A Campus to Bank On

Zions Bancorporation 400,000-SF Technology Center will be the hub of future activities for the company as it contributes to the ongoing development of a campus in Midvale.
By Taylor Larsen

“Remember the past with eyes to the future”


The simple slogan from Jennifer Smith, Executive VP and Chief Information Officer for Zions Bancorporation (Zions), was an inspiration for the interior phase of the Zions Bancorporation Technology Center. But those words and that sentiment are present in much more than the gorgeous interiors of Zions’ new building. As the project team began the massive undertaking, it would be hard to forget the past of the building site as team members worked together to create something with a steady eye to the future.


A Site to Behold


The 270-acre Sharon Steel Superfund site, where the Technology Center is located, is situated in the Jordan River Valley in Midvale. Milling and smelting conducted between 1906 and 1971 produced upwards of 10.5-million cubic yards of heavy metal tailings. The contamination was recognized in the 1980s and remediated in the late 1990s by installing a five-foot thick combined vegetated soil and geosynthetic cap over the site to prevent precipitation from leaching the site’s heavy metals into the Jordan River.


But there was also a future to consider and a better path to pursue.


With a development and master planning dream that had the potential to transform this site into the first phase of a sustainable community, that path has been realized. Integrating public transit and walkability to the Technology Center, utilizing a superfund site, and restoring nearby wildlife habitats would lay the groundwork. Creating an office space where people would feel welcome and connected would be the interior mission. 


Driving the entire project would be tricky. Spencer Allen, Sr. Project Manager for Layton Construction, explained it in the most straightforward way possible. 


“The [construction] priority was the schedule,” he said. Since the campus is a consolidation of satellite offices from across the U.S. into this one, “it was important for them to have substantial completion on the first of June so they could start bringing these people over.”


Every leading company needed to be on the same page. The response to that was a firm commitment—from owner Zions and developer Gardner Company, general contractors Layton Construction (interior) and Okland Construction (core and shell), and designers WRNS Studio (architect of record) and Method Studio (interior design). And that started well before the project broke ground.

Creating Foundation

The superfund status of the location made for an early challenge for the construction team. Like an onion, parfait, or even an ogre, this site had layers. Liners, clean fill, demarcation fabric, and more were present from the initial remediation efforts, but there were plenty of layers full of random debris from the site’s milling history, according to Eric Barton, Senior Project Manager for Okland Construction.

“Not knowing how much it is going to settle, not knowing what was in the soil—there was just no way to actually design the building to be supported by the existing soil,” said Barton. So engineers with BHB Structural designed a Torque Down Pile deep foundation system.

Barton explained it like a drill bit going through the soil. The hollow piles are installed by a combination of torque and downward force, while the custom fitting aids in both pile advancement and pile alignment throughout the installation.

BHB Structural’s Travis Brackus, Associate, said that the system allowed for a higher level of precision for pile location and plumbness versus a traditional driven-pile system. It even eliminated unwanted noise and vibrations associated with diesel hammers, too. According to Brackus, 380 Torque Down Piles support the 400,000-SF building.

Barton and Brackus both spoke of how the structural work created a crawl space under the building, which means the ground floor was a concrete and steel floor system much like the floors above.

Building Location

With the foundation set, architects led the next charge by designing a sustainable building that could anchor an overall campus. It would need longevity that would benefit the general public and the community of Midvale while providing beautiful office space where employees would want to be. WRNS’s design would emphasize the closeness of community through density and sustainability. According to Brian Shiles, Principal with San Francisco-based WRNS Studio, those emphases started with ownership.

“Zions was completely on board,” said Shiles of the concept to feature community sustainability on both the site and the building. “There was no resistance to this dialogue. [Zions] led it.”

The building itself is strategically positioned to be a better part of the community and emphasizes concepts not seen often in suburban areas. The Technology Campus is part of Midvale’s Jordan Bluffs master plan, which employs an urban design mentality centered on walkability and connection to the landscape, transit, and amenities.

Brain Millman, Principal with WRNS Studio, described the building massing as a major driver for the project. As a connector for the overall campus plan, he said the full building cantilevers out to the Jordan River, merging the density of the building with massing for viewers at every sight line. It provides an architectural connection to not just nature, but the community nearby as it serves as a focal point and draws people from the Jordan River Trail and the light rail station up the hill.

Exterior building choices included brick, glass, and zinc panels which combined with insulation to form a tight envelope. Barton reported that the zinc came from the Netherlands and is a 100-year material. He explained how the zinc panels are fastened to a z-channel that holds in place two inches of semi-ridged, high-density mineral wool insulation which covers the entire face of the building. A self-adhered air barrier on the exterior sheathing beneath the insulation and behind the brick portion provides additional envelope efficiency. All brick areas are capped with a precast concrete coping made to match the masonry.

