VCBO Celebrates 50 Years

Esteemed Salt Lake architecture firm defined by strong personalities and a penchant for designing impactful, cutting-edge projects that stand the test of time.
By: Brad Fullmer

At age 77, Niels Valentiner (left) maintains a prominent role in the firm he founded in 1973, which morphed into VCBO Architecture by the early 90's. The firm’s four founding partners include (left to right) Steve Crane, Sean Onyon, Valentiner, and Peter Brunjes.

For more than a half century, Salt Lake City-based VCBO Architecture has delivered iconic architectural projects throughout the Beehive State, with a focus on timeless design, innovative excellence, and unwavering dedication to its clients. The firm is still led by original founder Niels Valentiner, a Danish immigrant who initially came to the U.S. in 1969 to continue his college education and ended up establishing a truly iconic design firm that now boasts 15 Principals and more than 100 employees. 


Valentiner has long been revered for his tenacity and genuine passion for architecture, and even at age 77 he's resolute in making sure everything with his firm is as perfect as it can be before he sails off into the sunset. 


"It's always interesting looking back," said Valentiner, when asked what it means for his firm to be celebrating its 50th Anniversary. "We were all hungry and worked hard at it; now we're established. In the early days we had to fight for every job and prove ourselves. Now we have a reputation as a top architecture firm, and we've earned it."


"It's a significant milestone—I associate it with Niels because it's all been during Niels' tenure," said Brent Tippets, a Principal who started at the firm in 1984 while still in school. "He grew it from a one-person operation to what we have today. A lot of (our success) is because of his business sense. He minded the finances and made sure operations were going smooth. To a large extent, he left the architecture side to the rest of us to be successful at." 


"People are excited about it," said Jeanne Jackson, a Principal with 33 years at VCBO, about hitting the 50-year mark. “We've worked hard to create a culture of respect and camaraderie, so that people have a great experience here." 


VCBO is a full-service architectural firm, providing architecture, interior design, planning, and sustainability in virtually every major building sector, including Civic/Government, Sports/Recreation, K-12, Higher Education, Healthcare, Religious, Commercial, Industrial. 


The firm has been ranked among the top five architectural firms in Utah per annual revenues for more than 25 years consecutively, with annual revenues consistently ranging between $25-$30 million since 2015.


Early Years

As legend has it, while Valentiner was still in graduate school at the University of Utah School of Architecture, he was in the midst of founding his small firm, which he figured he could do from his desk in the design studio. With only one phone available for graduate students, the running joke was that anyone calling was trying to reach Niels about a job, and classmates would consistently pick up the phone and say, "Niels Valentiner Architects." 


It was only a matter of time before that joke became reality. Once Valentiner earned his license in 1973, he launched Niels E. Valentiner and Associates at a small office on South Temple and 600 East. 


He had modest experience, having worked part-time for a couple of local Salt Lake firms, but he had swagger and believed in himself, a defining trait.


"I called my firm Niels E. Valentiner and Associates, even though there wasn't an associate," he laughed. "I had to look like I was somebody. When you start small like that, you have to convince people you can handle the work."


The early-to-mid 70s saw cities in the Salt Lake Valley morphing into more urban, lively communities as developers started investing in commercial office buildings, corporate campuses, strip malls, and retail outlets. 


Valentiner's determination landed him some small early projects—his first was a Hill Air Force Base credit union for federal employees that led to several repeat projects—and he also made a connection with a young ambitious developer, Roger Boyer, who had founded The Boyer Company in Salt Lake a year earlier in 1972. The relationship with Boyer spawned many notable commercial projects over the years, including the design of several swanky, all-glass office buildings in the Union Park area of Midvale. The 24-story Utah One Center office tower, completed in 1991 by Boyer, has proven over the years to be one of VCBO's landmark designs. 


When Tippets joined the firm in 1984, the firm was 10+ years in the making and had moved the prior year into the building it has called home for 40 years near Trolley Square, a modest operation of seven employees trying to wade through a sluggish economy. While work was coming in, it was a challenging period. To Valentiner, the pace felt slow.

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    VCBO office, SLC

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    Rome Italy Temple

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    Rome Italy Temple

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    111 South Main, SLC

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    VCBO lobby, SLC

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A Turning Point

Meanwhile, his former classmate at the University of Utah, Steve Crane, was busy trying to grow his own firm, Crane and Associates. The two men had developed a cursory friendship and happened to cross paths while working for the same client on different projects. Crane recalled, "I had gotten to know Niels quite well and thought he was a pretty aggressive, confident guy. His right-hand guy left to join another firm, and my partner left, and Niels walks into my office one day and says, "I think we should join our firms together." I had done a lot of schools and public work, and he had done military projects and private development. It was a good fit."


