Utah Construction & Design

Also:Q&A: Utah Gov. Gary Herbert

SLC Int’l Airport TRP Underway

Top Engineering Firms of Utah

August | September 2014

Aug | Sept 14 | UTAH CONSTRUCTION & DESIGN | 7

22 Paving Trends Asphalt and concrete are being utilized effectively by UDOT, other owners.

28 101 Tower Panoramic views highlight Salt Lake’s newest high rise building.

32 Monsen Engineering’s 40th Anniversary

34 Allotech’s 30th Anniversary

38 Building Commissioning 101 Changes now effective per updated codes.

40 2014 Top Utah Engineering Firm Rankings

45 Marketing Solutions

Table of Contents

On the cover: Workers from Geneva Rock utilize a Gomaco Paver on the 1300 South Reconstruction project in Salt Lake City. UDOT and other municipalities prefer major paving operations at night as to minimize traffic impact. (photo by Dana Sohm)

Utah Construction & DesignUC&D

22

28

32 34

8 Publisher’s Message

10 Construction Law

12 Industry News

17 Design Viewpoint

19 Q&A: Utah Governor Gary Herbert

< Publisher’s Message

8 | UTAH CONSTRUCTION & DESIGN | Aug | Sept 14

Conversation with Utah’s Governor

I have to admit, being able to interview Governor Gary

Herbert for this issue of UC&D was cool, even if it was via

telephone. It’s not often a regular, relatively non-politically motivated person gets a chance to

bend the ear of the most powerful elected state official.

Governor Herbert was accommodating, genuinely friendly, and talked about various

construction issues within in the Beehive State. One thing is certain – he cares immensely

about the overall state of Utah’s economy and believes that construction is a positive driver of

any well-functioning economy. Look for the Q&A session starting on page 19.

Also included in this issue of Utah Construction & Design is our annual Top Utah Engineering

Firm Rankings. This year we had 16 firms participate from the civil, mechanical, electrical and

structural engineering industry. We hope more firms will consider participating in future years,

but understand that companies are busy and often have more pressing matters at hand.

Our Industry News section features recaps of two significant construction events along

the Wasatch Front: the official groundbreaking of the $1.8 billion Salt Lake City Int’l Airport

Terminal Redevelopment Program (TRP), and the open house of the renovated LDS Ogden

Temple, one of the most visually-stunning buildings a person will ever encounter.

TRP, which is being built by HDJV (joint-venture between Holder of Atlanta and Big-D

Construction of Salt Lake) will span eight years, and utilize the expertise of many local A/E/C

firms, including designers and contractors, funneling millions back into Utah’s economy.

The Ogden Temple media tour was hosted by Elder Kent F. Richards, who was recently

appointed to be the new Executive Director of the Temple Department. Elder Richards is a

descendent of Willard Richards, a famous early church leader, and likened the renovated

temple to Solomon’s Temple from the Old Testament in that it features some of the finest

building materials in the world. The temple is being dedicated Sept. 21 and is worth a visit, even

if just to peruse its grounds.

Finally, we have two Anniversary Profiles in this issue: Salt Lake-based A/E/C supply

company Monsen Engineering’s 40th, and Salt Lake-based signage company Allotech’s 30th.

It’s always impressive for me to interview the people who have made these long-time firms

successful over the course of decades. In Monsen’s case, I had the opportunity to work for the

company for a couple of years in the mid-to-late 90’s – my initial introduction into Utah’s A/E/C

industry, as it were. 18 years later I’m fortunately still working in this great industry.

As always, we appreciate your interest in our publication and welcome your thoughts and

opinions. We have three more issues of UC&D to publish in 2014, including our Outstanding

Projects of the Year in December. Get your submissions ready!

Regards,

Brad Fullmer

Publisher/Managing Editor

UC&DUtah Construction & Design Magazine

4516 South 700 East, Suite 160

Murray, UT 84107

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 4516 S. 700 E., Suite 160, Murray, UT 84107. 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. 2 No. 5

Coming in August issue of UC&D:

Rock Stars: Under 40 A/E/C Professionals

Healthcare Industry

Top Subcontractor Rankings


Being a witness in a construction

dispute is a demanding experience. It’s

not just about being intelligent and

experienced. Instead, it’s about preparation,

understanding the audience, the rules, and

the “central themes” of the dispute.

When you’re a witness, the questioner

appears to be in control. That’s a lie! The

witness has the control. Most people know

the way to take control of a meeting is

not by shouting the loudest, but by using

established techniques and rules. Being a

witness is just a different kind of meeting,

and there are rules to be effective and be in

control.

Rule #1 – Take Your Time. Slow down

and control the pace of the questioning.

Lawyers like rapid-fire questions and

answers in the hopes you will make a

mistake. This tactic is easily counteracted

by slowing down and taking time to think

through an answer before giving it.

Rule #2 – Remember You Are Making a Record. It is important to remember that

everything you say as a witness is going

to be recorded. It is crucial that a witness

remembers to think through answers and to

convey them as intended.

Rule #3 – Tell The Truth. It is often

harder to do than anticipated. That’s

because telling the truth as a witness is a

very narrow concept. Answers given as a

witness should be restricted only to what

the witness did, saw or heard.

Rule #4 – Be Polite. If a witness

becomes hostile or defensive it is unlikely

they will be thinking clearly and can say

things that will be misconstrued. Stay

focused and polite.

Rule #5 – Responding To Vague Questions. Don’t respond to questions you

don’t understand. Don’t guess or speculate

when answering! Instead, ask the lawyer to

restate or rephrase the question.

Rule #6 – If The Witness Does Not Remember. If you do not remember, it is

important to say so and stop. Remember

this is not a test; you’re not being graded on

how much you remember.

Rule #7 – Do Not Guess. Guessing

is extremely dangerous so don’t do it. A

witness is only expected to answer to the

best of their ability what was done, seen, or

heard.

Rule #8 – Do Not Volunteer Information. It is critical the witness stick

strictly to the question asked. The rhythm

of a witness should ultimately be “question,

listen, pause, answer, stop.”

Rule #9 – Be Careful With Documents. When asked a question

relating to a document: ask to see the

document, read the document and ask

for the question again. You are entitled to

review the document and then answer.

Rule #10 – Use Your Lawyer. It is

important the witness utilize their lawyer

and ask questions if they are unsure of

anything. While the lawyer can’t answer the

questions for the witness, they are there for

support and will help you get the desired

results.

Being a good witness in a construction

dispute involves acting and speaking

contrary to what is typical in the everyday

world. The rules conflict with what you are

used to and are often counterintuitive. But

if used, these rules can impose a degree of

discipline and control on the legal process

that makes it significantly more fair and

productive.