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Masonry and glass are more common than the third material that made up the building façade: zinc. The gray zinc panels came from The Netherlands and provide a unique, long-lasting exterior to match a company with such a special and extensive legacy (photos by Endeavour Architectural Photography).

Progress Moves Vertical


A great site and solid planning concepts were a great start, but building up would be just as consequential to hold on to the initial vision behind the quote from Smith and create an interior that could match the intentionality of the core and shell and greater campus.


Several broad floors frame space, Shiles said, connect to the exterior garden, and support team building and collaborative work. A stock of smaller plates accommodates more focused work from employees and their respective teams. He spoke of how WRNS designed courtyards cut into the larger plate to provide employees with natural light, views, and access to nature. With private offices closer to the core of the building, majestic views are within the reach of every employee.


Layton’s Allen said it was a quick build considering the size of the building and the challenging construction environment. "It almost felt like miracles took place,” he said. Instead of two buildings that were in their first designs, the project team embraced one building with two massings—a six-story tower and a three-story massing—to lock in connectivity to the different offices from across the U.S. that would soon be sharing the same roof.


With both of the general contractors, the developer team, and other trade partners involved in another major project together just a few years ago, the project team re-combined seamlessly to create a great experience and a great building. 


“You're working together with another contractor, so you basically are joined at the hip,” said Allen. He said communication was on point as the two teams went about their separate scopes that came together to create a magnificent whole. “We met together weekly, if not more, with Okland.” Concerns, delays, and updates between the two contractors were readily shared. 


The contractor teams decided on a “flow” that would allow construction to progress on the northern, three-story portion of the building first then move south to another three-story portion of the building before moving east to the tower massing. As core and shell progress on each floor was completed and moved on to the next phase, tenant improvement began in its place. The breakup of the project over 12 phases of construction helped to keep quality control at the highest level. 


Allen credited the work done a few years ago, reemphasizing how greatness happens in unison. “Our success is together, our failure is together.”


That commitment to succeed together extended to everyone involved. Team members for interior designers Method Studio said the timing of this project meant that it was a 100% virtual design project. Kim Webb, Vice President and Project Architect of the Workplace Studio, spoke of the difficulties adjusting to the learning curve and not being able to inspect designs together in the same room.


With such a large contract and multiple major players in the scope, Webb explained how certain critical items were divided up between the interior and core and shell—made extra difficult without those consistent, in-person meetings to quickly remedy any potential issues. The wood trellis at the front desk that moves throughout the space and up the stairs was a critical mark and element needed for an inviting and awe-inspiring lobby befitting Zions.


But, with multiple contractors and subcontractors involved in this scope and materials coming from different parts of the country and a challenging construction schedule, the rift-cut white oak elements throughout the building would need to match at first go.


A Perfect Match


Match it did. Copious daylighting from extensive glazing provides additional warmth to the wood grain's natural touch. Millwork was one of many impressive features visible all over the office, one most apparent in the crown jewel: the “all-hands” space.


Allen described it as “the biggest selling point feature of the building.” One step in, and the praise is accurate. Wood grain throughout the two-story area, along with terrazzo flooring, giant windows looking out to the Jordan River and distant mountains, and an inviting feature stair make it into a flexible and beautiful space. Collapsable glass walls in nearby rooms combine with the impressive AV work done to provide training, announcements, lectures, and more to the hundreds who work in the building. 


Conference rooms just above the all-hands space give Zions some formal room to conduct business. Add to all of that the “Hub” and its full kitchen, cafeteria, and cafe back on ground level—all available for public use—and you have quite the setup. 


Interior design choices emphasize three pillars of balance for the company and its new tech building: strong foundation, innovation, and transparency. Masonry, wood, and metal showcase the owner’s strong Utah foundation. Screens, especially the wood grain “Z” pattern present in the all-hands space, are a nod to innovation. The glazing showcases the owner’s commitment to transparency.


The WRNS Studio team conducted a thorough analysis of façade performance and evaluated glazing and shading opportunities to build up a high degree of interior comfort. Triple paned windows perform incredibly in the winter and were installed on the east and north sides to deal with the cold, dark winters. The west and south façades, on the other hand, called for sun shades and solar protective devices that would still allow for the transparency wanted by the owner and create a well-lit comfortable space for employees and visitors.


Creating a Theme


Each of the six floor plates contains different colors, with branding that showcases the ripple effect of the company’s work funding historic projects and dreams across the West over the last century-plus. Jenn Celestino, Vice President and Project Designer with Method Studio, mentioned how the six stories have six corresponding floor names (Summit, Cirque, Mesa, Moraine, Caldera, and Playa) that give the interior a wayfinding element and an additional sense of place in the West.


