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Fantastic Precast Largest precast concrete girders in state history placed on I-15 Tech Corridor project

February | March 2019

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Feb | Mar 19 | UTAH CONSTRUCTION & DESIGN | 7

Table of Contents

On the cover: Workers place giant 203 ft. long precast concrete girders – the largest precast beams in state history – on the I-15 Tech Corridor project in Lehi. (photo by Don Green Photography)

Corrections: The December 2018 issue of UC&D did not give proper credit to Mechanical Service & Systems, Inc. (MSS) for work performed on Mountain View Village (2018 Most Outstanding Commercial/Retail Project). Also, Van Boerum & Frank Associates (VBFA) was not recognized for work that they performed on One Empire Pass (2018 Most Outstanding Hospitality/Resort Project) and Intermountain Healthcare Alta View Hospital Campus Reconfiguration (Most Outstanding Large Healthcare Project). We regret the oversight and congratulate MSS and VBFA on their contributions and success as part of these winning projects.

Utah Construction & DesignUC&D

Features24 WSU Lindquist Hall Complex restoration stripped original structure at Weber State University in Ogden down to original double-T precast columns before transformation into state-of the-art educational facility.

28 Wallace Bennett Building T.I. $12.3 million renovation for GSA provides exciting new home for 220 USDA employees.

32 Super Size The largest precast concrete girders in Utah’s history – an eye-popping 203 ft. each – were recently placed on the I-15 Tech Corridor project in Lehi.

36 Sustainability/Green Building ULI’s Grayson talks ‘The Business Case for Healthy Buildings’.

38 AGC of Utah 97th Annual Convention Utah’s largest association enjoying prosperous times across the state with 500+ members.

40 2019 Economic Outlook University of Utah economist Natalie Gochnour says Utah’s economy is diverse and solid

46 UMC 2018 Excellence in Masonry Awards Troy Hales Masonry earns top awards for work on Q90 in Payson.

50 Paving a Road to Success A record 1,100 people attended the two-day 2019 Conference for the Utah Asphalt Paving Association, illustrating UAPA’s growing presence in the state.

52 A/E/C Profiles Bup Minardi has carved out a unique niche in the heavy equipment world the past 15 years with Mountain Regional Equipment Solutions.

8 Publisher’s Message

10 Industry News

16 A/E/C People

24

38

46

28

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UTAH_CONSTRUCTION_DESIGN FEB2019final2.indd 1 2/25/19 4:55 PM

< Publisher’s Message

8 | UTAH CONSTRUCTION & DESIGN | Feb | Mar 19

MACU HQ Dazzles South End of SL ValleyBeen on I-15 through the southern end of the Salt Lake

Valley lately?

If not, you haven’t seen the new 11-story, 327,000 SF

Mountain America Credit Union (MACU) headquarters, an

impossible-to-miss, modern high-rise in Sandy City’s Cairns

District (think downtown). What sets this building apart is its

glass curtain wall system, a dynamic, one-of-a-kind exterior that

rivals any glass building in the state, or elsewhere, for that matter.

The 106,000 SF unitized curtain wall system was designed by Salt Lake-based Steel

Encounters, Inc. (along with international firm Euro-façade Tech), fabricated by Steel

Encounters, and manufactured by Oldcastle Building Envelope.

The four-sided structural glazed system required no exterior metal, allowing the glass to

read more ‘flat and true’, offering ultimate reflectivity, the ability to mitigate glare and heat

gain, while reducing noise from highway traffic on I-15. All of those were critical factors in

meeting – even exceeding – the owner’s requirements.

I took a tour of the building in December with architects Marbe Agee and Amber Lake of

method studio, along with Chris Tapia with MACU, and it is indeed a mind blower! Panoramic

views from the upper floors, and exterior views from even the innermost core areas. Most

employee workstations are located on perimeters, with offices toward the middle. Top

executives on the top floor have nice offices, but only President/CEO Sterling Nielsen has the

proverbial ‘corner office’ on the 11th floor – as well he should, being the leader of the second

largest credit union in Utah (ranked in the Top 20 in the U.S.) with a reported $7.5 billion in

assets, 740,000 members, and 90-plus branches.

It’s amazing to see the level of detail designers put into so many seemingly minute

details – well, minute to the average person who doesn’t consider columns integrated

into corners before final drywall is done, support backs on chairs lining up with window

mullions so as to not obscure clean lines and views, cabinets with trash bins having the

base attached, and many other fine details that came about via thorough extensive client

interviews and surveys during programming phase.

It’s a building worth seeing up close, and no doubt many will get that opportunity given

its location next to Hale Center Theatre (MACU is graciously sharing its mammoth 1,743-stall

above-ground parking structure (after normal business hours) with the theater patrons, and

the local community in general. MACU’s cafeteria is definitely worth checking out, a space

with a variety of hip seating options for future Millennial and Gen Z workforces (Agee pointed

out that an estimated 20% of the workforce will be Gen Z by 2020).

This issue of UC&D (you’re getting a double dose of our publication to close out an

extraordinarily busy and productive 2018, so enjoy the early year reading!) also looks at

the timeless Salt Lake City and County Building restoration, as well as Intermountain

Healthcare’s newest $164 million hospital in Layton. Other content includes ACEC Utah’s

annual awards, AIA Utah’s new headquarters in downtown Salt Lake, Construction Law, and

Design Trends in the resort/hospitality market.

Regards,

Bradley Fullmer

UC&DUtah Construction & Design Magazine

3047 W Parkway Blvd. STE A,

Salt Lake City UT 84119

O: (801) 747-9202

M: (801) 433-7541

www.utahcdmag.com

Bradley H. Fullmer

Publisher/Managing Editor

[email protected]

Ladd J. Marshall

Advertising Sales Director

[email protected]

Jay Hartwell

Art Director

[email protected]

Utah Construction & Design is published eight (8) times a year. Postage paid in Salt Lake City, UT. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Subscriptions: $64.00 per year. Subscribers: If Postal Service alerts us that magazine is undeliverable to present address, we need to receive corrected address. Postmaster: Send address changes to 3047 W Parkway Blvd. STE A, Salt Lake City UT 84119. To subscribe or contribute editorial content, or for reprints, please call (801) 433-7541 or email [email protected]. For Advertising rates/Media Kit, please call (801) 872-3531 or [email protected].

Vol. 7 No. 1

Feb | Mar 19 | UTAH CONSTRUCTION & DESIGN | 1110 | UTAH CONSTRUCTION & DESIGN | Feb | Mar 19

Speaking to a group of ULI Utah young

professionals February 20 at the AC Hotel

in Salt Lake City, Ryan Ritchie said difficult

lessons learned during the recession

beginning in 2007-08 helped shape the

development approach of The Ritchie

Group of Salt Lake City, as the firm readies

itself for the groundbreaking in May of

Phase I of its ambitious – and long-awaited

- development on Block 67 in downtown

Salt Lake City.

Ritchie, a Principal with the 46-year-

old firm, said the project is being dubbed

‘The West Quarter’, a 6.83-acre mixed-

use development that he said will bring

a new vibe to Salt Lake with a dynamic

mix of residential, hotel, office and retail

properties adorning one of the more

coveted pieces of real estate in the

downtown area.

“It’s an amazing piece of land, and

the way it’s being designed it will be a key

connector to the west side,” said Ritchie,

whose firm was selected by Block 67

owner Ted Mitchell, who had purchased

the property as a 1031 investment in 1986.

The two sides negotiated a 99-year lease

signed in December 2016, and The Ritchie

Group has been patiently wading through

myriad red tape challenges the past year.

Phase I (Block A) will include an 11-story

residential tower, with Block B featuring

a dual-branded hotel by Marriott – Loft

and Element. Salt Lake-based Jacobsen

Construction is the general contractor.

“This is transformative real estate,” he

said, displaying a distinct excitement about

the project, particularly in describing an

85,000 SF section of street level retail – an

eclectic mix of restaurants and shops – on

a winding, permeable, pedestrian-auto

street called ‘Quarter Row’ – with curb-less

sidewalks and slot drains, in the same vein

as the recently renovated Regent Street,

with its own unique feel.

“We’re trying to bring that type of

environment, have it be part of a future

sports entertainment district in Salt Lake

City,” he noted, with its location directly

across from Vivint Smart Home Arena.

Phase I is a planned 26-month construction

schedule, with Phase II slated to begin

immediately after completion. Other

aspects of the project will include a 20-story

residential tower, a second dual-brand 300-

key hotel, a 450,000 SF office tower and a

20,000 SF neighborhood grocery store.

As a company, he said The Ritchie

Group was founded in 1973 by his father,

James Ritchie, and specialized for years in

subdivision developments, with a portfolio

of more than 10,000 lots over 30 years in 13

states.

In 2003, Ritchie said the company

started to diversify, and they looked at

investing in the Branbury Apartments in

Orem, a 380-unit property. Ultimately they

did not invest, and instead began working

on a high-end resort project called Koloa

Landing at Poipu Beach, a 323-unit luxury

condominium resort project on Kauai’s

south shore. It took three years to get

through various entitlement processes, so

when the recession starting affecting the

market by 2007, the project “didn’t transpire

as we had planned,” Ritchie said, although

having good capital partners allowed them

to ultimately complete the project, and he

said last year it’s “in the black” for the first

time. Meanwhile, the Banbury project would

have yielded significant gains during that

same period, possibly tripling in value from

$20 million to $60 million.

“It’s hard to predict future markets,”

he said. “It was a great lesson for us. We

learned that we want to be in the types of

real estate driven by shelter, food, and need

– demand-driven property. No matter what

the economy is like, people will need that

service.”

The Ritchie Group has several other

projects in its Utah portfolio, including

Element 31 (208-unit multi-family housing) in

the Brickyard area of Salt Lake, Midtown 360

(9-story mixed-use development with 286

completed apartment units, 60,000+ SF of

retail) in Orem and The Rivulet in American

Fork (252-unit multi-family).

TRAX to Lehi, Mt. View Corridor

Extension Being Discussed

According to a report released in

January by Envision Utah’s Point of the

Mountain Development Commission, a $2.5

billion transportation funding plan has

been created that will be a critical catalyst

in aiding future development from Sandy to

Lehi, particularly the Point of the Mountain

area straddling the line between Salt Lake

and Utah Counties, which includes the 700-

acre site of the current Utah State Prison in

Bluffdale.

The two biggest projects include an

extension of UTA’s TRAX Blue Line from

its current terminus in Draper to Lehi, and

the expansion of Mountain View Corridor.

Combined, the projects could surpass $3

billion, a sizeable figure.

The area is already hailed for being part

of Utah’s dynamic ‘Silicon Slopes’ area – a

major catalyst for job growth in the past

decade (accounting for approximately 40%

of new jobs in the state since 2009), and once

the prison is relocated and demolished, it

will represent the last significant piece of

new developable land in Salt Lake County.

The Commission includes a plethora

of stakeholders, including local cities and

towns, the Governor’s Office of Economic

Development, EDCUtah, Salt Lake and Utah

Valley Chambers, and existing employers

in the area (Adobe, eBay, among others), all

of whom have big visions on how this vital

property will be developed over the next

quarter century.

Two major transportation projects will

provide key infrastructure. UTA is investing

$800,000 into a yearlong study to determine

the best alignment for extending the TRAX

Blue Line south from its current terminus

in Draper to Lehi. The study will focus on

capital and operating costs for a west side

or an east side alignment. Current UTA

estimates have the east route at $850-$900

million; the west route has a $1.2-$1.3 billion

estimate.

Envision Utah is on the third phase of

the project, which focuses on public and

private funding, along with breaking down

costs associated with the different aspects

of the vision.

Chicago Firm to Develop

‘Plaza on State Street’

The evolution of downtown Salt Lake

City took another positive step forward

recently with the demolition of a project

that was abandoned in 2015 at 255 South

State, making way for a proposed 14-story

mixed-use complex with apartments, retail

space and a swanky European-style plaza,

titled ‘Plaza on State Street’.

Salt Lake City’s Redevelopment Agency

(RDA) purchased the property from Citibank

for $4 million in October 2017 (which

had repossessed the property two years

previously) and is spending an estimated

$380,000 to demolish the existing steel and

concrete structure.

Once the site has been cleaned up

and all construction materials recycled, an

appraisal will be used as a basis for RDA to

negotiate a sale to Brinshore, a real estate

developer from the Chicago area that was

selected from a list of nine firms interested

in developing the property.