Cody W. Wilson is a shareholder at

Salt Lake-based law firm Babcock Scott &

Babcock, PC. Licensed in Utah, Colorado and

the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, his practice

focuses exclusively on the construction

industry. He can be reached at cody@

babcockscott.com or (801) 531-7000.

How to Be an Effective Witness in a Construction Dispute

By Cody W. Wilson

> Construction Law

Cody W. Wilson

When you’re a witness, the questioner appears to be in control. That’s a lie! The witness has the control. Most people know the way to take control of a meeting is not by shouting the loudest, but by using established techniques and rules. Being a witness is just a different kind of meeting, and there

are rules to be effective and be in control.


After decades of meticulous planning

and preparation, the first phase of the

Terminal Replacement Project (TRP) at Salt

Lake City International Airport officially

broke ground July 18.

A joint-venture team of Holder

from Atlanta and Salt Lake-based Big-D

Construction (HDJV) is building the facility,

which is expected to take up to 8 years. The

first phase consists of the Economy Lot

parking area and the Rental Car Facility,

slated from completion in about a year,

according to Leon Nelson, Construction

Director for Big-D.

“It’s typical of any large project,”

said Nelson. “The details, the level of

communication required between project

teams, and just trying to get everybody in the

same direction is a challenge. We’ve had a

chance to interface with a lot of good people

at the Airport and the local design community

is participating in this project. We have a good

plan, it’s now a matter of execution.”

“It’s been 20 years in the making and it’s

been needed for a long time,” said Salt Lake

City Mayor Ralph Becker. “One advantage

of it taking so long is that designs get

refined and we can prepare better for the

future. This is a huge economic boost, both

directly from airport construction of almost

$2 billion, but also indirectly in terms of

serving as a hub for so many destinations.

We can get anywhere in the country

reasonably quickly.

“We have made this airport to be

an integral piece in our sustainability

efforts,” Becker added. We are requiring

the highest environmental standards –

LEED Gold is where we’re now – but we’re

aiming to be the first Net Zero airport in

the country. With so much open land we

have the ability to develop a solar farm in

conjunction with the new airport.”

Major aspects of the project include

new concourse, terminals, new aircraft

gates, multi-level passenger pick-up/drop-

off, a new light rail station, and a five-level

parking garage with 3,600 spaces. The

two-level rental car facility with offer quick

turnaround, and a new central utility plant

is being added.

Alan Bright, Design Principal for HOK,

the design architect from San Francisco,

said the new airport will include plenty of

daylighting throughout the facility, with an

a design emphasis on local Utah materials

and features, including mountains, deserts,

and Utah’s famous red rock landscape in

Southern Utah.

“The design is tied to the beauty of

Utah and Salt Lake City,” said Bright. “We

want to bring Utah’s majestic outdoor

beauty into the airport.”

“We come in with no illusions about

what it will take to get this done,” added

Nelson. “We come in with a quiver full of

tools, processes and systems that will help

us be successful.”

IEA Awards 29 Scholarships

at Annual Luncheon

The Intermountain Electrical

Association (IEA) held its 27th annual

Scholarship Luncheon, with $30,000

presented to 29 students.

“It’s a great event for us and it

has been an important aspect to the

foundation over the years,” said Ryan

Taylor, President of Salt Lake-based

TRP Finally Underway at SLC Int’l Airport

HDJV Construction team of Atlanta-based Holder and Salt Lake-based Big-D Construction start on Economy Lot/Rental Car Facility, the first phase of a planned 8-year, $1.8 billion project.

> Industry News

Interior rendering of the new Terminal Redevelopment Program at the Salt Lake City Int’l Airport. The $1.8 billion project will be built over the course of the next eight years and will funnel millions of dollars into Utah’s economy. (courtesy SLCIA)


Taylor Electric and Chairman of the IEA

Scholarship Fund.

Depending on how well it is funded,

Klaas DeBoer of NECA said the fund awards

anywhere from 30 to 40 scholarships on a

given year. Since the program started in

1988, IEA has awarded more than $850,000

in scholarships.

“IEA takes revenues generated off

investments, along with other fundraising

events we have during the year,” said

DeBoer.

Utah Again Ranked as

Top Pro-Business State

For the third consecutive year,

Utah has been recognized as the top

pro-business state by Pollina Corporate

based on 32 factors controlled by state

government.

“Cultivating an environment

where businesses can thrive has been

a significant focus of our economic

development efforts,” said Gov. Gary R.

Herbert. “It’s one thing to win once, but

to consistently rank in the top spot shows

something special is going on here. I am

proud of the hard work being done by the

private sector that has resulted in Utah

being recognized once again by Pollina

Corporate.”

As rankings go, receiving a top title

from Pollina Corporate carries a lot of

weight. The study is considered the most

comprehensive, unbiased and unvarnished

by the economic development industry.

The factors used to evaluate states include:

taxes, human resources, education,

right-to-work legislation, energy costs,

infrastructure spending, regulatory

environment, workers compensation

laws, economic incentive programs and

economic development efforts.

Utah scored highly in high school and

college completion, unemployment rate

and workers compensation to name a few.

The state also scored very strongly across

all tax categories.

Pollina noted some areas where

Utah can still improve, such as teacher

compensation, incentives and college

funding per-student. >>

> Industry News


“In Utah we are always working to

improve,” said Sophia DiCaro, Interim

Executive Director of the Governor’s Office

of Economic Development.

Fiber Project Improves Service

in Little Cottonwood Canyon

Crown Castle, a wireless

telecommunications infrastructure company,

is in partnership with the Utah Department of

Transportation (UDOT) to install a Distributed

Antenna System (DAS) network on Route

210 in Little Cottonwood Canyon to allow

improved wireless, cellular, and E911 service.

Construction is expected to finish this fall.

The project will consist of installing 11 new

antenna poles in UDOT’s right-of-way and

the fiber optic cabling connecting the poles

will be installed underground starting at the

mouth of the canyon and terminating at Alta

Entry Number 2.

The DAS network will improve the

> Industry News

The Intermountain Electrical Association recently presented 29 scholarships totaling $30,000 at its 27th annual scholarship luncheon event at Little America. IEA has presented more than $850,000 in scholarships since 1988. (courtesy Andrea Hanks Photography)


full range of wireless services in the area,

including voice quality, high speed data

transmission, photo, video, audio, email, and

web access offered by today’s latest, more

sophisticated wireless devices like iPhones,

Blackberrys, etc. Multiple cellular service

providers will be able to utilize the network.

With this project, UDOT will increase

its statewide fiber network by 9 miles and

be able to monitor weather, roadway and

traffic conditions within Little Cottonwood

Canyon at virtually no incremental cost to

Utah’s taxpayers.

