward improving the bottom line and expanding profit margins.

For the CAT 150 Motor Grader, Campbell said the technology saves on fuel costs by as much as 30-40% compared to utilizing equipment without the GPS. Volatile markets, especially with fossil fuels, make fuel savings essential.

“We want to add so much value [with this technology] that people can’t do this job without us and don’t want to do this job without us,” said Campbell.

Campbell said these aren’t new technologies, as they have been selling systems like these for a decade. But these systems are changing the industry for the better with safer, faster, and ultimately better projects being the result. As GPS systems and other tech help accelerate construction innovation, Campbell said “the companies that are willing to embrace [this technology] and say ‘Let’s go figure it out,’ those are the ones that are going to thrive.”

Kamatsu D-61

Make / Model: Komatsu D-61

Utah Dealer: Komatsu Salt Lake City


Komatsu’s 168-horsepower D61 line of mid-size dozers is a step in the right direction to help construction embrace not just 21st century technology, but the 21st century labor market.


“It has great visibility and is designed well from the ground up,” said Scott Despain, SMART Construction Consultant for Komatsu’s Utah office. The visibility component comes from an innovative, super-slant nose design that makes for improved machine control and increased efficiency and productivity. The physical components of the machine are impressive, but the brains of the machine are bringing huge technological efficiencies to projects to push through barriers of construction.


Some of those efficiencies are gained by the equipments’s proactive dozing features, Despain recounted. Since the machine can anticipate what is coming up for it in relation to an overall grading project, These upgraded models, via their GPS systems, “the machine is recording the existing terrain and compares it with what it needs to cut. “It’ll know whether or not it has gone over spots on the job site and make the correct passes.”


“In the old days, operator had to work their way down the grade,” said Chad Metzger, Eastern Utah Territory Manager for Komatsu. But new machines are different. It knows the scope of work, but beyond that, Metzger said that the new D-61 machines know how fast the machine is going in relation to the blade. Now, D-61 machines can run the blade at whatever rate the machine is capable of handling and push away the excess dirt to keep grade work and dozing going at full speed. Improving at the margins and making each pass worthwhile is a huge efficiency gain for today’s lightning fast projects.


It’s not just digital modeling that helps these machines, integrated systems like job site management and telematics are bringing efficiencies to so many areas of a project. Each of them said that work done in job site design and integration helps is helping to minimize the effects of the labor shortage. 


Volvo A60H

Make / Model: Volvo A60H

Utah Dealer: Arnold Machinery


Volvo is known for much more than the boxy station wagons and an unparalleled safety culture. The vehicle manufacturer’s work in heavy equipment has been a staple of the industry since the first modern articulated hauler, the 1966 Volvo DR 631, also known as “Gravel Charlie.”


Things have come a long way from that 10-ton hauler. The Swedish company’s construction arm, Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) has been hard at work advancing the articulated truck market with their most recent release of the A60H. Today, Volvo CE partners with equipment dealer Arnold Machinery in Utah and across the Mountain West on the largest operating fleet of A60H articulated haul trucks in North America monitored closely with ActiveCare.


According to statements from Arnold Machinery, the 60-ton capacity A60H is built for heavy hauling in severe off-road operations, including quarries, open pit mines, and large earthmoving operations. Where is it best served? According to the Arnold Machinery team via statement, “[The A60H] offers an alternative to rigid dump trucks and construction trucks operating on soft, uneven or steep roads, where it can haul a similar amount of material in a shorter cycle time.”


“As prices at the pump continue to soar, electric machines are becoming more and more of the conversation where the world is heading,” said the Arnold Machinery team in their statement. Manufacturers like Volvo CE are looking for electric solutions to mitigate many ongoing issues like gas prices, working in sensitive environments, and the ongoing move to curb vehicle emissions.


“You get high performance delivered with less noise, fewer vibrations and no exhaust fumes,” said Arnold Machinery in their statement. While the A60H is yet to have full electric capabilities, Volvo CE and Arnold Machinery currently offer five electric construction machines—one of the broadest ranges in the industry. With Volvo CE’s Electric Machine Management Application, construction crews can easily check battery levels, see charging status, and get notifications.


Widespread use of battery powered heavy equipment may be years down the line, but Arnold Machinery and Volvo CE are looking to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to meeting demand for electric solutions in heavy machinery.


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)