Walking Between Two Towers

The Aster showcases the mighty potential of mixed-use development in Salt Lake to generate a new wave of downtown buzz.

By Taylor Larsen

Traveling back in time just five years ago would have revealed something far different than what stands today at 255 South State.

What “stood” five years ago wasn’t standing but idling. Unfinished concrete and steel floors and the death rattle of a fourth floor were a better testament to street art and graffiti than the built environment. That previous project, Plaza at State, was ultimately scrapped a few years after its 2012 groundbreaking once poor financial planning and subsequent engineering reports revealed that the project was doomed to collapse. 

Salt Lake City’s Redevelopment Agency (RDA) repurchased the land in 2017 before launching an RFQ the following year in hopes of transforming the property into something financially accessible for residents, thereby energizing this pocket of downtown just east of Gallivan Plaza.

In stepped Chicago-based Brinshore Development, designers at KTGY’s Los Angeles office, and Ogden-based general contractors Wadman Corporation to bring forward The Aster, a two-tower, mixed-use development overlooking above State Street. 

For Whitney Weller, Senior Vice President of Brinshore Development, the chance to build something unique—downtown, mixed-use, mixed-income, pedestrian-centric, connective—made The Aster a “must-build” project for their team. “Creating a vibrant and engaging space was a compelling draw.”

Keith McCloskey, Associate Principal at KTGY, appreciated the broad vision and program required by the RDA to bring forward such an ambitious project. He said the RDA’s specific expectations, affordable housing, underground parking, and a mid-block walkway, provided the initial direction for the design team to work.

But broader constraints of utilizing high-level architectural and urban design principles would be where design and construction would work wonders. These would mesh with a site plan and building design to promote active street life and integrate into its local context—the project’s ultimate goal.

A New Standard in Affordability

The project requirements started with the housing component, crucial for Salt Lake’s emergence as a livable, vibrant city. The Aster brings in 11 units per floor in the north high-rise tower and 10 units per floor in the south mid-rise tower, totaling 190 units—168 reserved for residents earning between 20% and 80% of the area median income. 

Design and construction would also need to preserve Cramer House, a historic piece of Salt Lake on the property’s eastern boundary. But the requirement to create a mid-block walkway connecting the project’s western boundary on State Street and its eastward boundary on Floral Street would test the KTGY team and their design mettle. 

McClosky said his team began by designing the connective paseo walkway running through the site and then allowing the remaining triangulated geometries to act as starting points for the two mixed-use towers.

“Our goal [as architects] is to take something irregular and bring order to it,” he said of the challenge of taking the resulting area and creating a transformative mixed-use development. While design called for towers at two different heights—12 stories for the north tower; eight stories for the south tower—construction began in earnest to remedy the site and build up the mixed-use development.

Construction and design teams created vibrant, engaging spaces that set a new standard in downtown affordable housing. (photos courtesy Wadman, by Red Shift Media) Amenities include a public paseo and special events area, as well as various outdoor spaces that offer downtown views.

Tight Site, Collaborative Neighbors


The project is property line to property line, explained Wadman’s north tower Superintendent Isaac Mittelstaedt, making on-site laydown areas nearly nonexistent. On-time deliveries and work from the project’s various scopes required the highest level of scheduling and coordination.


“Working downtown is definitely a whole different animal than working just about anywhere else,” said Shawn Conroy, Wadman’s Superintendent for the south tower. “We had to think outside the box almost daily in order to complete this project.”


Both explained how friendly neighbors in the nearby offices and commercial spaces aided the project’s success. While one tenant allowed the construction team to utilize a portion of their property, another gave the project team vehicles access to the nearby parking garage, even allowing the Wadman team to place their temporary internet satellite on top of the garage.


Work between the public entities and the project team closed State Street during nightly concrete pours and allowed Baker Concrete to supply the pump trucks run by Frontline Concrete. But getting the concrete placed throughout the towers was an example of the high-wire act of downtown multifamily development, especially as concrete shortages took their turn in wreaking havoc on construction schedules in 2022.