Project Facts:

• The antenna poles are 35 feet tall and

will be painted brown. The pole boosts

wireless services and will hold UDOT

weather, traffic, avalanche equipment,

etc. 12 new guardrail sections will also

be installed along the highway as an

added safety precaution.

• The “hub”, which holds the carrier’s

equipment and fiber connections, will

be built in the upper end of the canyon,

near Alta.

• Construction on the road is scheduled

to be complete this fall

• Wireless services will be available

by summer 2015, after the hub

construction is complete

• The system will allow the means

for a service provider (CenturyLink,

Verizon, AT&T, Syringa, etc.) to connect

a new or existing service to the

system. A computer or other device

would benefit if connected through a

wireless carrier’s mobile hotspot for

better streaming. Crown Castle does

not provide data service to residences

or businesses.

Honnen Hosts Grand Opening

Honnen Equipment officially held

its grand opening of its new facility at

1380 S. Distribution Drive in Salt Lake

on September 18. The event had several

items on tap, including an operator

rodeo, equipment demonstrations with

product specialists, maintenance and wear

products, and raffle prizes.

Hughes General Contractors of Salt Lake

built the 60,000 SF tilt-up concrete facility.

Grand Opening Held

for Ogden LDS Temple

Originally dedicated in 1972, the

Ogden LDS Temple has been reconstructed

and will be formally rededicated

September 21.

Built by Big-D Construction

and designed by Richardson Design

Partnership, both of Salt Lake, the temple

was unique in that it is not a ‘new’ project,

but required the construction teams to get

down to the building’s structure before

beginning the rebuild.

“Substantially the core and

foundation, and the basement footings,

remained in tact,” said Alma Marcum,

Big-D Project Manager. “We did add

more footings and oversized columns

in the central core area up through the

third floor and added concrete and steel

reinforcement to walls on the east and

west walls tied into the center core via

a drag strut reinforcement system. The

project was unique in that we dismantled

quite a bit of the building. It’s always

more challenging and takes a little more

time to get new properties dialed into

design.”

The temple’s entire exterior has been

reshaped with new stone and architectural

glass, and the temple entrance was

moved from the west side to the east side,

where it faces Washington Boulevard. The

renovation of the temple also includes

reconfigured rooms and new energy-

saving electrical, heating, and plumbing

systems. Other notable improvements

include underground parking and a

complete re-landscaping of the temple

block and inclusion of a major water

feature.

“The LDS Church opted to go with

an aggressive design – they wanted to

make this a destination temple,” said Otto

Gehring, Principal with Richardson Design

Partnership. “Structurally the building >>

> Industry News


needed real help. The construction crew had

to build new cages around existing concrete

columns, dowel into them, build a sleeve and

bore a concrete jacket around the existing

column. They used some interesting coring

techniques with thinner concrete pumped

up from below to fill in all gaps.”

“It’s a challenge whenever you’re

working with an existing structure,” said

Dale Satterthwaite, Senior VP for Big-D.

“Everybody had to put their heads together

and work through the challenges. It was a

very special project, and to those of us of

faith, it means even more. When it comes

to the level of finish and attention to detail,

there is nothing that surpasses a temple.

The Ogden Temple is one of the highest

levels of detail I have seen.”

Kent F. Richards, Executive Director

of the LDS Church’s Temple Department

and a member of the Seventy, said “As

with Solomon’s Temple, we used the

finest materials throughout the building.

Mahogany variety from Africa, marble

quarried in Egypt and fabricated in China.

We have gratitude for the design and

construction workers and all who have

helped put this together. When this temple

was first built it was the 14th temple in the

world. Now there are 14 functioning temples

in Utah, with three others announced.”

> Industry News

A stunning exterior view of the LDS Ogden Temple, which is slated to be dedicated September 21. The temple was originally dedicated in 1972, the 14th overall temple in the world at that time. The ethereal celestial room highlights the incredible level of detail throughout the building. (courtesy LDS Church)


The housing market has gone from

feast to famine over the last decade

but is returning as a sector positioned

for growth. As the market returns to a

steady pace in many areas of the country,

including Utah, it has become more and

more important to design communities

that set your project apart from your

competitors providing a marketable edge

for project owners and a wonderful place

for residents to live.

As housing projects of varying sizes,

owner types and locations emerge,

several factors should be considered.

Historical data from past projects based

on demographic, client vision and mission,

needs assessments and good old “gut

instinct” should be assessed. In addition,

there are several key design trends that

have emerged that are worthy of discussion.

There has definitely been a push

toward providing unique design with

greater curb appeal that visually

differentiates you from your competitors.

And, contrary to what used to be popular

opinion, it IS possible to be unique, fresh

and contextual in your housing design

without coming across as too edgy, or

too expensive. Not only are prospective

tenants looking for something different

and fresh, but they are also looking for

housing that addresses their individual

needs and daily routines. This could be

based on situations such as having a

multi-generational family under one roof

with varied needs depending on age and

status. Individual privacy combined with

gathering spaces should be considered.

Today’s housing also needs to provide

spaces that recognize and facilitate today’s

evolving but ever-present technology.

Solutions to these design problems can

be provided through merely providing

additional charging outlets at a kitchen

counter or desk area for charging a myriad

of tech devices, to installing comprehensive

“smart” systems within your home to

monitor everything from security cameras to

lights and HVAC systems remotely through

your smartphone or tablet. While “smart”

systems have been around for a few years

now, the capabilities of these systems to

control many aspects of our homes >>

A New Era in Multi-Family Housing Design

By Kelly Morgan

> Design Viewpoint

Kelly Morgan

Images of the Bud Bailey Apartments in Salt Lake City, one of several new stylish multi-family projects to crop up along the Wasatch Front recently. (courtesy Method Studio)


> Design Viewpoint

continue to grow and become more user

friendly.

One common buzzword in the late

20th and early 21st centuries has been

Sustainability. While the definition of

this trend can be deep and is constantly

changing, the good news for designers and

owners is that the science and technology

feeding this trend is constantly lowering

in price and increasing in user-friendliness.

Industry competition has brought items

that have usually been financially out

of reach down to a more accessible and

affordable range for common consumers

like you and I. Things such as solar panel

and lighting technology have drastically

reduced in price in recent years. And with

the announcement that incandescent bulbs

will no longer be produced, the competition

of fluorescent and LED lighting products

will only continue to lower prices and

increase the longevity of these products.