Brinshore’s proposal calls for a

residential tower with a mix of regular and

low-income apartments and rooms for

people with disabilities, in addition to retail

space on the ground floor.

The RDA also awarded a contract to

Brinshore to build a 200-unit mixed-income

multi-family project at 1500 West North

Temple in Salt Lake.

Construction Costs, Wages

Continue to Rise Nationally

Construction costs rose for the 28th

consecutive month in February, according

to a report March 1 from Ken Simonsen,

Chief Economist for the Associated General

Contractors of America that referenced

information from IHS Markit and the

Procurement Executives Group.

Specifically, the report said that

“materials and equipment prices rose in

February…with price increases recorded

in eight of 12 subcomponents. Steel had >>

> Industry News > Industry News

Ritchie Group Gearing Up for ‘West Quarter’ Groundbreaking in May Plaza on State Street in the works; Downtown convention hotel discussed; Big-D Acquires Boise-based GC; Provo City Center Temple earns national ACI award.

Rendering of the ‘West Quarter’ development on Block 67 in downtown Salt Lake, an ambitious multi-phase project slated to break ground in May that developer Ryan Ritchie said promises to revolutionize the social fabric of the entire neighborhood near Vivint Smart Home Arena. (courtesy The Ritchie Group)

Overhead perspective of ‘West Quarter’ development that will build out over the next 5-7 years in downtown Salt Lake.


weak to flat pricing; inflation-adjusted GDP

increased 2.6% at a seasonally adjusted

annual rate in the fourth quarter of 2018,

following a 3.4% gain in Q3.

Wages per hour are also climbing

nationally, rising faster than inflation, a

result of subcontractors competing in a

highly competitive landscape and bidding

on less jobs. Another trend to watch is

developers creating their own contracting

arms as a way of mitigating project costs.

Downtown Convention

Hotel Proposal Approved

The State of Utah’s Governor’s Office

of Economic Development approved a

proposal late last year for a new $337

million downtown convention center-

style hotel project, a massive 325 ft. tall,

680,000 SF development that will includes

700-plus rooms, more than 60,000 SF

of meeting space and outdoor rooftop

amenities.

Located at 200 South West Temple,

it will connect directly to the Salt Palace

Convention Center. GOED Executive

Director Val Hale said the project has been

discussed for a number of years, and will be

a joint venture between St. George-based

real estate developer DDRM, and Portman

Holdings, an Atlanta-based real estate

development and management firm.

The project will help lure larger,

more economically lucrative national

conventions and conferences to Salt Lake

City, and will likely break in the fall of 2019,

with a planned completion sometime in

2022.

Cottonwood Mall Development

Battle Could Spawn New Laws

The site of old Cottonwood Mall

remains an eyesore, and will continue

to remain undeveloped until unhappy

Holladay residents and the developers

reach an agreement, after residents voted

to not approve zoning changes for the 57-

acre site, which the Utah Supreme Court

upheld.

Woodbury Corp. and Ivory Homes

are partners in developing the property,

with Ivory wanting to build 775 high-rise

apartments, more than 200 town homes,

and dozens of retail shops and restaurants

in a fun, walk-able community.

HB119 is being sponsored by Rep.

Brad Daw, R-Orem, to address concerns

among many businesses about future

referendums that could stunt future

developments like this. Leaders of the Salt

Lake Chamber are lobbying legislators to

make changes in the law.

Salt Lake Chamber executives have

stated that zoning by voter referendum

is a not a practical or logical answer to

approving future development projects.

Another referendum that challenged a

student housing project in Orem near Utah

Valley University did not pass.

Big-D Acquires Boise-based

McAlvain Companies

Big-D Construction, headquartered

in Salt Lake City, recently acquired Boise-

based McAlvain Companies, Inc., a

prominent Idaho general contractor that

was founded in 1980.

McAlvain Companies will

continue to be headquartered in

Boise, and will operate with the same

name and local management team,

including Torry McAlvain as CEO (his father

Doug founded the company) and Chuck

Graves as President.

“Everyone here

at McAlvain is extremely excited

about this important new phase in

our company’s history,” said McAlvain.

“We have strategically aligned ourselves

with a company that is a perfect fit with

our family culture and core values. It

ensures that we will continue to build

on the successes that our employees

have provided for us and deliver new

opportunities for both our self-performing

and construction services divisions.

Combining our strengths and aligning our

resources with Big-D will reinforce best-in-

class customer services and accomplished

construction project delivery teams.”

Since it was founded in

1980, McAlvain has left its mark on

Southern Idaho and the Mountain West via

hundreds of unique projects, especially

in its most robust markets: Commercial,

Industrial, Institutional, Mixed-Use, and

Water/Renewable Water Infrastructure.

GOED, UAC Plan ‘Opportunity Zones’

The Utah Governor’s Office of

Economic Development (GOED) announced

that the Utah Association of Counties

(UAC) has been chosen to spearhead

‘Utah Opportunity Zone’ planning and

implementation.

UAC will work with GOED in

partnership with the Sorenson Impact

Center and Patrick Mullen, a consultant, to

help ensure that capital from Opportunity

Funds are targeted to Opportunity Zones,

including those in rural and underserved

communities, throughout the state.

UAC and Sorenson’s responsibilities will

be threefold: engaging and educating

rural communities housing Opportunity

Zones, developing marketing content and

strategies for Opportunity Zone economic

development, and connecting local

officials and stakeholders with prospective

investors.

GOED will utilize UAC and Sorenson’s

expertise to assist local communities in

creating and packaging Opportunity Zone

investments for nationwide investors. A

GOED grant will be used to fund Mullen’s

involvement.

“We look forward to working with

Patrick, the Utah Association of Counties

and the Sorenson Impact Center. The

partnerships and alignment of resources

will be very beneficial to our rural >>

> Industry News > Industry News

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communities,” said Ginger Chinn, GOED

managing director of urban and rural

business services.

In Utah, 46 zones were designated as

Opportunity Zones, 19 of which are in rural

communities. These zones represent areas

that are prime for potential investment.

“We have tremendous opportunity to

drive significant economic development

in our state,” said Adam Trupp, Utah

Association of Counties CEO. “UAC stands

ready and able to work with county

economic development directors and

others in their efforts to attract business,

create jobs and generate positive

investments in our counties.”

Provo City Center Temple

Earns International ACI Recognition

Adding to a lengthy list of local and

national honors, the Provo City Center

Temple for the Church of Jesus Christ of

Latter-day Saints earned First Place in

the Repair & Restoration category for

the American Concrete Institute’s (ACI)

2018 Excellence in Concrete Construction

Awards.

“To be recognized internationally

among some of the best of the best

throughout the world—contractors who

take on some of the most difficult, if not

almost impossible projects — truly is

an honor for Jacobsen Construction,”

said Jacobsen Project Executive Kirk

Dickamore. “But it goes even deeper. To

take this fire-destroyed tabernacle from

a condition that was only worth being

torn down and to repurpose and rebuild

it into a magnificent, beautiful temple

is symbolic of the hope each person can

have to rebuild their own life following

difficult setbacks.”

Concrete mix designs on the project

were changed to achieve better concrete

placement and an improved finish footing

slab. This mix design was also used to

strengthen the slab-on-grade.

The project got high marks for

innovation, including placing the 6.8

million-pound existing structure on

40-foot-high stilts, about as complex of a

process as construction gets.

“The contractors and architects (had)

worked on similar situations where they

have done underpinning, but not at this

scale and this height,” said LDS Church

Project Manager Andy Kirby. “The design of

this was a process between the architect,

our design team, the structural engineers

and the contractors. We came up with

multiple options, vetted those out, and

then brought on the shoring contractor,

and they improved it.”

Throughout this project, crews had

to meet very tight concrete requirements.

Quality and consistency levels were

achieved by controlling mix designs with

different admixtures and properties of

constituents. Concrete pours averaged

6,010 PSI on a 4,000 PSI design, with 7.5

lbs of macro-synthetic fibers. (The team

achieved a standard deviation of 530,

which aligns with ACI’s standard deviation

criteria.)

“A first place award from ACI is high

praise for this very complex renovation

project — one that literally rose from

the ashes,” said Jacobsen President

Doug Welling. “The skill, collaboration

and ingenuity of our workers is now

internationally recognized.” n

> Industry News

Salt Lake-based Jacobsen Construction was presented with a 2018 ‘Excellence in Concrete Construction’ award from the American Concrete Institute, First Place in the Repair & Restoration category for the Provo City Center Temple. (courtesy Jacobsen Construction)


After a stellar 22-year career at Sandy-

based Layton Construction, Alan Rindlisbacher retired effective March

1, and immediately took the position of

Director of Community Strategy with the

Economic Development Corporation of

Utah (EDCU), his second go-round with

the organization. He took the job on the

premise it would be a “part-time” role he

says (four days/30 hours a week).

As Director of Corporate

Communications at Layton from ’97-‘19,

Rindlisbacher played an essential role as

the 66-year-old firm grew exponentially

– more than ten-fold in annual revenues –

and morphed from a regional firm into one

with 10 national offices, 875 employees,

and project experience working in 40

states.

“Truly, I’ve had a lot of thoughts…just

looking around the state and thinking

about all the buildings Layton has

constructed…the buildings our competitors

have built; Utah is not the same Utah it

was 22 years ago…and it’s been great to

be a part of that over the years,” he said.

“I’ve (reflected) on Layton’s growth and

progress during this time from $140 million

in annual revenues – we were basically a

four-state contractor – to one that closed

2018 with $1.8 billion in revenues, having

worked in approximately 25 states.

“It’s a different Layton Construction;

it’s simply time for the next generation

to take it to the next level. I have all the

confidence that I’m leaving an organization

that is only going to get better.”

Rindlisbacher earned a Bachelor

of Business Administration from Utah

State University in 1983 and has been a

community development advocate for

many years. He worked for the Salt Lake

Area Chamber of Commerce as Director of

Economic Development, and later was Vice

President at the EDCU. In 1993, he joined

the State of Utah’s Division of Business

and Economic Development, directing

statewide business recruitment efforts

prior to joining Layton in 1997.

At EDCU his role will include working

with communities throughout the state

in “matching and paralleling resources for

the greatest good in building the state’s

economy. I look forward to going out there

and working with city councils and economic

developers. I know a lot of people.”

He exits Layton with a much greater

appreciation for the quality of people

and immense level of talent required to

run a successful billion-dollar general

contracting firm.

“I’ve told a lot of people that I will

not miss the demands of the job, and the

expectations that come in a high-stress,

fast-paced industry,” said Rindlisbacher.

“But I will miss, truly, the people I’ve come

to love as a family. I have great respect for

the men and women on the front lines who

build these great buildings.”

Layton Construction of Sandy has hired

Jessica Pantages as Corporate Marketing

Director.

Pantages has expertise as a

communications consultant advising

companies in various industries, across all

aspects of marketing and communications.

Previously, she was Vice President of

Communications and Marketing for

Lockheed Martin’s $8.8 billion Information

Systems and Global Solutions business.

In this capacity, she led a team

responsible for the branding, messaging

and stakeholder engagement for a

business which employs 26,000 employees

across all 50 states and 20 countries. Before

joining Lockheed Martin, Pantages was

Executive Director, Global Communications

and Influencer Relations for Dell’s $8

billion IT Services business, where she

built a new communications team

focused on analyst relations, community

affairs, media relations, social media,

executive communications and employee

engagement. Jessica has spent more than

15 years working in communications

positions of increasing responsibility for

multiple companies in aerospace and

defense, IT services, financial services,

product development, manufacturing and

consumer goods. Throughout her career

she has worked around the globe including

assignments in Europe, the Middle

East and India. She holds a Bachelor of

Human and Organizational Development

from Vanderbilt University, a Master of

Integrated Marketing Communications

from Northwestern University, and she

is working to complete her MBA from

Baylor University. For the past 10 years

she has also been an adjunct professor

teaching international communications at

Georgetown University.

Sandy-based Ensign Engineering & Land Surveying recently announced five

personnel moves.

Derek Nelson joined the firm’s Public

Works department in the role of Business

Development and Project Management.

He has 25+ years of experience in this

arena. He earned a Bachelor of Science in

Mechanical Engineering in 1989 from the

University of Utah. He has past experience

with business development, project

evaluations, construction administration,

managing design teams for both electrical

and gas transmission utilities, civil design,

design/build waste water and ultra-

filtration plants, piping and pump systems,

permitting and funding of infrastructure

projects.