“We were pouring over a thousand yards a day,” Conroy said of the concrete flow going to the job site before material shortages and plant closures slowed the flow to a trickle. After that, suppliers informed the construction team they would be lucky to receive a ready-mix truck on site every day.


Mittelstaedt said that the dearth of concrete kept the superintendents on their toes. “We had to break the pours up into smaller areas. We also redirected work until we could get the quantity of concrete needed for the next pour.”



Concrete and Steel Build Up


Structural reinforced concrete columns and post-tension (PT) decks on the north tower extend from the underground parking garage to the third-floor transfer deck. Infinity Structural Systems and their Epicore MSR concrete and metal decks rise from third through twelfth floors and round out the extent of the concrete used there. 


The south tower utilizes more wood framing but still contains structural concrete and PT decks from that shared parking garage until the fourth-floor transfer deck.


The light and heavy-gauge metal studs that frame interior and exterior walls, respectively, combine with the rebar and make up just some of the metal found in and on the building. Issac explained the work to incorporate the Infinity Structural System and pre-panelized metal studs on the north tower were essential differentiating factors on the project. 


It worked so well on this project that it turned Mittelstaedt into an evangelist for the framing and decking system, especially with the work between Wadman and trade partner MDA Construction, who installed the Infinity Structural System. 


From helping with ceiling heights and sound attenuation to the product’s superb fire, smoke, and gas protection ratings, the system is a cost-efficient way to bring those benefits while allowing for greater unit density than other methods, according to McCloskey, the Infinity Structural System helped to keep the project moving at the brisk pace necessary to meet funding and budget goals while providing the project with a bit more steel.


Building Home


Metals on the building façade installed in varying colors and panel types rise from ground level across the two towers. Conroy said the exterior facades consist of Reynobond aluminum composite panels, steel “R Panels” from Corrugated Metals, AEP’s metal wall panels, and ground floor window walls with an aluminum storefront.


Inside that storefront, McCloskey said the architectural team designed the exact fit and finishes for each of The Aster’s units, whose mix runs the gamut from studio to four-bedroom and even live-work units on the south tower’s ground floor.


Whether it is market-rate or income-based housing, McCloskey added, “The goal is to create a place where people want to go home to […] where they can be proud of where they live.”


To create an appealing living space, interior community areas have a kitchen and plenty of seating for friends, family, and neighbors. Brilliant daylighting throughout the project combines well with the wood grain in cabinetry and elsewhere to draw out a homey level of comfort. Colorful BAUX wood wool panels in the two community rooms add an energy that matches the same lighting features found in the lobbies.


“[KTGY] created a great area, and they really put a lot of thought into what they were building,” said Isaac of building one half of the project. Instead of focusing on profit, he continued, “[Brinshore] created something unique that wasn’t just for the residents but also the community as a whole.”


Strollin’ Down the Paseo


The paseo walkway is a significant programming element that invigorates the site and ushers in opportunities for residents and the general public. 


“The key to urban projects such as this,” McCloskey said, “is ground floor activation and being able to create a permeable ground floor that allows pedestrian connections along the majority of the frontages.” 


In the case of The Aster, the ground floor comprises a large, diverse grouping of uses that face the paseo and public street, including residential lobbies, a food hall, live-work units, a community room, and event space.


McCloskey stated that walkability and the proximity of commercial spaces work as another amenity for residents, especially with a TRAX station just a short walk down the view corridor that extends through the paseo to Gallivan Avenue. Residents can stroll downstairs and enjoy a meal or coffee—or just sit and enjoy the surrounding energy from the paseo benches.


Ground floor retail options span the north tower’s walkway side, while the south tower houses two live-work units on its east side. McCloskey said these units are a great fit in mixed-use developments due to their flexible nature, with space befitting enterprises as varied as an ad agency, nail salon, or jewelry store. He said these units are invaluable for increasing housing density while creating an inviting commercial space buzzing with activity.