The demand for lively, bright living

environments is a trend that has been

around for a long time and still remains high

on an occupant’s priority list. Providing this

light and controlling this light is a timeless

trend and should be provided for in any

housing project. Pet-friendly environments

are becoming more and more of a market

demand as well, especially in multi-family

housing projects. Addressing this trend

can be as simple as providing sustainable,

cleanable surfaces in a home to more

complex, online based feeding technology

when the office demands a late-night push.

And with more and more people biking to

work each year, covered and secure bike

storage continues to climb on a prospective

tenant’s priority list.

While some trends never go out of

style, others continue to be introduced

to the market as advances in technology

and family living continues to evolve.

We as designers know one thing for sure;

design makes a difference and modern

is in. We should continue to explore

unique alternatives to family living and

not accept “status quo” as our guide. It

is our responsibility to build sustainable

living environments that enhance family

and community, are comfortable and

welcoming and safe on every level.

Kelly Morgan is co-owner of Salt Lake-

based Method Studio and leads a good

majority of the firm’s multi-family housing

projects. He is a member of the American

Institute of Architects and is a LEED

Accredited Professional.

There has definitely been a push toward providing

unique design with greater curb appeal that visually

differentiates you from your competitors.


> Q&A: Governor Gary Herbert

Q&A: Utah Governor Gary Herbert

Five years into his role at the state’s 17th Governor, he recognizes construction’s positive influence on Utah’s economy.

UC&D recently had the opportunity to

talk to Utah Governor Gary R. Herbert

about key issues relating to Utah’s design

and construction industry. The Governor

believes the state – with its business-

friendly mentality – is in good position

to continue to grow economically, with

commercial construction being a key cog

and major contributor to positive growth.

UC&D: According to the 2040 Unified

Transportation Plan, Utah will need more

than $11 billion to cover transportation

infrastructure. The Legislature, by

and large, realizes a need for more

transportation funding. What are your

thoughts on this?

GH: As you probably know, I held a

Transportation Summit last September

and we had extensive conversation

about transportation in the state of Utah

and the challenges we face. We are the

second-fastest growing state in America,

particularly on roads. We’ve done a good

job frankly of increasing capacity, which

is helping our economy. The Unified

Transportation Plan gives us a map forward

in terms of challenges and revenue needs.

We produce $43 billion in revenue and have

$54 billion in needs. The $11 billion shortfall

needs to be addressed to meet demands on

capacity and the maintenance of existing

infrastructure. The legislature is certainly

cognizant of the issue, as is the private

sector.

UC&D: Do you anticipate that

‘something’ will be done in the 2015

Legislative session in regards to

transportation funding solutions?

GH: We need to find a solution;

political will takes time to develop. If it

means raising the gas tax – the reason

that it should be considered – is we don’t

have the same capacity (with purchasing

power). Compounding the problem is

having more fuel-efficient automobiles

and increased miles per gallon. It’s

producing less revenue per capacity. A

sales tax revenue approach was talked

about. I expect both will be talked about

(in 2015). Some counties and cities (asked

for) a local option without a statewide

obligation.

UC&D: How do you feel about other

aspects of Utah’s infrastructure, primarily

water and wastewater facilities? Is Utah in

good shape or do you see a need for more

funding for non-highway infrastructure

projects?

GH: I think overall we’re in good

shape. We’re going in a good direction with

our water facilities. We have 466 water

districts, which offers some significant

challenges. Water is the only limiting factor

for growth in Utah. (Our) high birth rate

ensures we have growth, and water is a

significantly important issue. One – we

need to conserve better. There is a need

for more xeriscaping; we cannot have

sprawling (grass) landscapes as in years

past. Our goal is to reduce consumption by

25% by 2025; the good news is we’re two-

thirds towards that goal, and I full believe

we can reduce consumption in the face of

our rising population growth – we have to.

Secondly, there are opportunities for us to

develop new resources, like Lake Powell

Pipeline and Bear Riven Basin. Lake Powell

is (planned) for 2025; Bear River in 2035.

The costs are over a billion dollars. We

have water needs approaching $30 billion

including maintenance and expansion of

water and wastewater facilities. We are

addressing our needs by going around the

state and getting input from people, asking

them how they want to see the state

grow, in particular with water usage. I’m

confident we’re on the right road. >>

We’re going in a good direction with our water facilities. We have 466 water districts, which offers some significant challenges. Water is the only limiting factor for growth in Utah. (Our) high birth rate ensures we have growth, and

water is a significantly important issue.

Gary Herbert


UC&D: New DFCM Director Josh

Haines has been making a point to reach

out to local A/E/C firms in an effort to

improve working relationships and design/

construction processes. How would you

characterize Haines’ efforts thus far and

goals he may have discussed with you?

GH: He’s doing a fine job making the

transition. His approach is characterized

by a desire to listen to people outside

of government, particularly architects,

engineers and construction professionals.

We want to hear from them, what their

issues and ideas are as we plan the future

and go forward. We have a need for

unprecedented partnerships. Josh and our

people at DFCM understand the importance

of working with the private sector.

UC&D: What is your stance on

relocating the Utah State Prison? What is

the soonest design/construction activities

could begin on this key project?

GH: We need to consider whether the

state prison is in the right location or not,

particularly based on good programming.

It has limitations with its (current design).

Is there a better location? I think there

is. We need to determine how to finance

it…make a recommendation prior to the

2015 session. That will give us a pathway

forward. I don’t think it will happen until

we find a better location and make sure

funding is in place. That will open up some

valuable real estate that could help the

economy and improve quality of life. We

work hand in glove with the private sector

for the benefit of the people of Utah. It

won’t happen quicker than 2016-17. If

we do this right it should be win-win for

everybody.

UC&D: GOED and EDCUtah have

helped bring many new companies and

businesses to Utah. What are Utah’s main

strengths from an economic standpoint


The Unified Transportation Plan gives us a map forward in terms of challenges and revenue needs. We produce $43 billion in revenue and have $54 billion in needs. The $11 billion shortfall

needs to be addressed to meet demands on capacity

and the maintenance of existing infrastructure.

Governor Herbert believes talks will ramp up significantly during Utah’s 2015 Legislative session regarding future transportation funding, as outlined in the Unified Transportation Plan. (courtesy Leo Geis, Idaho Airships)


and what makes the state attractive to

these out-of-state companies?

GH: What has made it attractive it

that we have the most business-friendly

environment in the country. Companies

like Goldman Sachs, eBay, Google, Adobe,

Proctor and Gamble all say Utah is a

very business-friendly state. We’ve been

listed as the best or among the best in all

these different publications just this past

month. One is the Kaufmann Foundation

which had Utah as the No. 1 best state for

small businesses. They look at 30 different

criteria they base the ratings on and

Utah had the most Top 10 rankings. We’re

doing very well. We have competitive tax

rates, we have a great workforce with

a 29.2 median age. We have a government

that is very efficient; we don’t spend more

than we take in. We are one of a few state

governments with a triple-A bond rating –

that’s remarkable. Businesses are coming

here, and entrepreneurs are being developed

within our borders. Even venture capital is

flowing into Utah. They know this is a place to

invest if you want to increase market share in

the world. It’s a great, magical time for Utah.