Heinere Ah-Sha, P.E., was hired in

Ensign’s Structural department as a Project

Manager. He has 18 years of experience; he

earned a Master of Science in Structural

Engineering from the University of Nevada

Reno and a Bachelor of Science in Civil

Engineering from Utah State University.

Experience includes structural design

of multi-family structures, hospitals,

educational facilities, churches, offices,

warehouses, entertainment complexes,

conference centers, and justice and

correctional facilities using concrete, steel,

masonry, and wood building materials.

Jacob M. Clegg, P.E., was promoted

to Associate and Office Manager at

Ensign’s Tooele office. He has eight

years experience; he earned a Bachelor

of Science in Civil Engineering from

the University of Utah in 2011. He has

experience with storm drain design,

open channel flow modeling, subdivision

layout, roadway design, grading and

drainage plans, detention and retention

basin design.

Cam Preston, P.E., S.E., was

promoted to Associate and Office Manager

at the firm’s Layton office. He has 16 years

of experience; he earned a Master of

Science in Civil Engineering from the >>

Rindlisbacher Retires from Layton After 22 Years, Joins EDCU

A host of Utah-based A/E/C firms announce key personnel moves, including Ensign, Dunn, Jacobsen, Big-D, Layton, MHTN, FFKR, VCBO, ajc.

> A/E/C/ People > A/E/C/ People

Jessica Pantages

Jacob Clegg

Derek Nelson

Cam Preston

Heinere Ah-Sha

Scott Roche

Greg Dunn

Tommy Auger

Darren Dickson

Amy Christensen

Gary Ellis

Beckie Austin

Alan Rindlisbacher


University of Utah in 2008. His experience

includes mass grading, road improvements,

drainage designs, open channel design,

water designs, and sanitary sewer design

projects.

Scott Roche, P.E., S.E., has been

promoted to Principal at Ensign after a

career of more than 20 years. He earned a

Master of Science in Structural Engineering

from the University of Virginia in 2001 and

a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering

from Utah State University in 1999. He has

experience with structural design of multi-

family structures, hospitals, educational

facilities, universities, churches, office

warehouses, justice and correctional

facilities using concrete, steel, masonry,

and wood building materials.

Salt Lake-based Dunn Associates, Inc. announced that Gregory S. Dunn earned

his S.E. designation from the State of Utah.

He graduated with a Master of Science

in Civil and Environmental Engineering

from the University of Utah, emphasizing

in structural engineering. He joined Dunn

Associates in 2011 and was promoted to

Associate in 2017. He has spent a large

portion of his career focused in the tilt-up

concrete world where he is continuously

exploring new applications and the next

innovation in tilt design. He has well over

two million square feet of concrete tilt-

up projects on his resume with projects

at Business Depot Ogden (BDO) and the

UPS Distribution Facility in Salt Lake City,

Utah. He is currently working on a multi-

story tilt-up project in the Salt Lake area

totaling 500,000 SF, as well as the Malouf

Headquarters in Logan.

Dunn Associates also announced that

Darren G. Dickson has obtained his S.E.

designation from the State of Utah. Dickson

completed his undergraduate and graduate

work in the Civil and Environmental

Engineering program at the University

of Utah, emphasizing in structural

engineering.

Prior to attending the U, he grew up

in construction and has over 16 years of

construction-related experience including

wood framing, concrete work, and cost

estimating. Having this strong construction

background has proven to be a successful

catalyst into structural engineering

and how detailing structures relates to

constructability. He joined Dunn Associates

in 2012 and has an impressive resume of

award-winning projects including Hale

Centre Theatre in Sandy and One Empire

Pass in Park City. Current work includes

the Draper Recreation Center, Salt Lake

International Airport North Concourse, and

Pendry Park City; a modern luxury resort

totaling approximately 500,000 SF.

Jacobsen Construction of Salt Lake City

announced three new appointments in

executive company leadership.

Gary Ellis, who successfully led

Jacobsen as its Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

for the last 18 years, will now be leading

the company as Executive Vice President

of Business Development and Sales. As

CFO, Ellis’ leadership abilities played a

crucial role in driving profitable growth

across Jacobsen’s diverse construction

markets. Under his financial leadership,

Jacobsen flourished during both up-market

cycles and national downturns. In his new

role, Ellis will continue to be vital in the

development and execution of core and

future business strategies for Jacobsen.

Tommy Auger joins Jacobsen as

the company’s new CFO. Auger brings

keen insights into financial discipline

and strategy with a data-driven yet

collaborative personal approach to

leadership and decision-making. Prior to

accepting a position with Jacobsen, Auger

was the CFO at Athletic Republic, Inc., a

sports performance training franchisor

located in Park City, Utah, and spent eight

years as CFO of AlphaGraphics, Inc. His

experience also includes positions with

several Utah real estate and development

companies.

Amy Christensen has been named

Jacobsen’s Vice President of Corporate

Communications and Brand Marketing.

Christensen joined the company in 2017 as

the company’s marketing communications

director. She brings a wealth of experience

as a MarCom leader and strategist with

previous roles as president of Gruve PR

& Marketing Communications, deputy

director of communications at Utah’s

Department of Environmental Quality

and co-owner of Dare to Dream Sports

Marketing — a Chicago based agency. >>

> A/E/C/ People > A/E/C/ People

Rich Hazel Abram Nielsen

Nathan Leavitt Greg Beecher

Blake Van Roosendaal Jodi Geroux

Michael Ririe Ryan Berry

Alex Booth Sarah Winkler

Hebert Slabbert Ben Hansen

Jessica Hoffman Trenton Jones Mandy Martineau

PRESERVING THE NEW HISTORIC: MID CENTURY MODERNLEAR AND LEAR OFFICE BUILDING | SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH

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Architecture | Planning | Landscape Architecture | Interiors | www.crsa-us.com


> A/E/C/ People

Christensen is responsible for all public

relations, communications and marketing

for Jacobsen.

Big-D Construction of Salt Lake City

announced three key personnel moves

in the past 90 days: Beckie Austin was

named Marketing Director; Rich Hazel was promoted to Sr. Vice President and

Managing Director of the firm’s Salt Lake

office; Blake Van Roosendaal has been

promoted from Corporate Controller to

Chief Financial Officer.

Austin will oversee all corporate

marketing efforts of a firm with regional

offices in Salt Lake City, Ogden, Lindon,

and Park City, Utah; Pleasanton, California;

Tempe, Arizona; Bozeman, Montana; St. Paul,

Minnesota; and Jackson, Wyoming.

“We are so excited for Beckie,” said Cory

Moore, Big-D National President. “She has

worked hard at Big-D to prove herself as a

leader and mentor. She understands our

people-focused culture and our mission to be

the most sought-after construction company

in the business. Her voice will be integral to

our aggressive marketing strategies.”

Austin has been with the firm since

November 2008, starting as a Marketing

Coordinator. In recent years as Sr. Proposal

Manager, Austin was the driving force in

helping Big-D win many of its most iconic

projects. In her role as Marketing Director,

she will implement and execute new and

innovative marketing campaigns and

strategies.

“I’m excited for the future of the Big-D

family of companies and honored to be along

for this monumental journey into the next

phase of our company and brand,” she said.

Hazel is a 30-year veteran of the

construction industry, with experience

in project management, marketing and

business development. He holds Bachelor

degrees in both Economics and Sociology

from the University of Utah; he earned an

MBA in 1993 from Westminster College.

Since 2011, he has managed one of

Big-D’s largest books of business and has

been instrumental to the group’s explosive

growth, leading projects including: Park

Avenue Project in Sugarhouse; Salt Lake

City & County Building Restoration; Fashion

Place Mall Expansions; ALSCO Corporate

Headquarters.

Van Roosendaal is Big-D’s new CFO,

replacing Larry Worrell, who is retiring after

16 years with the firm. He will oversee all

financial aspects of the nearly $2 billion

general contractor. Jake Bartholomew will

serve as Corporate Controller.

Salt Lake-based VCBO Architecture

announced three personnel moves; Alex Booth and Nathan Leavitt are the firm’s

two newest Principals, while Michael Ririe was promoted to Associate.

Booth has 15+ years experience,

and specializes in K-12 education, having

recently designed the new Farmington High

School. Booth earned Bachelor and Master

degrees from the University of Utah in

Architecture. He is active with AIA Utah (AIA

Committee on Architecture for Education

member), along with other organizations.

Leavitt also have more than 15 years

of experience in architecture. He earned

Bachelor and Master degrees from Southern

Polytechnic (Georgia) and specializes in the

design of civic, government, justice, and

recreational facility projects.

Ririe has more than 10 years of

experience in architecture. He has a BFA

from Utah Valley University and currently

specializes in K-12 Education projects.

Spectrum Engineers of Salt Lake

announced that Josh Moorman, PE, successfully completed the professional

(mechanical) engineering exam. Moorman

earned a Bachelor of Mechanical

Engineering from Baylor University and has

four years of experience.

“Josh is a valuable asset to Spectrum’s

mechanical team and brings a wealth

of knowledge when it comes to high-

efficiency design. He takes the lead

by coordinating the electrical and

mechanical teams as well as making

sure the mechanical design fits with the

architectural design,” said Mike Nielsen, PE,

Principal Mechanical Engineer

Project experience includes the Carbon

County Courthouse and the University of

Utah Pharmacy HVAC upgrades.

Peter Makowski, Business

Recruitment and Retention Manager for

Salt Lake City’s Department of Economic Development was selected as a winner

last year in the economic development

profession’s 40 Under 40 awards, the only

award of its kind recognizing young talent

in the economic development industry.

“Peter inspires our team daily to be

authentically dedicated, efficient, and

fully committed to keeping Salt Lake City’s

economy strong,” says Lara Fritts, Salt Lake

City’s Economic Development Director. “We

are excited that he has been recognized

nationally for his accomplishments.”

He helped oversee the sale of The

Gateway Mall, headed up recruitment

of UPS’ Regional Hub to Salt Lake, along

with other companies like White Wave, >>


> A/E/C/ People

Cotopaxi, Amazon, Stadler Rail, and

others. Through community partnerships,

engaging City staff, and a proactive

approach to economic development,

Makowski’s work has resulted in attracting

over 8,500 jobs, over 4 million square feet of

new construction, and over $800 million in

capital investment.

Heber Slabbert, AIA, was recently

elevated to the position of Principal

Architect at Salt Lake-based ajc architects.. Since joining the firm, Slabbert

has brought design expertise to projects

in higher education, outdoor recreation,

outdoor education, mixed-use commercial,

multifamily, industrial and residential

design. He brings perspectives that

consistently break the mold in all things

creative.

Project experience includes the

adaptive re-use of BDO Bay 2 Build-out for

Ogden Weber Applied Technical College,

three Salt Lake Homeless Resource Centers,

Salt Lake Community College’s Westpointe

Workforce Training and Education Center

and Salt Lake County’s Wheeler Farm

Outdoor Education Center.

FFKR Architects of Salt Lake has

named five new Senior Associates. These

individuals join FFKR’s current principals,

senior associates, and associates

who embody the firm’s dedication to

innovative, high quality, environmentally

responsible architecture.

The new Senior Associates include:

Jessica Hoffman, AIA; Trenton Jones, AIA; Mandy Martineau, AIA; Abram Nielsen, PLA, ALSA, AICP, LEED AP; Jodi Geroux, AIA, LEED AP BD+C.

“Our firm is proud to add such talented

and capable architects and landscape

architect to our senior management team,”

said Roger Jackson, FAIA, FFKR President

and CEO. “FFKR’s ability to serve our

clients and the firm’s continued growth

is dependent on the professional skill,

prudent judgment and foresight of its

leaders. I am confident that Jessica, Trent,

Mandy, Abram, and Jodi will continue to

contribute greatly to both our clients and

FFKR.”

Salt Lake-based MHTN Architects announced the promotion of Sarah Winkler, Greg Beecher, Ryan Berry, Ben Hansen, and Matthew Hieb to

the position of Associate. Their focused

leadership and expertise represent MHTN’s

commitment to service.

As Zero Energy Strategies Leader and

Pre-Design & Programming Team Leader,

Sarah Winkler leverages over 30 years of

experience as a professional engineer

and professional architect to integrate

innovative strategies from early planning

phases through post-occupancy phases

of a project. Her technical and project

management expertise allows her to develop

strategies with attention to energy efficiency

and optimization of building performance.

With over 20 years of experience, Greg

Beecher is leading MHTN’s High Performance

Building Envelopes Implementation Team.