"I knew even then it was a recipe for success because they were driven," said Derek Payne, who worked at Crane's firm prior to the merger and has been a Principal at VCBO since 2000. "They wanted more than ever to compete with higher-level architectural firms." 


In addition to Valentiner and Crane, Sean Onyon and Peter Brunjes were associates at the firm, and the synergy between the group started paying dividends, with Valentiner and Crane shouldering much of the marketing and business development responsibilities, and Onyon and Brunjes tasked with getting projects completed on time. Despite obvious differences in personalities, leadership style, and skillsets, the melding of talents proved fortuitous. 


"Between the four of us there was a lot of positive energy," said Crane. "I was a strong marketer, and that's Niels' middle name. We had two go-out-and-get-'em guys, and Peter and Sean were the guys to get [projects] out the door. I can't think of a major thing we argued about. We always seemed to leave a meeting, and everyone felt good."


"[Neils] loves working with people, making connections—that is one of his top qualities. In architecture, you're always improving somebody's life; those are things he thrives on. He likes the involvement. His bailiwick is putting together deals. That combination is what gives him vitality,” said Onyon.


In 1989, Valentiner made Crane, Brunjes and Onyon partners, but kept 51% ownership, saying "I wanted to have some control of where we were going. That lasted 2-3 years and we worked it out and decided to become equal partners—that was the beginning of VCBO Architecture."


The completion of One Utah Center in 1991 started attracting attention from out-of-state clients, and the firm started expanding its geographical reach, winning projects in Arizona, Texas, Wyoming, Idaho, and California. 


Poised for the 21st Century

The 1990s in Salt Lake City was a time of expanding community and blossoming culture, and VCBO’s work during this period reflected this regional renaissance. After Salt Lake City secured the 2002 Olympic Games, the firm was chosen to design the prestigious Utah Olympic Park. The firm also opened a new era when it won the bid to design its first K–12 school: the Lake Powell School. 


This foray into K–12 design would grow to become an award-winning competency for which VCBO is celebrated today. So too came opportunities to work in the higher education and sports facilities sectors, both of which would become integral arms of the firm’s work. But, most notably, the 1990s brought SLC and VCBO a truly celebrated building: The Salt Lake City Library, designed in collaboration with Moshe Safdie.


As the firm's projects grew in size and scope, so did the team, requiring new partners. Tippets, named a Principal in 1994, has a vast skill set with expertise in civic projects, and a focus on recreation and courthouse design. Boyd McAllister was a force designing K-12 projects and creating decades-long relationships with school districts in the region. Jackson, the first woman Principal at the firm (2001) and a member of the AIA College of Fellows, has brought dynamic, imaginative design to the K-12 market spanning more than three decades. 


Payne reinforced the firm’s commitment to design excellence and brought new ideas to state-of-the-art higher education projects.


"I feel like we've been able to be leaders (in K-12) not just in Utah, but the country," said Jackson. "Our goal has always been to design schools that children can't wait to go to, schools that teachers and students love being in and learning together." 

As the sting of the recession hit in 2008, causing untold economic pain for millions of Americans and the wilting of local economies, Salt Lake City—and VCBO—forged ahead and maintained positive momentum. People that needed a fresh start nationally found their way to the Wasatch Front and a metro area ready to welcome them. "The world is welcome here," states Utah's Olympic motto.


And it came, in abundance. Salt Lake City's population surpassed the one million mark for the first time in history, with more than 200,000 transplants and record-setting births almost every year of the decade, and the Wasatch Front overall added more than a half million people. 


With this rising tide, VCBO took on projects that welcomed this growing community and honored Utah’s history. The Utah State Capitol Restoration became the firm’s biggest project to date and one of the largest, most significant restorations in the country. VCBO’s painstaking work on the iconic Capitol was further complemented by projects that furthered community access and opportunity, including healthcare and higher education facilities.



"There is a lot of diversity [among Principals], but all type A personalities," said Tippets. "That made us successful, but that wasn't always comfortable. We butted heads at time. It's challenging because people have strong personalities, and they think it ought to happen a certain way. But I think everybody respected and appreciated the diversity we had and who we were [individually]. We always leaned on each other, and we supported each other."