UC&D: Spencer Eccles recently stepped

down after five years as GOED Executive

Director. What has been his greatest

contribution to the State during that

time and what is your expectation of his

successor, Val Hale?

GH: Spencer deserves some accolades.

He leaves big shoes to fill; I think Val Hale will

be a great compliment and will grow into the

bar. Spencer is great at building a collaborative

team. He understood how important it was

to work with the private sector. His entire

effort was having partnership. It’s called C2

+ E2: collaboration and coordination, plus

efficiency and effectiveness equals success.

We have a great track record, but we’re not

going to rest on our laurels.

UC&D: You are big proponent of STEM

education. In a past issue this year we

included an article on the Neil Armstrong

Academy in West Valley City, the state’s first

STEM school. Do you anticipate the state

setting aside funding for more of these

schools?

GH: I think we all recognize there

needs to be better alignment – as our kids

graduate and go on to college- they need

to understand where the jobs are, and

they can choose where their desires and

aptitudes are. STEM is a big part of that.

There are a lot of job opportunities with

some that only require a two-year degree

for a technician job making $65-$70,000 to

start. We ought to be producing engineers,

scientists, and mathematicians. We’re

going to put in resources.



Asphalt was used as one of the subgrade layers underneath 10 in. PCCP concrete pavement on various sections of the I-15 CORE project, which was completed in December 2012. The pavement was designed for a 40-year-plus life span. (courtesy Staker Parson Cos.)


Good roads are essential to Utah’s future

economic growth. That said, whether

it is concrete paving or asphalt paving,

municipal agencies think long and hard

about which surface will provide the most

bang for the buck, both initially and long-

term.

“Everybody has their own opinions,”

Randy Park, Project Development Director

at the Utah Department of Transportation

(UDOT), says when comparing concrete

vs. asphalt. “They both have their place.

We have great pavements of both types

that have served us well. There is always a

personal preference. We look at different

material types based on the inconvenience

to the traveling public for maintenance.”

Concrete paving is preferred by UDOT

and other municipalities for major urban

arterials with heavy traffic – including

large trucks/diesels and all heavy vehicles

– as it offers a longer life span and less

maintenance. Park said recent and future

concrete paving projects, including >>

Paving Trends

Local associations like UAPA, ACPA loyal to their own products, but understand that working together for the benefit of better constructed,

more durable roads is best for Utah’s citizens/taxpayers.

UDOT, Municipal Agencies EffectivelyUtilizing Concrete and Asphalt

Throughout Utah’s Roadway System

By Brad Fullmer


I-15 CORE in Utah County and the new ‘The

Point’ project from Draper to Lehi, are

designed for 40-plus-year life spans, with

special concrete mixes that can withstand

Utah’s harsh winters.

“Most urban pavements we put down

are concrete with 40- to 50-year life cycles,”

said Park, who has been with UDOT for 23

years. “Maintenance cycles (for concrete)

are less. Asphalt is better on rural I-15

or I-80 as it is not as impactful to the

traveling public. The majority of pavement

in the state is still asphalt. Concrete was

more durable in the past for heavy loads,

but that is not the case with SuperPave

asphalts. We have pretty much eliminated

rutting issues on Utah roads with polymer-

modified asphalts over the last 15 years.”

An example of concrete’s durability is

I-80 in Salt Lake from 1300 East to Parley’s

Canyon, a pavement was initially laid in

1964. Park says UDOT is not looking at

replacing that section, since it’s completely

serviceable and in really good overall

condition. “As long as we keep up with

rehab and maintenance it’s fine,” he said.

Comparable Initial CostsWhile asphalt has typically been

less expensive on initial costs, it is not

PAVING TRENDS

“It should be about what makes sense for the taxpayer community. Concrete has benefits, asphalt has benefits. Engineers need to

make that decision on what is the best solution.” - Mitzi McIntyre

The reconstruction of 1300 South in Salt Lake City is an example of how a municipal agency like Salt Lake City Corp. will place concrete on roadways with significant heavy traffic use, partly to decrease the amount of maintenance needed long-term. (by Dana Sohm)


considered as big of a discrepancy as

it once was, said Jason Simmons, UDOT

Region 2 Pavement Engineer. A 20-year

asphalt pavement design – with 8 inches

on top of a 26-inch base, calculates out

to $43/SY. A 40-year concrete pavement

design, with 10 inches of Portland Cement

Concrete, 4 inches of lean concrete base

and a 16-inch road base is approximately

$55/SY. Current major pavement projects

utilizing concrete include I-15 South Davis

project, I-80 from Silver Creek to Wanship,

and SR-201 from 5600 West to 9200 West.

In regards to maintenance, Simmons

said UDOT has a statewide budget of $34.3

million for preservation projects and

$103.1 million for rehabilitation projects.

“Maintenance repair costs vary depending

on the type of project,” said Simmons. “If

we are doing preservation, we can chip

seal a road from about $1.75/SY or $6.00/

SY for a thin asphalt overlay. When we do a

rehabilitation project we usually include 3

inches of asphalt with a surface treatment,

between $13-$17/SY.

“We’re always trying to improve

durability and life-cycle costs,” he added.

“Ad mixtures and chemicals make concrete

cure faster, but reduce durability. We want

to improve products to make it cure faster

but have the same durability. In regards to

asphalt, we’re turning our attention to low

temperature mixes and testing to see how

asphalt reacts when it’s cold along with

other improvements. If concrete is only 20-

25% more (initially), when you run a life-cycle

cost concrete wins almost every thing.”

“We have a number of paving products

that work remarkably well for our state,”

said Rich Thorn, President/CEO of the

Associated General Contractors (AGC) of

Utah. “We support educated owners in the

selection of the product that is best suited

for their particular need. Our members

pave the majority of roads in Utah, and we

have great firms on both sides. Rather than

legislate, we need to spend more energy on

helping owners make educated decisions.”

‘Friendly’ Association CompetitionThe two major local paving

associations are the Utah Asphalt Paving

Association (UAPA) and the Utah Chapter of

the American Concrete Paving Association

(ACPA). Both chapter executive directors

say they are committed to working

together for the betterment of the entire

construction industry, not just their

chapter members.