With his vast experience and technical

proficiency Greg develops details and

strategies that improve the performance

envelope of buildings while ensuring

that these details consider affordability,

constructability and maintainability. Greg

is currently working on the new Pluralsight

Headquarters project.

Currently working with numerous

international corporate clients, Ryan Berry

is a leader in complex large-scale projects.

He is an expert in designing specialized

technology rich environments and focused

on High-tech Manufacturing, Cleanroom

Environments, Controlled Environments,

Research Laboratories, Datacenters, and

Specialized Medical Environments.

An Accredited Learning Environment

Planner, Ben Hansen designs innovative

learning environments focused on

enhancing the learning experience for all

types of learners. When it comes to learning

environment design, Hansen knows that

the final result is only as good as the vision

behind it. For this reason, he engages

with school district leaders, teachers, and

students to draw out inspiring ideas; leading

to designs tailored to the educational

needs of the whole school community. Most

recently, he is leading the design effort for

the new Brighton High School.

With a diverse background in

architecture, design and visualization,

Matthew Hieb provides a unique skill-set

for architectural design services, and the

tools necessary to illustrate any design in

a comprehensible format. With experience

on several domestic and international

projects, he has a deep knowledge base for

interfacing with clients and consultants

in a variety of regions and cultures. He is

leading MHTN’s Collaborative Partnerships

Efforts. n

For Advertising Inquiries:For Advertising Inquiries:

Chuck Geltz at [email protected]

UC&DUtah Construction& Design

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The renovation of Lindquist Hall at Weber

State University (home of the College of

Social and Behavioral Sciences) in Ogden

wasn’t much different than building

an entirely new facility, as the existing

building (originally completed in 1972)

was stripped down to the old double-T

precast concrete columns and beams,

infrastructure that hearkens back to

a previous era when buildings were

utilitarian in nature, and lacking in natural

daylight and aesthetics.

“A lot of buildings of that vintage

– that Brutalist concrete architecture –

did not have much daylight,” said Chad

Downs, Sr. Project Manager for WSU

Facilities Management, Campus Planning

and Construction. “We’ve opened up

all the spaces, all the corridors to study

and gather within the space and made it

more sustainable and modernized, with

so much more daylight. It was nice to

keep the double-T precast columns and

incorporate that historical aspect into the

new building.”

The design team was challenged with

having to fit in 29 classrooms and five labs

into the 120,000 SF building for the College

of Social and Behavioral Sciences, and

performed a utilization analysis during

programming on how to use spaces more

effectively, according to Garth Shaw,

Principal with Salt Lake-based GSBS

Architects. Sustainability was a key aspect,

part of WSU’s goal of reducing carbon

emissions for all campus buildings. >>

New Life for Old StructureRenovation of WSU’s Lindquist Hall required contractor to strip building down to its original ‘bones’ – double-T precast concrete columns and beams – and then built back up into a vibrant, highly functional facility that serves 4,500 students daily.

By Harrison Wright

Lindquist Hall’s dramatic multi-story lobby, adorned with sleek glass and metal stair elements and offering abundant daylight, is a dramatic improvement over the original staid facility. It serves the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences and some 4,500 students daily. (all photos courtesy GSBS Architects)


Electrical and mechanical systems

are cutting edge – Shaw said there are no

gas-fired furnaces or boilers as it utilizes

a ground source heat pump system

dedicated specifically to the building.

Geothermal wells (a total of 150) were

drilled into the northwest corner of

campus to supplement the heating and

cooling of the building. A high performance

curtain wall system also is a key

component to overall energy efficiency.

A contract was also recently awarded

for the construction of an adjacent solar

parking array capable of producing 300kW

initially, with the ability to expand with

600kW, which would put it in the NetZero

Emission (NZE) range.

“The big story is WSU’s carbon

reduction strategies,” said Shaw. “Just

maintaining the existing (precast)

structure saved 250 tons of CO2 emissions.

The energy production of the (PV solar

parking array) will be dedicated to offset

energy use. With that contribution

we’re confident in achieving LEED Gold

(certification).”

Built by Salt Lake-based Big-D

Construction, the building is one of the

busiest on campus, with an average of

4,500 daily students. Crews demolished

existing concrete walls, which were

replaced with Buckling Restrained Brace

Frames (BRBF); other seismic upgrades

were implemented for optimum life safety.

A three-story glass lobby highlights

the main entrance of the building and

features a grand staircase with faceted

walls, cladded with wood and stainless

steel. The lobby added approximately

13,000 SF to the building. The lobby

provides a hip gathering place for students

– an amenity lacking from the previous

layout.

The design team collaborated with

faculty and students to incorporate the

wonder of Utah’s landscape into the

design. The exterior wall on the east side

of Tracy Hall Science Center reflects the

curves of the Wasatch Range to the east.

Many of the materials used in construction

were produced locally, such as copper,

wood, and stone.

“We had a great team that

collaborated with the architect and Weber

State to mitigate challenges that typically

come with renovating a building at a

University,” said Alex Schwerdt, Project

Manager for Big-D. “The concrete floors

needed to be reinforced without additional

weight so an FRP/carbon fiber system was

installed. This took a lot of coordination

with the architect and subcontractors to

ensure we didn’t require any penetrations

through the system once it was installed.”

A LIDAR scan of the original building

showed the structure wasn’t square, so

extra caution was taken with the building

envelope, and after testing it, it proved

to offer the tightest air barrier system

of all campus buildings, a significant

achievement.

“The Lindquist Hall project was an

incredibly successful and fun project for

our company to be a part of from start to

finish,” Schwerdt added. n

Weber State University

Lindquist Hall Renovation

Owner: Weber State University; State of

Utah DFCM

DESIGN TEAM

Architect: GSBS Architects

Civil: Talisman Civil Consultants

Electrical: Electrical Consulting Engineers

Mechanical: Colvin Engineering

Structural: ARW Engineering

CONSTRUCTION TEAM

GC: Big-D Construction

Electrical: STF Electric

Plumbing: MJ Mechanical

Steel Fabrication: AMFAB

Steel Erection: AMFAB

Concrete: Big-D Construction

Masonry: Rocky Mountain

Waterproofing: Waterproofing West

WSU Lindquist Hall

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Higher education design in the 21st Century emphasizes wide open, flexible interior spaces with quaint spots to duck into for a quick chat or study session.


oing tenant improvement

construction on secure federal

buildings offers a layer of complexity

for a general contractor managing the

project, given strict security requirements

due to the necessity of protecting tenants

like high-ranking political and judicial

officials.

On the recent completion (December

2018) of the $12.3 million USDA

Consolidation – Wallace Bennett Federal

Building project in Salt Lake City for GSA

by Salt Lake-based Paulsen Construction,

rigorous background checks and daily

security checkpoints were standard

protocol.

“Every worker has to be badged to

meet Tier 1 criteria, some of the most

stringent background testing on any job;

it adds to the complexity of a schedule,”

said John Paulsen, President. “Access is

very limited in certain areas. You have to

be sensitive to the fact that you’re working

around federal judges and U.S. Senators. At

the end of the day, this is a project where

the taxpayers benefitted.”

Paulsen is referring to GSA’s initiative

to consolidate leased office space for

federal employees through the renovation

of existing buildings it owns. The firm

renovated six of eight floors (approximately

164,000 SF total) of the Bennett Building

over a 16-month schedule, allowing 220

USDA (Farm Service and Forest Service)

employees to relocate from an outdated

100,000 SF building in West Valley City that

had been leased for 40 years.

According to Jason Sielcken, Architect

and Sr. Project Manager for GSA’s Office of

Design & Construction, this project came

in at 38% less than original projected cost,

and achieved a 54% space reduction for

USDA (from 300 SF per person to 150 SF),

mainly through an efficient and thoughtful

use of space highlighted with flexible

DIRTT Wall systems, glass walls with

decorative film/signage, living ‘green walls’,

and efficient new LED lighting, mechanical

and electrical systems. Digital scanning

and tape storage spaces have stand-alone

HVAC systems connected to emergency

power; new telecommunication pathways

were installed for future technology

upgrades on floors 6-7. Overall, it saves

USDA more than $1.4 million in rent

annually, and taxpayers $2.6 million in

private market lease cost avoidance.

“As design progressed, the new space

became a catalyst for the agency to

identify new ways to manage their building

moving forward, making them more

streamlined and poised to serve the public

and their customers for the next 20 years,”

said Sielcken. “The new space is designed

with collaboration, space flexibility, and

integrated technology at its core, all of

which will improve the agency’s ability

to be competitive in attracting the next

generation of talent.”

The design of the USDA spaces created

some unique opportunities for the design

team at Salt Lake-based GSBS Architects,

which had a goal of providing tailored

workspaces that were unique to the Farm

Services Agency and the Forest Service,

with an emphasis on rivaling private sector

spaces in regards to a healthy, vibrant

working environment.

“From the outset, we wanted to design

something fresh and unique for the USDA,”

said Erin Holcombe, Project Manager for

GSBS. “Our vision aligned so well with the

GSA, the end result was something that

surpassed all our expectations. Innovative

design doesn’t necessarily cost more. In

this case, the ideas everyone brought to the

table ended up saving the client millions up

front and for years to come.” >>

Feb | Mar 19 | UTAH CONSTRUCTION & DESIGN | 29

USDA Employees, General Public Benefit from Bennett Building Renovation$12.3 M consolidation project offers healthy, comfortable environment for 220 federal workers as GSA looks for ways to maximize functionality of its existing buildings, while reducing overall lease costs.

By Brad Fullmer

D

USDA Consolidation – Wallace Bennett Federal Building

Paulsen Construction of Salt Lake completed a $12.3 million tenant improvement on the Wallace Bennett Federal Building, which now houses 220 employees for the USDA’s Farm Service and Forest Service divisions. Interior spaces are lively and inviting, with geometric shapes, patterns and colorful. (Photos ©Paul Rivera Photography)


Design emphasized bright and well-

lit spaces by placing work areas next to

windows and adding design features

that allow light to travel deep into the

office. There are more collaborative and

shared private spaces, and fewer closed

offices, while still maintaining elements of

personal space.

Different “neighborhoods” in the

offices offer dual purposes of way finding,

and celebrating the role of the USDA.

“GSA did a phenomenal job of

supporting us as we finished the project,”

added Paulsen. “With rising cost of

materials and labor shortage challenges,

we had a lot of discussions directly with

the owner to find best values for end users.

It requires a lot of communication because

you can’t shut down these key agencies

(during construction).”

Sielcken said GSA is looking at further

consolidation opportunities with buildings

like the James V. Hansen Federal Building

in Ogden and the Frank E. Moss U.S.

Courthouse in Salt Lake City. n

USDA ConsolidationWallace Bennett Federal Building

Owner: GSA

Owner’s Rep: Jason Sielcken

DESIGN TEAM

Architect: GSBS Architects

Electrical: Spectrum Engineers

Mechanical: Colvin Engineering

Structural: Reaveley Engineers

CONSTRUCTION TEAM

General Contractor: Paulsen Construction

Plumbing: Halverson

HVAC: Cherrington’s

Painting: Hendricksen

Electrical: Arco Electric

Masonry: JH Masonry

Drywall/Acoustics: Wallboard Specialties

Tile/Stone: Hunter Ridge

Carpentry: Henriksen Butler (DIRTT)

Mapleleaf

Flooring: Wall 2 Wall

Roofing: Superior Roofing

Concrete: Paulsen Construction

Glass/Curtain Wall: Mollerup

Demolition: TID


Local A/E/C firms keep pushing the

limits of imagination in terms of

size and scope on heavy-highway

projects for the Utah Department of

Transportation (UDOT), evidenced most

recently by the enormous precast concrete

beams utilized on the $405 million I-15

Technology Corridor project (Lehi Main

Street to SR-92) – the longest in state

history at an eye-popping 203 ft. each.

Lee Wegner of Salt Lake-based

Forterra Structural Precast said the

length, weight (230,000 lbs.), depth (8

ft.) and quantity of beams (30) made

the scope “very challenging” both with

manufacturing and logistics.

“The beams stretch the limits of what

we can physically transport -- not only

in available shipping equipment but also

maneuvering around obstacles such as

traffic lights, freeway ramps, corners,

etc.,” said Wegner. “On a normal project,

with a girder in the 100- to 160-foot range,

we will haul them with our own custom

hauling equipment. These girders exceed

the physical and legal capacity of our haul

trailer, making it necessary to go to a heavy

hauler that specializes in transporting

oversize loads.