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    Ivins City Hall

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    Ken Garff Red Zone at University of Utah

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    Farmington High School

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    doTERRA Corporate Campus

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New Horizons

First, the world came to Salt Lake City. And then, VCBO went out to the world. The 2010s brought the firm its first opportunity to design and build an international landmark: the Rome Italy Temple for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, one of many temples the firm has designed for the Utah-based faith, and certainly Valentiner's signature project.

A sculptor at heart, Valentiner initially studied art in college and said "I see buildings as pieces of sculpture—it's got to come together as a uniformed sculpture experience." 


Design and planning of the Rome Temple took three years and construction took seven, a patience-trying 10 years that consumed an inordinate amount of Valentiner's time, but was a true labor of love, given his admitted deep faith. 


"[The] Rome [Temple] was important because of what kind of architecture it is," said Valentiner. "The Church recognized we couldn't compete with Renaissance or Baroque or Roman architecture. It had to be something that stands out as an icon, yet having historic connection and relevance, and of course, being a temple."


He continued, "It was such a unique window we had. We designed things, then presented it, and it worked. It's the second most important temple to the Church because it is in one of the most significant cities in the world relating to Christianity. It has become an icon to Italy."


In this decade VCBO also cemented its place as an innovator on K–12 projects, civic structures, sports facilities, and sustainable design. The firm completed the state of Utah’s first LEED Gold school (Odyssey Elementary for Davis School District), as well as a 12-building, 500,000-SF global headquarters campus for dōTerra in Pleasant Grove. Teams dedicated to civic and government, sports and recreation, K–12, higher education, healthcare, religious, commercial, and industrial sectors were formed and stayed active with projects.


By the time 2020 rolled around, the firm had expanded its team to more than 100 employees and as of this year, boasts 15 Principals. VCBO has long been an early adopter of new technologies, having invested in computer-aided design from the outset, and it continues to adopt cutting-edge techniques in the field.


Many of the firm's Principals and Associates have each proven their worth through hard work, loyalty, and by expanding their respective talents, and they will be counted on to lead the firm into the future. 


Vern Latham excelled with sports facilities and higher education design. Jeffery Pinegar arrived at the firm with 22 years of partnership experience and worked closely with Brunjes to lead healthcare projects. David Cox brought experience from the world of construction and became an integral part of the K–12 team. Celestia Carson shadowed on the SLC Library project as a student and has specialized in K-12 and higher education, while also founding Utah's Women in Architecture association in 2013. Nathan Leavitt moved to Utah after graduating college and focuses almost entirely on civic architecture. Melissa Wood joined VCBO as a strong business administrator in 2011, and as COO serves a vital role in operations. Alex Booth, who was once a student of Jackson's at the U of U, used his talents for design on a myriad of projects in the institutional, educational, and commercial sectors. Whitney Ward graduated with a Master’s at a young age and found a home at VCBO as a leader in sustainability and planning. Pablo Gotay interned for the firm as a Cornell University student, and later was chosen to lead the firm’s St. George office when it opened in 2019. Philip Haderlie assisted Niels for 10 years on the dōTERRA campus before becoming a principal. Julia Oderda was named the newest Principal in 2023, bringing a broad background in education design.


It all adds up to a firm that is firing on all cylinders, and one well-prepared to tackle the next 50 years.

Valentiner knows his career window is closing, but as long as it remains cracked, his individual light and air will continue to inspire those he interacts with. He has long valued the importance of each individual day, and the amazing opportunities and experiences that can be found in life just by looking for them in that moment.


"You only look at tomorrow, you never know what you envision later," he said. "What's going on tomorrow [...] that's what I've tried to do, look at what we're doing tomorrow, and make sure it's done the right way, so people keep coming back."

Notable VCBO Projects


Project                          Location      Completion

One Utah Center                    Salt Lake City 1992

Utah Olympic Park                    Park City         2001

SLC Public Library                    Salt Lake City 2003

Utah State Capitol Restoration                    Salt Lake City 2008

dōTERRA Corporate Campus                    Pleasant Grove 2014

Odyssey Elementary                    Woods Cross 2014

111 South Main                    Salt Lake City 2016

Fourth District Courthouse                    Provo         2018

Farmington High                    Farmington 2018

Rome Italy Temple                    Rome, Italy         2019

Alta View Hospital                    Sandy         2019

U of U Ken Garff Red Zone Expansion    Salt Lake City 2021

Greater Zion Stadium Expansion    St. George         2022

Noorda Engineering Bldg.                    Ogden         2022

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)