“It should be about what makes sense

for the taxpayer community,” said Mitzi

McIntyre, Executive Director Utah ACPA

Chapter. “Concrete has benefits, asphalt

has benefits. Engineers need to make that

decision on what is the best solution. When

you have a healthy pavement competition

it is better for a DOT or municipal agency

because they get the best price possible.

We do not try and be adversarial with

(UAPA). It’s in everyone’s best interest to

work together at building better roads.”

“I agree and appreciate Mitzi for taking

that approach,” said Reed Ryan, Executive

Director of UAPA. “That is also the approach

of our association. We will never attack

concrete paving. What we want to do is

build better roads through education and

training. Approximately 90% of roads in

Utah are asphalt and that carries a heavy

responsibility to work together and be

better stewards at what we do.”

Better Mix Designs; Night PavingA key project nearing completion is

1300 South in Salt Lake City, one of the

busiest roads in the state that runs past

Salt Lake Bees Stadium. The project is

being done with concrete for greater

durability and less maintenance repairs.

Bill Brown, Pavement Manager for

Salt Lake City Corp., said City Engineers

and consultants go over multiple factors

to ensure best cost, least impact to public,

greatest durability, etc. >>

PAVING TRENDS

“We have a number of paving products that work remarkably well for our state. We support educated owners in the selection of the product that is best suited for their particular needs.” – Rich Thorn, AGC President/CEO


“This evaluation includes whether

the pavement is new construction or

rehabilitation, our available project funding,

projected maintenance requirements of the

pavement, and traffic volume and loads,”

Brown said. He added that advantages

of asphalt include speed of construction,

typically a lower cost of initial installation,

better ride quality, and less difficult utility

repairs. Concrete offers better durability,

little ongoing maintenance, and a reduction

in urban heat islands.

“Both pavement types perform

well when properly constructed and

maintained,” Brown added. “Asphalt

makes more sense when rehabilitating

existing asphalt streets and where funding

restrictions require it. Concrete makes

more sense when long-term durability and

minimal maintenance is desired.”

The 1300 South project, being built

by Geneva Rock of Salt Lake, will likely be

completed at the end of the September,

roughly 90 days from beginning, according

to Cody Preston, Concrete Paving Manager.

This project is unique, he said, because there

is a lean concrete layer on top of stabilized

road base. Also, none of the utilities are

being replaced, and most of the curb and

gutter will also remain intact. Major paving

operations have been occurring at night

from 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., part of the City’s

preference to mitigate traffic impacts.

Jay Ritchie, Vice President of Geneva’s

Concrete Division, said this mix design

includes 1 inch to 1.5 inch aggregate, 6.5

bags of cement, 20% fly ash replacement of

the cementitious materials, low amount of

water for minimal slump, and air entrainment

chemical additives for freeze/thaw durability.

“We collaborate to make it the

absolutely most durable concrete we can

make,” said Ritchie. “We like as much large

aggregate as we can get and still have

enough paste to give you a good finish. In

concrete paving, it’s very stiff (mix) and all

handled by the (paving) machine. There is

minimal contact with the workers, which

contributes to higher durability.”

PAVING TRENDS



xhibiting some things old and some

things new, 101 Tower in downtown

Salt Lake City is a marriage of

traditional and modern looks and

development technologies.

According to Darin Bell, Design

Director and Principal with Salt Lake

City-based Babcock Design Group, the

building was four years in the making,

from feasibility studies and reviewing

site options, to design development,

construction and its recent completion.

Salt Lake’s Boyer Company is the

developer of the seven-story, 145,000 SF

office building and Jacobsen Construction

of Salt Lake City handled the build.

The new $34 million project, aiming for

LEED Silver certification, is situated on a

prime piece of real estate – holding down

the corners of 100 South (with the actual

address being 101) and 200 East. As such,

101 Tower helps tie the block to the City

Center project to the west, as well as to 102

Tower (the old Questar building across the

street), which was also purchased by Boyer

in 2013 and renovated.

With its location in mind, the Class-A

office building was designed to take

advantage of the surrounding 360-degree

panoramic vistas of the Salt Lake Valley.

“Boyer wanted to maximize the views,

so there is a lot of glass on the building,”

said Bell. “They did not want, however,

a glass box. Parts of the design are very

traditional in scale, proportion and use of

stone, and other parts are almost totally

glass.”

Bell said that the two lower levels

of the building feature a colonnade

of large blocks of Honed Brown’s

Canyon Limestone, supplied by Delta

Stone Products that offer really

beautiful coloration. That coloration

is complemented by polished Giallo

Venetiano granite panels on the upper

levels.

According to Bell, the selection of

high-quality materials was extremely

important to Boyer executives.

“It was the focus of some of our

earliest discussions,” Bell said, “and the

building is designed to showcase those

materials.”

The limestone and deep recessed

windows on the first two levels augment

the building’s classical look and feel. The

curtain wall and one of the building’s most

distinctive features – a clear glass pyramid,

which is lit up at night – give it a sleek,

modern look.

“The corner entrance feature

culminates in a stunning, clear glass

pyramid that glows at night,” Bell said. “We

used clear glass to expose the structure

inside and create interesting light patterns

for nighttime illumination.”

One of the main challenges facing

the design team, said Bell, was settling

on choices of glass – which offer many

options in regards to color, transparency

and reflectivity.

“It is hard to tell, even with a large

mock up, what the effect will actually be

on the building,” Bell said. “There is a lot

of clarity looking out of this glass, but the

owners and tenants did not want to see

clutter from the outside. There is enough

reflectivity from the outside that the >>

Limestone and deep recessed windows, along witha distinctive clear glass pyramid, provide a sleek,

modern look to stately new building.

By Doug Fox | Photos by Dana Sohm


clutter is really hidden. We reviewed a lot

of different glass types, and I think this

selection worked out very well.”

According to Bell, one of the other

design challenges was that the corner

entry dictated a rotated core.

“The rotated core leaves odd leftover

spaces that are sometimes hard to utilize,”

he said, “although the visual effect of the

lobby is very nice.”

Other amenities include a parking

structure for 350 vehicles and a gym. The

law firm of Parr Brown Gee & Loveless has

already moved into the building, occupying

the top three floors.

“This space is significantly more

efficient and will enable us to better

serve our clients,” said partner David

Gee in a press release. “Technology

enhancements, increased trial

preparation and client meeting rooms,

along with adjacent parking, will also add

to the client experience.”

101 TowerCost: $34 Million

Size: 7 stories; 145,000 SF

Owner: The Boyer Company, SLC

Architect: Babcock Design Group, SLC

GC: Jacobsen Construction, SLC

“The corner entrance feature culminates in

a stunning, clear glass pyramid that glows at

night,” Bell said. “We used clear glass to expose the

structure inside and create interesting light patterns for

nighttime illumination.”