Ample notice is needed to procure

the equipment and properly schedule

traffic control with Utah Highway Patrol

and local jurisdictions along the route to

“maximize safety and minimize exposure

to the traveling public,” Wegner added. “We

worked for several months prior to actual

construction with the design-build team

to design a girder of that length, that was

constructible within our plant capabilities,

accommodated the bridge geometry, and

could handle the forces of shipping and

installation.”

Forterra is producing 36,000 LF of

precast concrete bridge beams for general

contractor Ames/Wadsworth Brothers JV,

plus 180,000+ SF of precast deck panels.

In addition to being the longest single-

component precast beams ever placed

in Utah – just ahead of Beck Street (197

ft.) and Pioneer Crossing (193 ft.) in recent

history – they are the third-longest such

girders in the U.S., behind two bridges in

Orlando and one in Seattle.

Each beam has 55 cu. yds. of 10,000 PSI

concrete, and reaches a strength of 8,000

PSI overnight and 10,000 PSI after 28 days,

a design “we’ve spent years refining…in

order to achieve the high performance of

our unique concrete mix,” said Wegner.

Forterra used 12,180 lbs. of rebar

and 13,800 LF (2.6 miles) of 0.6-inch cable,

tensioned to 70% of yield (44,000 lbs. of

force per cable). Forterra can produce

beams quickly, manufacturing the beams

(prestressing 68 wire tension strands, tying

rebar, forming and pouring concrete) in

two days, and curing for seven days, before

they are ready to ship. It takes about an

hour to set each girder in place. >>

Precast Concrete Trends

SUPER SIZEGiant precast girders, bridge decks show the versatility of precast on I-15 Technology Corridor project.

By Brad Fullmer

Thirty (30) giant precast concrete girders – a state record 203 ft. in length – were recently placed on the $405 million I-15 Tech Corridor project in Lehi. The girders are the third-largest in the U.S., according to manufacturer Forterra Structural Precast of Salt Lake City. (photos by Don Green Photography)


Precast Concrete Trends

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Enabling Great DesignTM

380 West 800 South, Suite 100Salt Lake City, Utah 84101

(801) 575-8877www.dunn-se.com

2018 Associated General Contractors of Utah Consultant/Engineer of the Year

Excellence is our standard.

Passion is our promise.

I-15 Technology CorridorLocation: Lehi, Utah

Cost: $405 million

Delivery Method: Design-Build

Scope: Reconstructing I-15 between Lehi

Main Street and SR-92; project closes the

gap between the prior I-15 CORE and I-15

Point projects. It includes:

• Widening I-15 with two new lanes

in each direction

• One-way frontage roads system

from 2100 North to SR-92

• Interchange reconstruction at SR-92

and 2100 North

• 17 bridge replacements

• New Triumph Boulevard bridge over

I-15 to connect with 2300 West

• Bike/pedestrian improvements,

connections to local/regional trails

Start/Completion:

May 2018 – December 2020

DESIGN-BUILD TEAM

Owner: Utah Department of

Transportation (UDOT)

General Contractor: Ames-Wadsworth

Joint Venture

Design Consultants:

Wilson & Company, WSP

Excavation/Grading: Ames-Wadsworth

Joint Venture

Shoring/Piling: Ames-Wadsworth

Joint Venture

Pipelines: Ames-Wadsworth Joint Venture

Electrical: Cache Valley Electric

Asphalt Paving: Geneva Rock

Concrete Paving: Ames-Wadsworth

Joint Venture

Concrete Cutting: A-Core

Striping: Ames-Wadsworth Joint Venture;

Innovative Marking Systems

Ground Mount Signage: Innovative

Marking Systems

Overheads: Ames-Wadsworth

Joint Venture

Precast: Forterra


As Executive Director for the Center for

Sustainability and Economic Performance

at the Urban Land Institute in Washington,

D.C., Billy Grayson has been traveling

extensively of late “preaching the gospel”

of sustainability and best green building

practices, he said, with a stop in the Beehive

State February 28 for a ULI Utah event titled

‘The Business Case for Healthy Buildings’ at

Adobe’s Campus in Lehi.

“It’s good to be out on the road,” said

Grayson, one of three speakers – along with

Morgan Abbett, Sustainability Coordinator

at HDR in San Francisco and Matt Macko,

founder of San Francisco-based integrated

real estate services firm Stok – to talk

about trends in green building, particularly

how an investment into fun, healthy,

employee-centered office environments

is a critical aspect of long-term prosperity

and overall well-being of tenants. “We’re

talking about why there is a business case

for sustainability, and it depends on what

level of health and wellness a owner wants

to achieve. Smart design can integrate

(sustainable) things at not a lot of extra cost.”

Grayson said ULI has determined

that owners who invest more in up front

costs by adding sustainable items (or who

are chasing LEED certification, a natural

driver of sustainable buildings the past two

decades) see a return on investment three-

to four-fold in terms of energy efficiency/

reduced operating costs and employee

satisfaction, performance (16% more

productive), and retention.

Beyond the typical ‘green’ elements

like an abundance of natural daylighting,

efficient electrical, mechanical and lighting

systems, and reduced water consumption,

Grayson said prominent staircases in the

building, workstations with sit and stand

desks, and break rooms/cafeterias that

offer healthy food options are ways to

encourage better employee health.

“There is a challenge with some

disconnect of owners – tenants aren’t

always paying more to provide these

aspects (of employee health),” he said. “In a

perfect market, a tenant will pay more (for

sustainability).”

Countless studies the past 20 years

have shown that people work more

efficiently in environments with good

air quality. Common indoor pollutants

that pose risks to human health include

nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, ozone,

particulate matter, and volatile organic

compounds (VOCs) found in building

materials, printer emissions, cleaning

supplies, paint, glue, furniture, and other

materials. Exposure has been linked

to numerous health problems, such as

cancer and respiratory diseases, as well as

absenteeism, poor productivity, and low

cognitive function.

Buildings constructed with low-VOC

materials and finishes reduce exposure

to these toxic substances. Studies show

employees who work in buildings where

fresh air is adequately circulated and

distributed are more productive and

healthier than those who work in poorly

ventilated spaces. A low-VOC, high-

ventilation office space with superior air

quality improves cognitive function up to

100%.

Comfortable temperature and

humidity levels are less likely to make

workers feel sick or get sick. A study on

workplace thermal conditions found that

workers experienced itchy and watery

eyes, headaches, and throat irritation

when exposed to poor ventilation,

humidity, and heat. When indoor

environments are too warm, occupants

can experience symptoms of “sick building

syndrome,” such as headaches, dizziness,

fatigue, and flu-like symptoms, as well as

negative moods, heart rate changes, and

respiratory problems.

Good lighting leads to better sleep at

night and better productivity during the day.

Lack of natural light has been associated

with physiological and sleep problems and

depression. Exposure to daylight and access

to windows at work have been linked to

better sleep duration, an improved mood,

less sleepiness, lower blood pressure, and

increased physical activity.

Grayson also mentioned a report

released in February by ULI and Heitman

LLC, a global real estate investment

management firm, that points to a

pressing need for greater understanding

throughout the A/E/C industry of the

investment risks posed by the impacts of

climate change.

Climate Risk and Real Estate

Investment Decision-Making explores

current methods for assessing and

mitigating climate risk in real estate,

including physical risks such as

catastrophes and transitional risks such

as regulatory changes, availability of

resources and attractiveness of locations.

Both types of risks have financial

impacts for real estate, including higher

operational costs and declining property

values. The report is based on insights from

more than 25 investors and investment

managers in Europe, North America, and

Asia Pacific, as well as existing research.

“Understanding and mitigating climate

risk is a complex and evolving challenge for

real estate investors,” said ULI Global Chief

Executive Officer W. Edward Walter. “Risks

such as sea-level rise and heat stress will

increasingly highlight the vulnerability not

only of individual assets and locations, but

of entire metropolitan areas. This report

shows that Heitman and other leading ULI

members are prioritizing this issue with

provocative approaches to better gauge

and develop mitigation strategies. Building

for resilience, on a portfolio, property and

citywide basis, is paramount to staying

competitive. Factoring in climate risk is

becoming the new normal for our industry.”

“Opportunities are emerging across

the real estate industry for investment

managers and investors to better assess

climate risk and navigate the potential

impacts of climate change on assets

and portfolios,” said Maury Tognarelli,

Heitman Chief Executive Officer. “More

accurate, forward-looking data on the

risks associated with climate change

are becoming available, positioning the

industry to incorporate climate risks into

how investments are underwritten and

portfolios constructed. Ultimately, we hope

this report will spur discussion among real

estate industry participants with the end-

goal of improving the investment outcomes

for our clients and constituents.”

The real estate industry as a whole

has just begun the development of

more advanced strategies to recognize,

understand and manage risks, and for the

most part presently relies on insurance

to cover the majority of the shorter term,

financial-oriented risks related to climate

change, the report states. However,

while insurance has remained generally

attainable in risk-prone areas, being insured

does not protect investors from a reduction

in asset liquidity. That, along with the

likelihood of future changes in insurance

availability and costs, is prompting

a growing number of investors and

investment managers to explore new ways

to build climate risks into their investment

processes, including:

• Mapping physical risk for current

portfolios and potential acquisitions;

• Incorporating climate risk into due

diligence and other investment

decision-making processes;

• Incorporating additional physical

adaptation and mitigation measures

for assets at risk;

• Exploring a variety of strategies to

mitigate risk, including portfolio

diversification and investing directly

in the mitigation measures for specific

assets; and

• Engaging with policy makers on local

resilience strategies.

Whether or not their assets have

been directly affected by the impacts of

climate change, “investors see climate

considerations as a necessary layer of

fiduciary responsibility to their stakeholders,

as well as an opportunity to identify markets

and assets that will benefit from a changing

climate,” notes the report. n

Eight Keys to a Greener, Healthier Office 1. Indoor Air Quality

2. Thermal Comfort

3. Daylighting; Lighting

4. Noise; Acoustics

5. Interior Layout, Activity Design

6. Views to Outdoors

7. Aesthetics; Feel

8. Location; Access to Amenities

ULI’s Grayson Visits UtahReport from Urban Land Institute and Heitman Says Need Exists for Better Understanding of Investment Risk Assessment Practices

By Harrison Wright

Sustainability/Green Building Trends

Employee health and wellness is a major driver in the design of green, sustainable building environments; worker productivity spikes 16% in environments with excellent air quality, natural daylight, views to the outside world, and access to amenities.

Billy Grayson (right) of ULI and Matt Macko were two of three speakers at a recent ULI Utah luncheon focused on ‘healthy buildings’ and the proven, tangible benefits of employee well being and productivity.


As the Associated General Contractors

(AGC) of America celebrates its 100th

Anniversary in 2019 (its national

convention is April 1-4 in Denver), AGC’s

Utah chapter continues to thrive in its

own right in the 21st Century, with the

recent conclusion of its 97th Annual

Convention January 24-26 at Little America

Hotel in Salt Lake City drawing strong

attendance numbers across the board,

as members gathered to install a new

Chairman of the Board and participate in

various activities and meetings.

Thom Morgan, CEO of Morgan Asphalt

of Salt Lake City, was named 2019 Chair

at the Installation Banquet January 26,

replacing Doug Welling of Salt Lake-based

Jacobsen Construction to oversee the AGC

of Utah’s 15-member Board of Directors, a

mix of professionals from general building,

heavy-highway and municipal-utility

general contractors.

In addition, Robert (Bob) Tempest,

President of Murray-based Tempest

Enterprises, was honored with the Eric

W. Ryberg Award, the chapter’s top

individual honor for lifetime service to the

construction industry.

According to Rich Thorn, long-time AGC

President/CEO, the chapter is financially

sound, boasts a healthy membership north

of 500 Utah-based companies throughout

the state, and has actively spent the

2019 legislative session representing the

construction industry and keeping a close

eye on a number of important bills.

“Member equity is being reinvested,

we had a net profit, and we’re reinvesting

into association services,” said Thorn.

“We’ve seen success the past two years on

the creation of a construction and design

career pathway. We’re excited about the

opportunities that will provide for young

people looking at careers in construction.”

Thorn believes Utah’s economy is

sound and that the construction industry

will continue to hum along for the

foreseeable future, perhaps not at the

same clip as the last 2-3 years, but certainly

at a pace that will keep firms busy and

scrambling to maintain a skilled labor force

– the No. 1 concern for most companies in

terms of growth impediment.