At the very end of the paseo stands another crown jewel—the 133-year-old Cramer House. The construction team fully renovated the historic building with structural, HVAC, and MEP upgrades to ready it for the incoming food and beverage tenant.


With the paseo functioning as a view corridor, the Cramer House can be the “active terminus,” as the path connects with Floral Street, McCloskey said. The hope, the architect continued, is that the excellent work done with the paseo helps to connect State Street further with the different bars, restaurants, and activity on Regent Street just to the east. 


“When we get that commercial component up and running and all residents moved in, it will be a destination,” said Weller. With the Salt Lake Film Society joining in as the property’s first commercial tenant, new residents moving into their new homes, and other commercial tenants arriving and bringing in new flavors and ideas, there is buzz again at 255 State.


THE ASTER

Owner/Developer: Brinshore Development, LLC

Architect: KTGY Architecture + Planning

General Contractor: Wadman Corporation

Civil Engineer: Anderson Wahlen & Associates

MEP Engineer: Royal Engineering

Structural Engineer: Fortis Structural, LLC

Geotech: GSH Geotechnical, Inc.

Interior Design: SAINT Studio

Landscape Architect: ArcSitio Design

Concrete: Baker Concrete/Green Construction/STAPP Construction

Plumbing: Utah Mechanical Contractors

HVAC: Utah Mechanical Contractors

Electrical: K2 Electric Incorporated

Masonry: Allen’s Masonry/RJ Masonry

Glass/Curtain Wall: Mountain Valley Glass

Steel Fabrication: Forge Metals

Steel Erection: Forge Metals/Infinity Structures/MDA Construction

Other Specialty Contractors: K&K Drywall, Keith Pulham Painting Inc, Ron J Peterson/Wesley Wilcox Finishing, Redd Roofing, WeatherSealed Inc., TEC Excavation, A-Core, Impact Demolition, Construction, Kevin Hull, CP Build Enterprises

Black Desert Oasis

By Brad Fullmer • October 15, 2025
When Lehi-based Reef Capital Partners (Reef) initially announced plans in 2018 to build a sprawling, estimated $2 billion mega-resort with a championship-caliber golf course on 600 acres covering parts of Ivins and Santa Clara—small towns with just over 15,000 combined residents at the time—it was difficult to fathom what a project of that magnitude might look like. Fast forward seven years, and Black Desert Resort is indeed a shining oasis amidst Southern Utah's famed red rock cliffs, sitting atop an ancient lava field, with buildings strategically carved into the land to produce a resort unlike anything else. "This is the biggest project we've ever done—we feel really good where we are," said Brett Boren, President of Real Estate for Reef, acknowledging the general completion of the $290 million, 806,000-SF resort center, along with significant ongoing work—including a 1,298-stall parking garage, condominiums, and a private water park. As of September, all aspects of the main resort center were open and fully complete, with the hotel celebrating its first official year in business after partially opening in September 2024 as it hosted the inaugural PGA Black Desert Championship October 10-13. The second installment of the tournament—now dubbed the Bank of Utah Championship—is slated for October 23-26, with a third tournament signed for 2026.