Founder and family patriarch Roger Monsen’s vision, work ethic remain a hallmark at long-time Salt Lake

A/E/C supply company.

By Brad Fullmer

At the age of 57, when many men find

themselves occasionally gazing ahead to

retirement, Roger Monsen rolled the dice and

started an A/E/C supply company – Salt Lake-

based Monsen Engineering (ME) – in 1974.

Monsen had been a long-time

salesman for Pembroke Company (27 years)

in Salt Lake and worked a four-state region,

mainly in Utah. When corporate giant Boise

Cascade bought Pembroke’s in ’74, Monsen

wasn’t keen with various corporate

All in the Family (left to right): Paul Monsen, R.P. Monsen, Richard Monsen, Jason Monsen, David Monsen, Emily Monsen, James Monsen, Ali Monsen, Mikel Monsen. Each has a significant role within the 40-year-old supply firm.

Original Monsen Engineering employees from 1974 (left to right): Founder Roger Paul Monsen, Sr. , Joe Bertrum, Grace Jones, Jack Nelson, Ron Andrews, Paul Monsen, Jim Vealie and Richard Monsen. (courtesy ME)


bureaucracies and after butting heads

with management on a few occasions

found himself out of a job and wondering

what to do next.

“He had a difficult decision to make

at 57,” said Richard Monsen, a son of

Roger and current company President

who started at ME full-time in 1977 after

graduating from Utah State University. “He

had to ask himself, ‘Do I retire, or go all-in

and put all my retirement and investments

into a new business?’ Fortunately he

started the business. He went for it.”

Richard said his father immediately

contacted manufacturers he had worked

with for years including Blu-Ray, which

made blueprint machines, and K&E

(Keuffel and Esser), which made drafting

instruments and supplies, and secured

those dealership lines. He also set about

raising $100,000, part of which he got from

younger brother Kent Monsen in exchange

for partnership in the firm. Finally, he lured

away four key people he had worked with

at Pembroke’s – Jack Nelson, Ron Andrews,

Joe Bertram, and Grace Jones – and hired

Kent’s son and his nephew, Paul, who had

just graduated in business management

from the University of Utah.

Even Roger’s wife, Nan, pitched in

during those early years, Paul recalled,

coming in at the end of each month and

spending hours typing in hundreds of

transactions.

“It would take us two days to do all

the billing and add up all charges – it was

archaic,” he said. “She was a trooper. She

worked for several years doing that until

we got a computer.”

As Monsen Engineering celebrates

its 40th anniversary, second- and third-

generation family members strive to live

up to Roger Monsen’s legacy in how they

conduct day-to-day business, and are

cognizant of the faith he had four decades

ago in starting the company.

“It was a rough go for a man at 57, first

to come up with the finances, and second,

to find a building,” said Roger (R.P.) Monsen

Jr., who has been with the company since

1986, and managed the reprographics

department for years. “What impressed

me at the time was the loyalty the people

at Pembroke’s had to follow him and help

him get things off the ground. He listened

to customers, he responded to their needs,

and many times he took a chance on the

integrity of individuals and rarely, if ever,

got burned.”

“The past 40 years it’s been an

incredible journey,” said Paul, who serves

as Vice President of Finance and has

handled all accounting-related work since

the beginning. “It’s been a passion for

our family and to see how the industry

has changed in regards to drafting and

surveying has been interesting.”

Multi-GenerationalThere are currently three second-

generation and six third-generation

Monsen family members employed with

the firm, along with others who have

worked at the family business over the

years.

Richard has three children at ME,

including James (3D Scanning Sales),

Emily (Marketing/Sales Support) and Ali

(Purchasing Agent); Paul has two, Mikel

(Media and Large Format Sales) and David

(Accounting); R.P.’s son, Jason, recently

took over as Reprographics and Scanning

Manager.

“It’s rare to have that succession,” said

Richard.

“All four of my children have worked

here in some form or another over the

years; they care as much about what is

going on with the company as we do,” said

Paul.

“We all have the same goal, and the

same vision,” said Emily.

Richard said that ME’s customer base

is much the same as it has been from day

one, even if the items the company sells

have changed considerably, including

products from manufacturers like Trimble,

HP, Canon, Faro, Surphaser, and Contex.

“Roger used to say on occasion ‘take

care of the customer, run a lean business,

and the profit will come.’ It’s simplistic, but

it’s how we run our business,” said Richard.

The elder Monsen was a tireless worker

who came into the office well into his 80’s,

before passing away in 2004 at 87.

Growth/Expansion; Rebounding from Recession; Looking Forward

Monsen Engineering’s growth over the

years has tended to mirror the economy.

In the late 90’s the firm enjoyed excellent

growth in Utah and saw opportunities to

expand into other markets, opening an

office in Las Vegas in 1999 and acquiring a

similar firm, Ingenuity, in Reno in 2002. The

firm has 32 employees: 22 in Salt Lake, and

5 each in Las Vegas and Reno.

“We had 10 great years in Las Vegas;

there were months when that office would

do as much business as we did in Salt

Lake, with five people vs. 20,” said Richard.

“Then we got hit with the recession like

everybody else.”

Richard said revenues in all offices

were cut in half starting in 2009, yet slowly

ME has been building its annual revenues

back up, and all signs are that positive

growth will continue in the immediate

future.

“We had a goal of 15% growth, which

we’ll struggle to hit, but we are seeing

some positive things,” said Richard. “Our

sales are halfway back up and we might get

back to (2008 levels) at some point, but it’s

because we’re going broader and deeper,

not because the market is going crazy.”

Richard, 60, and Paul, 65, are

coshareholders and will ultimately pass

the baton to their children, with supreme

confidence the company will remain

successful.

“Richard and I will eventually retire

like Roger did,” said Paul. “It’s been a

success for 40 years and we expect our

children to take over, and they’ll make a

great go of it in the future.”

“If everything flows the way it should,

it’ll be one more generation,” added

Richard. “Business is good, we have a good

organization. They’re talented, they have

the energy and drive to be successful.”

All four of my children

have worked here in

some form or another

over the years; they care

as much about what

is going on with the

company as we do.

“

”


I don’t think the size of

the project is the criteria

for difficulty. Even a small

plaque can present a lot

of difficulty. We’ve tried

to maintain a high level

of quality from day one

and that continues to be

tested. – Lance Bunker

“

”


Among the final items installed on most

significant projects is the building’s

signage, or branding items. How

important are these pieces? Branding is

typically a powerful marketing component

for any business, and well-crafted, top-

end signs and branding components

should properly reflect what that business

stands for and what its image is.