“I think 2018 was a good year by any

measure, and frankly, we’re optimistic

about 2019,” said Thorn. “We’re optimistic

because we have a lot of work ahead of us.

At a recent general contractor roundtable,

of the 20-plus companies represented, they

all expressed optimism about what the

year will bring and their future prospects.”

Thorn pointed to the usual positive

indicators as to why 2019 will be a robust

year for the local A/E/C industry: a bevy

of large (read: huge), once-in-a-generation

projects; job growth north of 3%; a large

amount of out-of-state capital flowing

into new developments; the State’s AAA

credit rating, ability to bond for projects,

and UDOT’s desire to maintain the best

highway and road system in the U.S.;

and other positive factors. If there is a

slowdown, it won’t be much this year.

“Is it slowing down a bit? It probably

is. But we’ve been on such a steep climb

that a little bit of a ‘slowdown’ or flattening

is not necessarily a bad thing,” Thorn

continued. “There is a lot of pressure on

the State of Utah to accommodate growth.

We have several long-term, multi-year

‘mega projects’, the tech corridor, the

current prison site, the entire Inland Port

development…we are well positioned as a

state.”

Thorn praised AGC members for

collectively contributing significant

monetary and other in-kind donations for

a number of organizations last year (Angel

Hands, Camp Kostopulos, Hope Rising,

Mitchell’s Journey, Tender Heartbeats, Tiny

Tim’s Toy Foundation, and Jenny Taylor,

wife of Major Brent Taylor), an annual

cause that began in 2013 under then-

Chairman Mark Green and to date has

raised more than $300,000.

“The chapter is in good hands

and we continue to do good things for

communities throughout Utah,” he said.

Doug Welling, President of Salt Lake-

based Jacobsen Construction and 2018

Chairman, reflected on the past year as

one where members worked together on

many key industry issues, apprenticeship

training among the top priorities. AGC is

looking to build a new training facility,

a project that will be a boon to future

workforce development.

“There are so many things we’ve been

working on,” Welling said. “We met as an

Executive Committee a number of times

to work on difficult issues and I appreciate

their willingness to share information that

has been beneficial to help improving the

construction industry.”

He also praised various committee

chairs, covering a wide range of interests.

Welling pointed to concerns in the

aggregate industry, with some local cities

creating laws that could impede the future

mining of Wasatch Front gravel pits. He

also emphasized AGC’s push for greater

safety awareness, a topic that needs to be

discussed continually.

“As workers in the construction

industry, we have a moral imperative to

keep people safe,” Welling said. “We’ve

been working as an industry to be better.

I’m impressed with the progress we’ve

made in creating a culture of safety.

Worker safety is inseparably connected

to productivity. We’re seeing momentum

among our contractors and tradesmen.

We realize that everybody in the pool

needs to be a safety director…where

everybody is looking out for danger

and concern, so everybody has a safe

experience. Safety should not be a

competitive advantage. We should be

sharing our knowledge, and that happens

though AGC’s work.”

During the AGC’s Installation Banquet

January 26, Welling offered several

comments on the general state of the

industry and AGC’s position.

“The construction industry is alive

and well; we’re thriving,” said Welling. “It’s

97 years for the AGC (of Utah) and we’re

doing amazing things. We’re grateful for

those that came before us. The economy

is very good and we’re all busy. We have

great clients with visions of what they

want to accomplish. We join together as

contractors and subs to help realize those

visions.

“Working together we can be

stronger,” he continued. “We have 20

committees doing yeoman work in terms

of grass roots efforts of AGC. (Committees)

working in a focused nature to make

sure we are keeping with (technology).

Regarding the training of new craft

workers, AGC is taking the lead in moving

labor development forward.” >>

97th Annual AGC of Utah Convention Thom Morgan takes over as Chairman of the Board; Bob Tempest honored with Ryberg Award; Outlook for 2019-20 remains positive, although some concerns loom for a ‘softening’ in some markets over next 18+ months.

By Brad Fullmer

2019 AGC of Utah Convention

Doug Welling of Jacobsen Construction passes the gavel to Thom Morgan of Morgan Asphalt as Morgan assumes the role of 2019 Chairman of the Board for the Associated General Contractors of Utah during the chapter’s Installation Banquet January 26 at Little America Hotel in Salt Lake City.

Welling shakes hands with Bob Tempest of Tempest Enterprises, recipient of the AGC’s 2019 Eric W. Ryberg Award for lifetime service to the industry. (photos by Dana Sohm)


The convention kicked off January

24 with the annual AGC of Utah Awards,

followed by a 2019 Economic Outlook

presentation by Natalie Gochnour, Associate

Dean of the David Eccles School of Business

and Director of the Kem C. Gardner Policy

Institute at the University of Utah.

Gochnour made no bones in saying

that Utah’s economy is headed for a

softening, although it has maintained a

healthy growth rate of 3.1% since 2008 –

June 2019 will mark the longest economic

expansion on record and in Utah’s history

– which shows “how steady and durable

(the economy) has been,” said Gochnour.

“It’s a serious time; it’s a prosperous time,

but we are slowing. You must invest; you

must build. When you are doing your work,

our state is doing its work to have a great

future.”

Gochnour urged AGC members to keep

close tabs on the nation’s economy as a

sign as to what will happen in Utah over

the next 18-24 months, as Utah’s economy

has diversified and aligned itself to mirror

that of the U.S. Governor Gary Herbert,

Gochnour said, has said matter-of-factly

that Utah’s economy is the “most diverse”

of any other state in the U.S.

“We are actively watching for the next

slowdown, and it’s coming into view,” she

said. “If you’re in charge of finances for

your company, the secret is to follow the

nation. Keep an eye on what’s going with

the nation. (Utah’s economy) mirrors the

national economy – they are similar.”

Large Projects a Boon to Overall Industry

Gochnour said construction growth

in Utah was only at 1.3% from December

2017 to December 2018, down half a

percent but still a decent number, and

that will likely stay flat through 2019

and even 2020. One positive factor for

the Beehive State is the number of large

projects, led by the $3.6 billion The New

SLC Airport project, the $690 million Utah

State Prison, several massive distribution

and data centers (UPS, Amazon, Facebook,

to namedrop a few corporate behemoths

that see Utah as a key distribution hub),

a plethora of Higher Education and K-12

projects, and a continuation of red-hot

market activity in commercial office,

healthcare and industrial. Even retail is

seeing positive activity, with money being

poured into the Gateway redevelopment,

and new grocery stores and restaurants

following new residential subdivisions

and multi-family buildings.

Large distribution centers for UPS

and Amazon north of I-80 off 5600 West

are the precursors for the Inland Port,

another ‘game-changer’ for Utah’s future

economical growth.

“As we continue to move from an

era of retail to fulfillment, and from big

box stores to packages delivered on your

doorstep, it’s changing the economy, it’s a

structural change,” she said. “That is why

Utah’s Legislature is taking so much time

talking about the Inland Port. Our state

will figure it out, we’ll get through political

challenges. The Inland Port connects us

to a global supply chain, and it will have

satellite opportunities for rural Utah.”

Don’t Say the ‘R’ Word

Gochnour added that even though

Governor Gary Herbert’s staff is forbidden

from saying the ‘R’ word (recession),

there is no question that government and

business leaders are exercising caution,

with rising interest rates and crazy housing

price increases. Utah has benefitted in

recent years by transforming from mostly

a goods producing economy to one that

is highly diverse, one of the most diverse

in the nation, with an influx of high-tech,

service-oriented jobs in recent years.

Federal Fiscal Policy

Gochnour said a “real crisis” to keep

an eye on is the increasing dysfunction

in Washington, D.C., including a growing

budget deficit and spike in national debt

($22 trillion). She didn’t agree with the

timing of the federal tax cuts, as they were

financed with debt and will eventually

have to be paid back with higher rates.

“This is a real risk to the economy,” she

said. “It’s more longer term than short

term, but it’s a real risk.”

Declining Fertility Rate

Women in Utah are having children

at a declining rate (although still Top 3

nationally), down to 2.1 births per woman,

which is exactly replacement level, a

level that has not bounced back from the

recession. What that means long-term is

less children in school, less people in the

work force. For the short-term, it won’t

have much impact on Utah’s economy.

Housing Shortage Impact

Since 2011, Utah has seen 111,000

new units be built, and the creation of

162,000 new househoulds – an almost

51,000 deficit, leading to housing price

appreciation numbers that are simply off

the chart – a 48% increase since 2013. This

explains the explosion of multi-family

apartment projects, particularly along

mass transit lines (TRAX, FrontRunner).

Indeed, Transit-Oriented-Developments

(TODs) will remain a hot development

opportunity for the next couple of years.

Silicon Slopes, Utah County

Impact on Job Growth

Utah’s actual job growth last year was

tops in the nation at 3.7%, a number that

dips to 3.1% without Utah County.

“It shows how much of the economy >>

is resting on Utah County’s shoulders,” she

quipped. The 25-mile Silicon Slopes area

from Midvale to Lehi, Gochnour noted, has

accounted for 40% of the state’s jobs since

2010 – a simply incredible number. 2019

will remain a busy time for this area, with a

host of new office and mixed-use projects

in the works, and the second phase of View

72 in Midvale (Jordan Bluffs) kicking off.

Another Olympics for Salt Lake?

Gochnour said Salt Lake is poised for

another run at a second Winter Olympic

Games this century – perhaps as early as

2030.

“We’re not doing it just for the

Olympics,” said said. “We’ll be a world

sports capital! It’s all played out; we are an

outdoor sports mecca. There is talk about

every 30 years Utah hosts the games. We’re

saying we’re an ‘Olympic City’ and we’ll give

each generation of Utahns an opportunity

to experience a Winter Games.”

For the construction industry,

that means periodic upgrades and

improvements to existing facilities, along

with maintaining critical transportation

systems to and from venues.

Labor Development

Key to Growth

Thorn said overall his members are

bullish looking ahead through the end

of 2020, and even beyond, and optimistic

about future labor development, which is

a must if the industry is going to maintain

this high level of activity.

“Labor is the 900-pound gorilla and it’s

not losing any weight,” he said. “There are

just not enough people right now. But we’re

excited about our training programs and

about the Governor’s career path, which

is in the process of being implemented. It

should be a big help statewide. Our AGC

workforce development committee has

done some great things, and our programs

are reaching out to guidance counselors

in junior high and high schools, along with

the technical colleges and ATC programs.”

Thom Morgan of Morgan Asphalt

replaces Doug Welling as Chairman of

the Board, with Darin Zwick of Zwick

Construction serving as Vice Chairman,

and Brandon Squire of Ralph L. Wadsworth

Construction elected to serve as

Secretary/Treasurer for 2019-2020.

Thomas Morgan

Chairman of the Board

Morgan Asphalt, Inc.

2019

Darin Zwick

Vice Chairman of the Board

Zwick Construction

2019

Brandon Squire

Secretary/Treasurer

Ralph L. Wadsworth Construction Co., LLC

2019-2020

James C. Gramoll

National Building Governor

Gramoll Construction Company

2018-2019

Robert Tempest

National Highway Governor

Tempest Enterprises, Inc.

2018-2019

Matt Wollam

Building Director

Wollam Construction Company

2018-2019

David Griffith

Building Director

Christensen & Griffith Construction

2019-2020

Al Peterson

Building Director

SIRQ, Inc.

2018-2019

Jake Goodliffe

Highway Director

Staker Parson Materials & Construction

2019-2020 >>


2019 Economic Outlook: Gochnour Says “Follow the Nation”Most local economists say 2019 will be similar to last year as A/E/C firms plow through stout backlogs and try and keep pace with lightning fast design and construction schedules.

Labor remains a top concern across the board as the industry scrambles to fill their staffs with skilled field workers and craftsmen.

Natalie Gochnour


Jason Klaumann

Highway Director

Granite Construction

2018-2019

Brandon Gerber

Highway Director

Gerber Construction

2019-2020

Curtis Carter

Southern Utah Director

Carter Enterprises

2019-2020

Sydne Jacques

Service/Supplier Representative

Jacques & Associates

2019-2020

Michael Skalla

Specialty Contractor Representative

Daw Construction Group, LLC.

2018-2019

Committee Chairs

Seek Participants

AGC of Utah offers members an

opportunity to not only share their

individual voice, but to shape the

direction of the association and the

industry by participating in one of its

many committees. AGC committees

meet regularly (typically once a month)

to discuss impacts on the environment,

legislative issues, highway trends,

workforce training/development, and

even help organize Utah’s largest summer

golf tournament.