Calder Richards Celebrates 20 Years of Sustainable Evolution

By UC&D • October 1, 2025
In 2005, Calder Richards Consulting Engineers formed after the merger of two smaller structural consulting firms who, interestingly enough, both started in 1986. Calder Richards has provided a steady structural support for Utah’s built environment ever since. As the firm celebrates its 20th anniversary, UC+D spoke with Managing Principals Shaun Packer and Nolan Balls to look back over the company’s history and celebrate what has helped their firm stand out to deliver solid projects in Utah and beyond. Their responses were edited for clarity and brevity. UC+D: What have been some catalytic moments for Calder Richards since that initial merger? SP: Winning the Talking Stick Resort in Scottsdale, Arizona is the first one. The big reason for the merger between Richards Consulting Group and Calder Consulting was to build a large enough company to go after bigger projects like that.” NB: That was my first project when I was hired straight out of college. We helped design the 17-story hotel and casino, a conference center, as well as parking structures, a central mechanical building, and a pool building. Talking Stick helped get us through the downturn a few years later. UC+D: What have been your key market sectors you all have targeted over the last 20 years? NB: We were breaking into K-12 along the Wasatch Front soon after the Talking Stick Resort and it’s been our bread and butter since then. SP: Absolutely, but I credit our firm for always adapting to the current environment. We’ve been fortunate to do so much K-12, but we used to do a lot of office work, and now we are working on conversions like the Ebay Headquarters to CTE/Innovation Center for Canyons School District as the market has shifted away from commercial office. UC+D: Schools have certainly evolved over the last 20 years, how has your work as structural engineers evolved? SP: We are seeing more creative design on the architectural side, certainly. We see many more two-story designs; more windows and daylighting. But we’re utilizing more powerful tools and continually building our understanding of the structural materials that are in use more than ever—tilt-up concrete, steel columns and beams, especially—to be the architect’s trusted partner. NB: Schools have definitely changed, and we’ve had better experience in helping projects move forward successfully when we are involved earlier in the design process. As we got involved early on in West High School’s schematic design, we were able to provide structural solutions and options to accommodate the architects’ design intent. UC+D: How has company growth changed Calder Richards? SP: It’s certainly changed the number of people in our office. We started with around 10 people when we merged, and today we have 27. But we often say that we don’t want to grow just to grow—we want to grow sustainably. We don’t lay people off when works slows down, and we have an expectation that sometimes there will be overtime work, and other times you may be waiting for our next project to begin.

The (Epi)Center of it All

By By Taylor Larsen • October 1, 2025
Nested in the middle of the University of Utah (U of U) campus sits the aptly-named Impact & Prosperity Epicenter, the second living learning community (LLC) project designed on campus by Los Angeles-based Yazdani Studio of CannonDesign. After nearly a decade since their first LLC project, the award-winning Lassonde Studios (UC+D’s 2016 Most Outstanding Public Building over $10 million), Mehrdad Yazdani, the design firm’s Principal and Studio Director, said their work on a sequel was an exciting prospect for the firm, and enlisted Salt Lake-based MHTN Architects and Okland Construction to serve as the respective local architect and general contractor. Today, the Epicenter serves as a striking piece of architecture and construction, one whose curvilinear shape asks users and visitors plenty of questions. But moving from idea to execution has been a work in progress. One query from Yazdani stood out as it relates to students and the built environment, and helped begin the journey to create the Epicenter: “How does your living environment as a student impact your success as a student and as a changemaker?” A Project for an Evolving Campus Katie Macc, CEO of the Sorenson Impact Institute, said LLCs like the Epicenter and Lassonde Studios next door have been massive steps forward in advancing entrepreneurship and social impact. But both play a major role in creating “college town magic”—a phrase coined by University President Taylor Randall that invokes a vibrant campus where students can find community and have one-of-a-kind experiences. With more on-campus student housing in the works, the state’s flagship university is hoping to shed the “commuter school” label and deliver a level of desirability that matches the resources students commit to higher education. “There is some soul searching going on across university campuses,” said Macc of the challenge at hand. “We have to be convincing that going to college matters.” She said overall university enrollments across the nation are decreasing as students grapple with tuition costs, COVID and its isolating aftershocks, and a different perspective on higher education. Universities are no longer a place where students come to learn what they couldn’t learn elsewhere—remote learning and the internet have opened a fissure in that idea that will never close. Instead of that educational transaction, being at a university must include building community and creating in-person experiences only available on campus. Macc said that the Epicenter helps steer the campus experience toward the future, with design goals to create a base of operations for two changemaking organizations and a living and learning home for 778 students. The three-story commercial portion of the building, known as the “Changemaker Pavilion”, includes office space for The Center for Business, Health, and Prosperity (second floor) and the Sorenson Impact Institute (third floor). While each organization has a different focus, both are firmly invested in helping students access and create the resources needed to change the world. Each entity works hand-in-hand as owners of the Epicenter to host events and “create a full spectrum of ways for students to get involved,” said Chad Salvadore, Chief Financial Officer for the Sorenson Impact Institute. “We’re dialing in the programming to energize the student body,” said Salvadore of the work done at the Epicenter. With over 60 majors represented among the 778 students who live there, he said that the diversity of students is less a reflection of their chosen major and more a desire to reside in a space built for students to work their entrepreneurial muscles. “Living here is a mindset—you can engage across many different paths you choose.”