She explained how two branding elements emphasize the connection between individual employees and the larger company. The ground floor timeline wall shows the history of Zions and how there are still plenty of stories to tell. Another ground floor piece, entitled “Foundations of our Future” highlights employees with individualized plaques that recognize the many who have helped Zions gain and maintain its premier status in Utah and beyond. 


Webb demonstrated during a tour how the building functions as a gallery of sorts for three local artists that Zions commissioned. Pieces from Jann Haworth, Brian Kershisnik, and Matt Monsoon all hang throughout the space, emphasizing different themes like the West, community, and diversity. Kershisnik’s “Work of Many” hangs prominently in the ground floor lobby, honoring this consolidation of resources that has combined to create this invigorating space.


Other specific branding elements include layers of silhouette profile graphics, all from the organization’s employees, that showcase the volume of people the company has influenced. Those same colors that represent the different floors are present here too, with a rainbow spectrum to reinforce the diversity that creates the strength of an organization. 


The creation of that type of space—a diverse, inclusive space where people would come to and enjoy—is something that Method Studio’s Marbe Agee, Principal of the Workplace Studio, felt like the project team knocked out of the park. “The feedback we received from Zions Bancorporation was that remote people wanted to be in this office.”


Good Stewardship


Through construction recycling and the use of recycled and recyclable materials, contractors and designers followed through on the owner’s commitments toward sustainability, recycling well over a combined 80% or more of cardboard, plastic, wood, and trash. Celestino spoke of how the terrazzo flooring and countertops on the various levels of the building all include recycled glass. 


Agee spoke about how this commitment to recycling included choosing recycled and recyclable carpets and Forest Stewardship Council-certified woods. Exterior brick was sourced locally from Interstate Brick for yet another sustainability win.


As a leading lender of renewable energy companies, Zions established aspirational sustainability goals tied to reducing carbon, improving air quality, and resiliency, according to the WRNS Studio team. The Technology Center is all-electric, targeting LEED Platinum with its goals—a high bar as the inaugural project of the overall Jordan Bluffs campus. Ongoing ecological reclamation efforts will support habitat restoration and the larger regional waterway while healing the site’s industrial past.


Regarding energy conservation and sustainability, the building utilizes over 2,000 photovoltaics to help offset 75% of the energy use for the building. Two light wells and terraces on the second floor provide another connective spot with nature while filling in more interior spaces with daylight.


And most importantly, at least to Agee, was how Zions, as a local member of the community, committed to strongly moving forward with this project amid so much insecurity.


“They put their money where their mouth was,” she said. “And not just the architecture and design communities, but the construction, trades, and craftsman that make these projects possible.” 


The building has built upon not only the site’s historic past but also the history of one of the premier Utah-based companies in Zions Bancorporation. But as it remembered the past, it is still looking forward. In a business world struggling to recruit and retain employees, superb construction and high design allowed a strong community ally to look ahead and achieve a top-class technology center where employees want to be.


Zions Bancorporation Tech Campus


Project Team

Owner: Zions Bancorporation

Developer: Gardner Company


Design Team

Architect: Method Studio, Inc. / WRNS Studio

Electrical Engineer: Spectrum Engineers 

Mechanical Engineer: PVE 

Structural Engineer: BHB Structural


Construction Team

General Contractor: Layton/ICS (T.I.), Okland Construction (Core & Shell):

Plumbing: Reliable Plumbing

Concrete (Core & Shell): Okland Constrcution (Structural Concrete, building conctrete, site walls), Gene Peterson (sidewalks, curb & Gutter)

HVAC: Altas Sheet Metal

Electrical: Rydalch Electric

Drywall/Acoustics:  K & L Drywall & Acoustics, CSI (Core & Shell):

Painting: Professional Painting, Grow Painting (Core & Shell):

Tile/Stone: Dowland Tile, Metro Tile (Core & Shell)

Masonry: Troy Hales Masonry (building), AK Masonry (Parking Structure)

Carpentry: Diversified Flooring, Contempo Cabinet & Mill (Core & Shell)

Flooring: Stewart Specialties (Sealed and Polished Concrete)

Glass/Curtain Wall:  Bountiful Glass (Interior Glass), Sykview Glass (Core & Shell)

Roofing: Utah Tile & Roofing (Core & Shell)

Waterproofing: Water Proofing West

Steel Fabrication & Erection: SME Steel Contractors

Excavation: Siri Contracting

Landscaping: Intermountain Plantings

Economists Remain Optimistic about Utah

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

Waterworks in the Wilderness

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

AGC of Utah 2025 Convention

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

One for the Ages

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

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

Towering Construction Adds to Glistening Skyline

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

UC+D Most Outstanding Projects of 2024

By LADD MARSHALL • January 1, 2025

Dynamic Electrical

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

Youthful Impact

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

Scintillating Sustainability

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