The following individuals have been

selected to chair AGC committees in 2019.

Environmental Committee, Sam

Bernard, Clyde Companies; Builders

Apprenticeship Committee, Ken

Romney, Gramoll Construction; Highway

Apprenticeship Committee, Chad Hancock,

Dry Creek Structures; Builders Committee,

Jeff Beecher, Layton Construction;

Builders Safety Committee, Cesar

Calvillo, R&O Construction; Convention

Committee, Spencer Parkinson, Morgan

Asphalt; Golf Committee, Brent Burr,

Staker Parson Materials & Construction;

Highway Committee, Nathan

Schellenberg, Geneva Rock Products;

Highway Safety Committee, Nate Neal,

W.W. Clyde & Co.; Legislative Committee,

Levi Clegg, Jacobsen Construction;

Membership Development Committee,

Allen Clemons, Stout Building Contractors;

Utility Infrastructure Committee,

Jasen Bennie, COP Construction;

Workforce Development Committee,

Tom Cannon, Clyde Companies, Inc;

Service/Suppliers Committee Sydne

Jacques, Jacques & Associates; Specialty

Contractors Committee; Southern Utah

Golf Committee, Brian Stocks, Western

Rock Products; Southern Utah Safety

Committee Chace Burrows, JP

Excavating Inc.

Bob Tempest will tell you that growing

up in a construction family helps steel a

young man from an early age, as they get a

front-and-center look at the hard work put

in by their fathers, uncles, perhaps even

grandfathers, in completing challenging

projects and running a profitable

business.

Tempest, Vice President of Murray-

based Tempest Enterprises, reflected on a

career in heavy-civil construction spanning

more than 40 years after being named

the recipient of the Eric W. Ryberg Award

January 26 at the Installation Banquet. He

acknowledged the influence of his family,

primarily father Richard and uncle John, as

well as company founder John Henry (Harry)

Tempest, who founded the company in 1933.

“I very much grew up in the industry,”

said Tempest, 59. “The things they taught

you about being honest and hardworking

and true made us successful. Up to this

point, we stick to the things that have made

us great – the ability to be flexible, and to

surround yourself with good people. Boiling

it down, John and Rich taught me to have a

moral compass, to take the high road.”

All three men have served as Chairman

of the Board (then President): John in 1975;

Richard in 1995; Bob in 2011.

“I can’t think of another person more

deserving than Bob, who grew up with

a shovel in his hand at an early age; he’s

a great contractor and involved with his

community,” said Thorn. “His passion for

learning spreads into teaching; he makes

lives better and exemplifies the spirit of

the Ryberg award.”

Thorn said Bob and his wife Liz have

done humanitarian work internationally in

recent years, and Bob is actively involved

with AGC’s national chapter as a member

of the Board of Governors representing

civil contractors.

“It’s an honorary thing for

someone who has spent a lot of years

in construction trying to make the

industry better,” said Rich Tempest. “It’s a

competitive industry, but we shake hands

and we work together to make it better.

Bob has always been absolutely honest,

and he’s well educated. He liked math

because you’re either right or wrong. He’s

also very likeable and has a lot of friends;

that’s a great quality to have.”

Tempest said he remembers the

first summer he started working in the

field as a laborer, digging ditches in the

sweltering heat while his buddies were off

on vacation at Lake Powell, he laughed.

He remembers projects like then-Questar

(now Dominion Energy) Gas expansion to

central and southern Utah starting in 1987,

and another expansion in the mid-to-late

90s through smaller towns and cities.

“We pushed (natural gas) distribution

though the center of the state over a two-

year period; that was an impactful project

for me…we really felt like we were making a

difference in the community.”

The company continues to maintain

a significant presence in the natural gas

pipeline market, installing pipelines since

the mid-50s, Tempest said. One recent

project from two years ago saw Tempest

replace the eastern half of Helper’s natural

gas system, a project his father Rich helped

install as a foreman in the mid-60s.

He credits the AGC for being a strong

advocate on behalf of all its members, and

says smaller companies like his rely on

various AGC-related services and programs

for myriad benefits.

“As a family construction company,

we’ve been beneficiaries of the

association’s goodness for many years,”

said Tempest. “Rich Thorn and his people

really do a great job representing us. In my

opinion, it helps smaller companies like

us, and being able to participate is a huge

benefit to us.” >


Tempest Humbled with AGC Recognition


Bob Tempest


Over a career in asphalt paving that

spans nearly a quarter century, Thom

Morgan has earned a reputation as a can-

do businessman whose firm consistently

delivers high quality projects, while

maintaining the cleanest fleet of trucks in

the industry.

“You don’t ever see a dirty Morgan

Asphalt truck – he wants to maintain an

image of being clean and tidy,” said Thorn

of the notable royal blue heavy trucks.

“He’s built a company from a closely-held

family business into a strong state-wide and

regional contractor; Thom fits the profile of

everything the AGC’s leadership stands for.”

Morgan, 63, serves as CEO of the

Salt Lake-based firm he incorporated in

1996, after spending a decade (’83-’92) in

Commercial Real Estate and Development

in the Phoenix market. Morgan had worked

in construction during summers while

getting a degree in economics from the

University of Utah, and had bought into a

small asphalt company owned by a cousin.

Morgan and son Matt, 33, who has

served as President since September 2016,

said the firm is poised to expand its services

with the opening of its first asphalt plant in

late spring at SR-201 and 6720 West, one that

aims to reduce emissions by more than half

of existing local plants.

“For us it’s a huge change, just to go

from being dependent on everyone else to

be vertically integrated,” said Morgan. “It is

a huge investment, but a big game changer

for us.”

The company also invested in a large

620-acre gravel reserve in Grantsville off I-80

and opened a pit that has been operational

since February 2018, with the intent on

ultimately opening an asphalt plant, one

that will be able to service future Inland

Port development.

“We spent over two years working

to find a suitable piece of property that

worked logistically, and closed on the

property in December (from Kennecott),”

said Morgan. “I think everybody would

concur that the hottest market in Northern

Utah is Silicon Slopes, and has been for a

number of years. The next up-and-coming

market is the Northwest Quadrant and

Inland Port. Our objective is to be more

competitive; we knew we would have to get

into the material business.”

Matt has been with the company

more than ten years, and along with Dan

Frost, Operations Manager, steered Morgan

Asphalt for three years while Thom served

as President of the Missouri St. Louis

Mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of

Latter-day Saints from 2012-2015. Morgan

said the firm had a tremendous year in 2018,

eclipsing the $50 million mark in revenues

for the first time, and he expects to remain

busy for the foreseeable future.

Regarding the AGC, he has a number

of irons in the fire already as the chapter

looks to make some headway into labor

recruitment and retention.

“The biggest things we’re working on is

workforce development, specifically we’ve

been working for a year to acquire property

for a training facility, to train a higher caliber

of worker,” said Morgan. “That’s going to

consume everybody’s attention this year

and looking ahead into (2020). The chapter is

anxious in wanting to get that going.” n


Business Thriving as Morgan Assumes Role of Chair for 2019

FLIPTHESCRIPTWHERE MARKETING MEETS A/E/C.

smpsutah.org


It took Troy Hales some time to realize that

‘tooting your own horn’ has its perks, as

his firm took home the top two awards of

the night – Best of Show and Golden Trowel

– at Utah Masonry Council’s (UMC) 2018

‘Excellence in Masonry Design Awards’

competition February 1 at Marriott City

Center hotel in Salt Lake City.

The event also marked the 40th

Anniversary of the founding of the

association for Utah Masonry Contractors,

formed in 1959, according to Craig Child,

current UMC President.

“It was completely amazing, it really

was,” said Hales, President of Troy Hales

Masonry of Spanish Fork. “I wish I would

have been doing this (PR/marketing) in

our career a long time ago, because the

recognition is important. We’ve done lots of

jobs that we should have been entering into

awards shows.”

In fact, it was at the behest of a general

contractor – someone impressed with his

firm’s quality and detail – that Hales entered

the competition in the first place.

“One of the things Troy told us when

he came to join our association was that

he was asked by a general contractor if

he had ever received an award from Utah

Masonry Council for the quality of his work,”

said Brent Overson, who recently retired as

Executive Director of UMC after taking the

position in February 2011. “It is significant;

some firms downplay the importance

of the contest, but the truth is we had a

lot of prominent architects and general

contractors there, and they see the value of

masonry contractors in our communities

and the quality of their projects.”

Overson, who turns 69 in April, started

working in real estate consulting/brokering

in 1978 and oversaw the development

of $400 million in projects over a 40-year

career. He had been a consultant for

UMC dating back to 2006, advising the

association on government affairs and

public relations. He served as Salt Lake

County Commissioner from 1993-2000 and

was Chief Deputy Assessor for the County

prior to that for three years.

During his time at UMC he’s helped

stabilize the association, and has seen

positive trends with quality control and

technology in the masonry industry

overall, as firms have thrived during this

recent 10-year growth cycle. UMC boasts a

membership of around 50 firms, including

contractors and suppliers. Overson is being

replaced by Barbara Stallone.

Stallone will serve as UMC’s new

Executive Director. She has a broad

background in non-profit development,

business development, public relations, and

public policy. Throughout her career, she

has created an environment for motivated

and enthusiastic participants, regardless of

venue or industry.

Stallone earned a MBA from Western

Governors University and Bachelor’s Degrees

from the University of Utah in Consumer

and Community Studies, and in Human

Development and Family Studies. She also

holds an Associate’s Degree in Psychology

from Salt Lake Community College.

Previously, she served as the

Development Director at the Family Support

Center. She also ran her own consulting

company for many years, working on social

policy issues and helping several candidates

win seats in the Utah Legislature. Before her

consulting work, Stallone served as Director

of Policy and Public Relations for the Utah

Housing Coalition and the Grants Manager

and Public Policy Analyst for Volunteers of

America, Utah.

UMC presented a total of 18 awards,

including Citation, Merit, and Honor covering

a variety of categories. It also presented a

‘Lifetime Masonry Service Award’ to three

children of Lehi Block Company founders Art

and Alta Powell – Mac Powell, Terry Powell,

and Alda Mae Porter, all of whom spent their

lifetimes working at the company founded in

1961 and are retiring.

Best of Show & Golden Trowel AwardQ90

Owner: Outpost Payson LLC

Mason: Troy Hales Masonry

Architect: LMnt Architecture

GC: Westland Construction

This nearly 30,000 SF building (9,770

SF per floor), three-story office building

in Payson is a steel frame structure with

concrete metal deck floors and a full

masonry exterior with CMU on level one

and tumbled brick above for a historic flair.

Hales said “the neatest thing about

this job was blending it in with the old part

of downtown Main Street (in Payson). The

owner wanted the fancier brick work that

we just don’t see anymore.”

Special attention was paid to the

contrast between the frame and inset panels

in making them stand out and emulate

old-time historical storefronts, which was

done by honing the block and exposing the

aggregate, which enhanced color difference

and gave it a polished, modern look.

The cornice is accentuated with layers

of corbels and soldier courses. In order to

accentuate windows, bricks stepped out

to create the jam and arched headers. This

detail was duplicated on the façade and

accented with up/down lighting where the

large arches occur.

Merit: Municipal

Creekside Senior & Assisted Living

Owner: Stellar Senior Living

Mason: Thueson Masonry

Architect: Curtis Miner Architecture

GC: US Development

Citation: Municipal

Cache County Event Center

Owner: Cache County

Mason: Grover & Daughtery

Architect: Design West

GC: DWA Construction

Citation: Municipal

Provost Elementary School

Owner: Provo School District

Mason: Harv & Higham Masonry

Architect: MHTN Architects

GC: Hogan & Assoc. >>

Utah Masonry Council2018 Excellence in Masonry AwardsTroy Hales Masonry reels in Golden Trowel and Best of Show honors for its work on Q90 office building in Payson; Brent Overson retires

By Harrison Wright

Utah Masonry Council 2018 Excellence in Masonry Awards

Brent Overson Barbara Stallone


Citation: Municipal

Logan High School

Owner: Logan School District

Mason: IMS Masonry

Architect: MHTN Architects

GC: Hughes General Contractors

Citation: Municipal

Provo High School

Owner: Provo City School District

Mason: Doyle Hatfield Masonry

Architect: FFKR Architects

GC: Westland Construction

Merit: Municipal

C. Mark Openshaw Education Center, Utah

Schools for the Deaf and Blind

Owner: State of Utah DFCM

Mason: JH Masonry

Architect: Jacoby

GC: Wadman Corp.