Goal!

By Brad Fullmer • October 1, 2025
Front view of the bleachers, press box, and suites. (photos courtesy SIRQ Construction)

Four Decades of Transformation

By Brad Fullmer • October 1, 2025
Over the course of its 40-year history in Utah, WSP's Salt Lake office—originally founded as Parsons Brinckerhoff in 1985—has morphed from primarily a transportation design firm to one that successfully operates in multiple civil engineering markets. The results of WSP's transformation the past decade into a more diverse outfit speak for themselves, with the 128-person Salt Lake office (with locations in Cottonwood Heights and South Jordan) posting three consecutive years of revenues over $50 million, including a record $70.1 million in 2023, and a robust $59.9 million in 2024—good for the No. 2 ranking in UC+D's 2025 Top Utah Engineering Firms rankings.

Good Career? Start Here

By Taylor Larsen • October 1, 2025
Lucio Gallegos vividly remembers the workforce development meetings he attended during his time at Ogden-Weber Tech. These career and technical education (CTE) discussions consistently focused on one thing: young people were not entering construction, and the industry needed a new approach to attract them. Gallegos recalled one member of the workforce development team, a training director with a prominent general contractor, saying, “We have been trying this for over 10 years, screw it, we’re just gonna hire them.” The Long Road Those conversations occurred nearly 10 years ago, and workforce development concerns continue to permeate the industry. The National Center for Construction Education & Research estimates that 41% of the construction workforce will retire by 2031, leading to potential gaps in skill and safety and decreases in productivity and project quality. While stakeholders have aligned on the overall goal of providing students a foundation for future success through career development, the means to achieve the ends were seemingly at odds. High schools, trade schools, colleges, and private industry took different paths to achieve their goals, with some moving in opposite directions. “I’m gonna be honest with you,” Gallegos recalled one school administrator saying, “If I promote what you’re telling me to get them over to the tech college, I lose head count. And then I lose teachers. I can’t have a school without teachers.” Jobs that took away student learning experiences, according to federal guidelines and child labor laws, made the idea a non-starter. However, after years of lobbying the Utah Legislature for a compromise between industry and education, H.B. 055, passed in 2023, provided a catalytic change in how younger people can engage with construction and other industries. High school students could participate if they were involved in a school-sponsored work experience and career exploration program. Private industry finally had the compromise it wanted. It was time to act. Big-D Charts New Path Gallegos, now the Workforce Development Manager from Big-D, joined the company in 2023 with the express purpose of creating a program that fit within the new guidelines. Gallegos said he sees career development through the lens of the immigrant experience, one he knows personally as a Mexican immigrant with a father who worked in commercial construction. “I was 9 years old and busting pins out of concrete forms with a hammer that was as big as I was,” he laughed. “I’ve got the cliché immigrant story.” That story has a theme familiar to many immigrant families, he said, one where parents say, “I want my kids not to have to work as hard as I do. I want them in school.” Add to that, it’s a law—children must attend school. Gallegos was unfazed by those obstacles. As he began planning how Big-D’s internship program would operate, he knew that engagement had to start at the elementary school level and build on personal relationships between private industry, school administrators, students, and their families to succeed. “We want to be the solution, not the obstacle to get into this industry,” said Gallegos. So Big-D removed the barriers. Students can still attend school, work towards graduation, and be available in the afternoon for sports, extracurricular activities, and the high school experience. But working was another significant part of the immigrant experience, Gallegos said, and internships needed to be paid to alleviate the family concerns. “We asked what we would pay somebody fresh out of high school who worked at Big-D,” Gallegos said. Interns have earned those same wages ever since.