Merit: Historical Restoration

Salt Lake Second Ward Building

Owner: LDS Church

Mason: Child Enterprises

Architect: McNeil Engineering

GC: Philipoom Construction

Merit – Historical Restoration

Elizabeth Academy –Garfield Campus

Building

Owner: Elizabeth Academy

Mason: Doyle Hatfield

Architect: VCBO

GC: Hogan & Assoc.

Merit – Historical Restoration

Cache Valley Bank in Ephraim

Owner: Cache Valley Bank

Mason: Grover & Daughtery

Architect: Design West Architects

GC: Sorenson & Gnehm

Merit: Education

Spectrum Academy Charter High School

Owner: Spectrum Academy

Mason: Rocky Mountain Masonry


GC: Stout Building Contractors

Merit: Education

BYU Engineering Building

Owner: BYU

Mason: IMS Masonry

Architect: VCBO Architecture

GC: Jacobsen Construction

Honor: Education

American Heritage School

Owner: American Heritage Schools

Mason: IMS Masonry


GC: Jacobsen Construction

Honor: Industrial

Olmstead Power Plant

Owner: Central Utah Water

Conservancy District

Mason: Child Enterprises

Engineer: Jacobs Engineering (CH2M)

GC: Ames Construction

Off Hwy 189 by Provo Canyon

Honor: Residence

Pete Day Residence

Owner: Pete Day

Mason: DNS Masonry

Architect: Hearthstone Home Design

GC: Terra Michelle Homes

Honor: Private Under $10 Million

Holladay Market Place

Owner: Rockworth Companies

Mason: Ram Builders

Architect: Beecher Walker Architects

GC: Rimrock Construction

Honor: Commercial

Deseret First Credit Union

Operations Center

Owner: Desert First Credit Union

Mason: Horizon Masonry


GC: Zwick Construction

Honor: Commercial

Zions Bank Financial Center

Owner: Zions Bank

Mason: IMS Masonry

Architect: Prescott Muir

GC: R&O Construction

Jared Larsen with Prescott Muir

Delta Stone – Giant Stone Columns n

Utah Masonry Council 2018 Excellence in Masonry Awards

Utah Construction& Design

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It’s been quite an interesting ride – over

mostly smooth asphalt surfaces, naturally

– for the Utah Asphalt Paving Association

(UAPA) in its brief eight-year history, and

by all accounts the Association has been

gaining momentum, evidenced by an

impressive 1,100 people attending its 2019

Asphalt Paving Conference Feb. 26-27 at

Mountain America Expo Center in Sandy.

The two-day event featured a host of

interesting education sessions covering

asphalt mixtures, equipment trends,

marketing strategies, and best company

practives, and featured two local sports

legends as keynote speakers: former

Atlanta Braves baseball legend (and two-

time MVP) Dale Murphy, and longtime Utah

television sportscaster Wesley Ruff.

It also included a changing of the guard

at the installation banquet Feb. 26, as Jaden

Kemp takes over as 2019 President for Scott

Fernald, Paving & Technology Manager of

Salt Lake-based Granite Construction.

Kemp is President of Salt Lake-based

GeoDyne, a trucking services firm founded

in 1978 by his father Judd Kemp, who ran it

until his passing in 2012. Kemp has a broad

vision for UAPA this year, with an emphasis

on membership growth, education and

training, and continuing to advocate for the

advancement of asphalt technology and

best practices.

“The message I gave (at the banquet)

is that asphalt matters,” said Kemp. “We’re

providing a purpose and vision for the

industry as a whole, and also specific

components of ensuring that people who

have influence over our roads know that

asphalt matters.”

Kemp talked about the importance of

the state having durable, well-placed and

maintainted highways, roads, and parking

lots, which impacts literally millions of

commuters every day. “If we view our role

as just putting down a road, we miss what

our true purpose is,” added Kemp.

Other executive committee members

for this year include: Jeff Collard of Staker

Parson Materials and Construction,

President-Elect; Bup Minardi of M.R.E.S.,

Secretary; Brian Moran of Miller Paving,

Treasurer.

UAPA is currently working with UDOT,

he said, on creating a certification program

that aids with the inspection of final

product, to make sure it meets stringent

QA/QC standards. The association is

also reaching out to cities, towns, and

municipalities about the need to create

more consistent specs industry-wide.

The fact that there are different specs,

depending on the owner, is something

that needs to be figured out to improve

consistency and durability.

Membership growth and retention is

a constant focus for all associations, and

UAPA has been thriving the past two years

and recently added its 100th member, an

encouragaing sign for long-term viability.

Fernald talked about expanding the

geographical reach from the Wasatch

Front to other regions in the state, and

the creation of its first leadership council

in St. George, comprised of private firms

and local municipalities, which will help

reinforce UAPA’s voice.

“We had a number of strategic goals,

one of which is increasing membership,

but the question we ask ourselves is what

value are we going to provide for existing

members, and education is our focal point,”

said Fernald. “At this conference we had

numerous sessions that talked about best

practices, new technologies, safety, things

that hopefully make us better as an industry.

Executive Director Reed Ryan, at

the helm of UAPA since 2012, delivered

an impactful message at the afternoon

awards luncheon day two that saw the

induction of Larry Brown, a long-time

industry sales rep who recently retired

from Wheeler Machinery of Salt Lake.

Ryan ran an on-the-spot live poll in

an effort to gain some feedback on mainly

best practices and he emphasized that

the chapter is working to provide value

to firms. “I’m here to help you understand

issues regarding quality, performance of

pavement, and encourage you to use UAPA

as a resource.”

In addition to three $1,500 scholarships,

three main project awards were handed out:

• Large Project of the Year – SR-210;

SR-209 to Top of the Canyon; Granite

Construction

• Small Project of the Year – 400

North Rehab, Saratoga Springs;

PEPG

• Quality in Pavement Preservation

– Tooele Co. RAP Chip Seal; Tooele

County

Asphalt Pavement Alliance Statistics• 94% of U.S. roads are paved with

asphalt

• There are 3,500 asphalt plants in

U.S.

• 400,000 industry jobs nationwide

• 12-year gain in service life from a

thin asphalt overlay at an

annualized cost as low as 25 cents

per square yard.

• 18-year average life for new asphalt

pavements

Paving a Road to SuccessUtah Asphalt Paving Association (UAPA) hosts a record 1,100 participants at 2019 conference; event highlighted by informative breakout sessions, stout vendor exhibits, and talks by Dale Murphy and Wesley Ruff.

UAPA 2019 Conference


Bup Minardi will tell you he was 12 years

old before he learned that his actual first

name was Paul – he’s just always gone

by ‘Bup’, which he said means ‘boy’ in

Danish, and was what his grandmother

affectionately referred to him as, so the

nickname stuck.

Minardi grew up in West Jordan and

was around farming, construction, and

landscaping his whole life, and three

years out of high school he landed a job

at Wheeler Machinery in Salt Lake City

in 1989, starting on the night shift in the

parts department and moving up through

the years until he was PSSR and contract

manager overseeing the firm’s Kennecott

Copper account.

By 2004, with 15 years of experience

under his belt, Minardi was ready to

branch out on his own, and he saw a need

in the Automated Lubrication Systems

(ALS) industry, and founded Mountain

Regional Equipment Solutions (M.R.E.S.)

once he secured distributorship of the

Groeneveld Lubrication Solutions. The firm

also specializes in Groeneveld Active and

Passive Safety equipment, Automatic Oil

Management, IT Solutions, among other

services.

The firm mainly operates in the

construction, mining and aggregates, and

agricultural/forestry industries, really any

industry that relies on heavy equipment,

either mobile or stationary. Minardi and his

team of designers and fabricators custom

build Automated Lubrication Systems to

fit virtually any type or brand of heavy

equipment: giant rotomills, excavators,

dozers, skid-steer loaders, etc.

Besides its Utah headquarters, the

firm has distributor rights for Groeneveld

in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, and

Wyoming.

Minardi said he always wanted to own

his own business, and when 2004 rolled

around he felt he had the experience and

drive to succeed, and brought his sister,

Stormy Scharp, on board as CFO. Minardi’s

ability to retrofit Groeneveld ALS systems

to all types of equipment shows his keen

mind for innovation, and a determination

to provide excellent solutions for his

myriad clients. Hard work has always been

a hallmark of Minardi’s career, and he

figures success will continue as the firm

continues to innovate.

“I was at an age where I figured I’ve

got to try (starting a business)…and if I

fail, I fail, but I’ve got to at least try,” said

Minardi, 51. “It’s a business I understood

well, and one I knew would be beneficial

to the customer. It was great timing – we

had strong industry support and a great

product. From the beginning, we started

putting these (systems) on machines

nobody had thought about before. We’d

bring parts in and design it ourselves. We’d

learn what worked and what didn’t work,

and instead of buying a kit, we bought all

the parts and assembled it ourselves. If we

couldn’t buy it, we’d make it.”

Minardi talked about how his firm’s

Automated Lubrication Systems offer a

better solution in climates where ambient

temperature changes are the norm – like

Utah, which often has drastic changes in

temperature. His systems have a dual-line

parallel system for deliverying lube/grease

to places on the equipment that need it,

which mitigates issues associated with

temperature changes, and also improves

reliability and performance.

The automated systems offer a huge

savings to clients on labor, while improving

operational reliability and performance.

Minardi illustrated the challenges of

having a person grease various moving

parts on a machine at least weekly,

particularly during seasons of inclement

weather, particularly in the winter.

Minardi’s maintenance crews are

constantly on the go, with the majority

of its services being done out of field

service trucks. He currently has a staff

of 30 employees, and admits that hiring

great people has been the main reason

for the company’s success. Revenues have

increased signinficantly year-over-year

since 2012, hitting a peak of $7 million last

year, about a 20% jump from the previous

year.

“I’ve learned that everything I

thought I knew how to do well, I’m not

that good at,” he chuckled. “I’ve hired very

good people, and we’ve created a family

atmosphere where we want people to take

pride in their work, but also have a life.

We’re all entrepreneurial.”

“Bup is an incredible salesman,” said

Scharp about her brother’s nature, and as

to why he’s successful. “He’s always had

the ability to talk to people and develop

outstanding relationships. And he’s an

innovator – he’s able to come up with

solutions that keep people happy.”

Outside of work, Minardi, who

lives in Park City, has been competing

in extreme endurance events the past

decade or so, something he enjoys for the

competition, and for the ability it gives

him to really focus on what’s going on in

his life. He also is a founding member of

the Creekside Christian Fellowship, a non-

denominational church in Park City.

His says his firm is well-positioned

to maintain its momentum and annual

revenue growth, and he expects business

to remain brisk for the foreseeable future.

“I never understood how challenging

organic growth is,” he said. “My

biggest competitor is the customer not

understanding what we do. They are going

to save money, time…it’s an educational

process.” n

Minardi Has Carved Out a Unique Niche with M.R.E.S.By Brad Fullmer

A/E/C Profiles

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INDEX OF ADVERTISERS

AE Urbia ........................................................................................................................................2

AGC of Utah ................................................................................................................................4

Archer Mechanical ............................................................................................................. 55

Babcock Design .................................................................................................................... 30

Cache Valley Electric ........................................................................................................ 35

CCI Mechanical ..................................................................................................................... 27

Century Equipment ........................................................................................................... 23

CRSA ............................................................................................................................................. 19

CSDZ .............................................................................................................................................42

Dunn Associates, Inc. ........................................................................................................ 34

Geneva Rock .......................................................................................................Back Cover

Honnen Equipment ..............................................................................................................5

Hunt Electric ...........................................................................................................................12

Kilgore Companies ............................................................................................................. 15

Layton Construction ........................................................................................................ 13

Midwest D-Vision Solutions ........................................................................................21

Monsen Engineering ......................................................................................................... 20

Mountain States Fence ................................................................................................... 45

Reaveley Engineer .................................................................................................................6

Richards Brandt Miller Nelson ................................................................................... 30

SMPS............................................................................................................................................. 45

Staker Parson Companies ............................................................................................. 53

Tempest Enterprises .........................................................................................................54

UDOT (Zero Fatalities) ...................................................................................................... 31

Wheeler Machinery Co. ......................................................................................................3

Whitaker Construction ......................................................................................................9

General Pipeline and Utility Contractor for 86 years.

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