It's A Knockout

By Brad Fullmer • October 1, 2025
On January 2, 1957, Gene Fullmer, a scrappy, underdog fighter from West Jordan stunned the boxing world with a 15-round unanimous decision over the legendary Sugar Ray Robinson at New York’s fabled Madison Square Garden. Fullmer captured the world middleweight championship and established himself as one of the best pound-for-pound boxers during the late 50s and early 60s. Since then, the Fullmer name has been synonymous with boxing in Utah, with brothers Gene, Jay, and Don establishing the Fullmer Brothers Boxing Gym in 1978, and offering free boxing instruction and life mentoring to thousands of youths—carrying on a tradition they learned from their trainer, Marv Jenson. Their legacy of community giving will live on in the new Fullmer Legacy Center in South Jordan, a 16,500-SF facility that will serve as a permanent home to the boxing gym—after years of bouncing around to various temporary facilities—along with a museum, snack bar, and gift shop. “The Fullmers are the first family of boxing in the state of Utah—that’s well understood,” said Dave Butterfield, a founding board member of the Fullmer Legacy Foundation. Butterfield served as Chairman of the Board from June 2016 to early 2025 and was influential in helping raise money—nearly $6 million via donations to date, which includes $2 million from the Utah Legislature. Project Driven by Vision to Find a Permanent Home for Fullmer Brothers Gym It was Jay Fullmer who led the charge to teach boxing in the community. By 1978, the Fullmer Brothers Boxing Gym had formally opened at the Butterfield farm chicken coop in South Jordan, recalled Larry Fullmer, Don’s oldest son and the man who spearheaded the efforts for the Fullmer Legacy Center. From there, Larry said the facility moved to Riverton Elementary, an old church house in West Jordan, a sugar factory, a former fire station, and the Salt Lake County Equestrian Park in South Jordan, where it had resided since 2011. When they got word that Salt Lake County planned to transfer ownership of the park to Utah State University, Fullmer knew they needed to find a long-term home for the boxing gym. Fullmer met with Butterfield and Robert Behunin—who at the time was a Vice President with Utah State University—in 2016 and told them he just wanted a “tin shed of our own” for boxing. Behunin countered by saying, “If you want people to donate money, you need something better than a tin shed!” They quickly formed the Fullmer Legacy Foundation (FLF), and by 2018, the wheels were in motion on a building. Doc Murdock, a long-time trainer at the gym, connected Larry with his former roommate at Brigham Young University, Vern Latham, who is a Principal at Salt Lake-based VCBO Architecture. VCBO offered pro-bono services initially while helping FLF put together an RFP, while North Salt-based Gramoll Construction provided value engineering and other services in an effort to get the project launched. Larry expressed sheer gratitude for the contributions of both firms in helping make the project a reality, especially for many generous donations from various foundations and individuals. “[VCBO] believed in us early on and did our first phase of planning at no charge—they have been amazing and so professional to work with,” said Larry. “Gramoll helped us get the budget done as tight as it could be. This project had the absolute tightest budget. We met weekly with architects and the general contractor to see the progress—I’ve never seen such an amazing process. Construction started in November ’23, and every time I would come to the jobsite in the first six months, I’d get emotional.” “We leaned on our relationships with contractors for flooring, ceiling, tiles, donated furniture and got deep discounts and a lot of in-kind donations,” said Phil Haderlie, Principal-in-Charge for VCBO. “To me, the story of this project is the grassroots effort of people seeing the value—this is something that came from their heart. It will have a long-lasting impact on the community.”

Significant Buzz

By Brad Fullmer • October 1, 2025
The first season is in the books for the Salt Lake Bees in its spectacular new home—the Ballpark at America First Square, the exciting new heart of Downtown Daybreak and certainly one of the premier Triple-A stadiums in the country. "It's a really cool stadium—the field looks so good!" gushed Eric Barton, Project Director for Salt Lake-based Okland Construction, while surveying the spacious 280,000 SF, 6,500-seat (8,000 capacity) ballpark. Barton said his team faced an extremely difficult construction schedule with the mandate the project had to be sufficiently ready for Opening Day 2025 on April 8, less than 18 months after the formal October 20, 2023, groundbreaking. Barton said Okland knew it was going to be a grind, with long hours and tight windows to get various milestones accomplished. "When we bid this to our trade partners, we had them bid it with the expectation of it being six days a week," he said. "We want not only your best guys, but you have to be adaptable to the plan. It was gangbusters from the start.” Up to 300 workers were onsite during peak construction activity, requiring meticulous coordination throughout. Okland even brought in Fred Strasser, a legendary project director who came out of retirement to shepherd the project through. "Fred is the genius behind getting this whole thing done," said Barton. The project was designed by Salt Lake-based HOK, who worked closely with the owner, Sandy-based Larry H. Miller Real Estate (LHMRE) and Miller Sports + Entertainment (MSE) to bring about a project that would add even more buzz to its wildly popular, 4,000-acre master planned Daybreak development in South Jordan, making it a true entertainment destination. The design weaves together best-in-class baseball experiences with year-round public amenities, including a recently opened Megaplex theater, a performing arts center, a large amphitheater, along with retail, restaurants, and apartments, with buildout continuing through 2027. Walking paths and open spaces create natural connections between The Ballpark and the surrounding neighborhood, making the area an iconic community asset and a true sports and entertainment district. Downtown Daybreak is slated to host more than 200 annual events—including the Bees’ 75-game regular season. Supporting this entertainment destination, the venue’s prominent location just off the Mountain View Corridor freeway makes it highly visible to passing traffic while providing easy access. The stadium is also connected to multiple transportation options, easily reached by walking, biking or light rail across the Wasatch Front, and by car from the new freeway corridor. The Ballpark site drops 20 feet from the loading dock to the plaza, managed through terraced spaces that echo the region’s mining heritage. Though the slope stays gentle at under 5%, carefully placed stairs and planters make walking comfortable while honoring the industrial past. The center field main entrance connects to light rail, while a formal plaza at home plate serves as a second entrance, primarily for VIP access. The street design follows Daybreak’s established standards for lighting and tree spacing. Bike racks at the light rail station and plaza make cycling to games convenient. Utah’s Landscape Shapes Design The Wasatch Mountains, visible from every angle of the ballpark, directly influenced the ballpark's design. Throughout the venue, carefully planned viewpoints frame these mountain vistas. The structure resembles this mountainous setting in its form, transitioning from solid brick and concrete at its base to lighter materials—metal and expansive glass—as it ascends. Working with Kansas City-based architectural metal fabricator Zahner, HOK and MSE created a distinctive facade using perforated metal panels that suggest Utah mountain peak silhouettes from Ben Lomond Peak in Weber County to Mt. Nebo, the southernmost and highest mountain in the Wasatch Range of Utah. These panels transform into a glowing display at night, serving as a lantern on The Ballpark’s ‘front porch’ and welcoming visitors. This connection to Utah’s landscape flows throughout the site. Angular planters guide visitors along pathways, while public spaces are arranged in terraces that echo the mountainside. The copper colors and stepped surfaces of the nearby Kennecott Mine inspired the ballpark’s materials and layout. Inside, the decor features warm copper, gold and honey tones, with textured materials that blend the natural landscape with the Salt Lake Bees’ team colors.

Firms Making Moves

By Brad Fullmer • October 1, 2025
Horrocks CEO Bryan Foote (left) shakes hands with Matt Hirst, former President/CEO of CRS Engineering & Survey. Horrocks acquired CRS a year ago in a move that has proven to be a seamless fit for more than 60 CRS employees.

Q&A with Nathan Goodrich

By UC&D • August 1, 2025
Nathan Goodrich