At least that’s the philosophy of

Lance and Jason Bunker of Allotech, a

Salt Lake-based company specializing

in architectural signage and branding

elements that is celebrating its

30th anniversary this year from its

incorporation in 1984. The firm’s

handiwork can be found on dozens of

high-profile projects throughout Utah,

including corporate (Nu Skin, Hoopes

Vision), entertainment/event complexes

(Rice-Eccles Stadium, Davis Conference

Center, South Towne Expo Center), higher

education (U of U College of Nursing), K-12

(Corner Canyon High) and many others.

“From concept through design,

fabrication and installation (of signage)

can take up to a year,” said Jason, Lance’s

son and company Vice President. “A

building can take six months to four

years to build. Why would an owner want

signage done in a couple of days? You

want something that matches the artistic

nature of the building. A lot of times we’re

problem solving. Designers and architects

have an idea of what they want, but a lot of

times it is lost in the bidding process, and

the end product doesn’t resemble what

they had in mind. We provide them exactly

what they envision.”

“The best compliment,” said Lance,

Founder and President, “is when the owner

says, ‘it’s exactly as you said it would be’.

The last thing we want to hear is, ‘okay,

that will work.’ We try to produce exactly

what the architect/owner has envisioned

and designed.”

Finding the WayLance Bunker’s knowledge of making

architectural signage in the early 80’s

was virtually nil when he went to work

for his father, Richard, who manufactured

photopolymer-printing plates for the

newspaper industry. Tough economic

conditions forced his father out of

business, so Lance took it over and landed

a contract to do work he candidly says he

really didn’t know how to do.

“When my father’s business ceased, I

was looking for a way not to go back into

construction and one of our clients was

the old Auerbach’s building (in Salt Lake),”

he recalled. “They asked if we could supply

them with signs made by deep chemical

etching. I didn’t know what it was but

we said yes. We struggled for six months

coming up with the right process. When we

found a unique system, a unique ability to

manipulate metal with graphics, it evolved

into a viable company. I do have to give

credit that this was born out of his genius. I

never would have had this avenue.” >>

Allotech has morphed over three decades into a

diverse specialist in architectural signage.

By Brad Fullmer

Allotech manufactured the main sign for Nu Skin’s Corporate Headquarters in Provo, using 4,000 pounds of stainless steel that was machine cut, hand rolled and fabricated, hand polished, delivered and installed within four months. (courtesy Allotech)


For years Allotech did strictly deep

chemical metal etching, before evolving

into the signage world, although the

Bunker’s admit they don’t like being called

a ‘sign company’ and try to distinguish

their skillset and offerings from such firms.

“We’ve evolved,” said Jason. “For years we

didn’t distinguish ourselves as a sign company.

People don’t necessarily know what we do.”

Answering the CallAllotech strives to provide full-

solution signage packages that require

little, if no, future maintenance, including

design-assist with all manufacturing

and installation processes. They pride

themselves on ultra-quick turnaround

times, even on highly complex projects.

For the main sign at Nu Skin’s

Corporate Headquarters in Provo, Allotech

used 4,000 pounds of stainless steel

that was machine cut, hand rolled and

fabricated, hand polished and delivered/

installed in less than four months.

The firm recently manufactured a sign in

three weeks for the IM Flash campus in Lehi

that had to be completed before the Tour of

Utah bicycle race in early August. It’s a large,

pedestal-mounted sign that is 12 ft. wide

by 8 ft. high and 2 ft. deep, made of custom

ceramic glass that mimics IM Flash discs, one

Jason called very unique in the firm’s catalog.

Lance also tells of a plaque made

for the Huntsman Chemical Corporation

Headquarters several years ago, where

Margaret Thatcher spoke and performed

the dedication ceremony. Allotech was

given three days to make the plaque.

“We were still finishing it at 5:00 a.m.

for a 10:00 a.m. dedication,” Lance said.

“That’s how close many of our projects are.

Sometimes you’re not given much time,

but the last thing you want to do is miss a

dedication. We don’t miss ribbon cuttings.”

It’s that commitment to detail and

willingness to jump through hoops that

has helped the firm thrive in recent years,

even during the recession starting in ’08.

Jason said over the past five-plus years,

annual revenues have jumped by 35%-50%

each year, an enviable growth period for

any firm even during good economic times.

“We actually did well during the

recession,” says Lance. “We have several

avenues for getting work. “A lot of work

is brought in directly by the architect

because they want our expertise and

don’t want it to go to bid. They want our

flexibility. A lot of companies want to

work directly with us and cut through to

the value engineering. They work with us

directly so they get what they want.”

At the end of the day, quality and

hitting deadlines keeps clients coming back.

“I don’t think the size of the project is

the criteria for difficulty,” Lance says. “Even

a small plaque can present a lot of difficulty.

We’ve tried to maintain a high level of quality

from day one and that continues to be tested.”

“What we do isn’t throwaway – it’s a

signature for the company we’re doing it for

and it leaves an impression upon society

as to who they are,” adds Jason. “We tend

to feel like we’re part of the process and we

leave a signature of who we are.”


Question: What do the Xactware building,

the USTAR Life Sciences Research Center,

and the University Of Utah SJ Quinney

Law School building all have in common?

Answer: They were all constructed using

a process called building commissioning

to ensure the buildings, and the systems

within them, function as the owner

envisioned. In other words, it’s a final

quality assurance/quality control measure

to confirm each systems’ performance

complies with the design intent and the

buildings functional, operational, and

maintenance needs.

Due to recent changes to the

International Energy Conservation Codes,

sections C403 and C405 (IECC), effective

July 1, 2014, buildings constructed after

this date must comply with the 2012

IECC code. However, buildings currently

under construction, or currently being

commissioned, will fall under the previous

2009 code. The end result will be a lot

more buildings will work more efficiently

because their systems will be tested and

balanced. This updated code will impact

several project schedules, and their final

cost, slated to be completed throughout

Utah in the next several years. The

updated code pertains primarily to the

buildings mechanical and lighting systems.

Highlights of the new code

requirements include:

• A commissioning plan must be

developed by a registered Professional

Engineer.

• The mechanical systems must pass a

TAB (test and balance) test to ensure

they are working most efficiently.

• The building must pass a functional

performance testing in all modes and

sequences of operation.

• HVAC control systems must be tested

to verify the control devices are

calibrated correctly.

• The building inspector is not allowed

to give final mechanical inspection on

the building until the owner receives

a Preliminary Commissioning Report

from a licensed Professional Engineer.

• All lighting will be based on lighting

loads to ensure maximum efficiency.

Two Utah-based companies that

are well versed in providing building

commissioning services are Total Building

Commissioning (TBC) and Ecube. Ray Dodd,

President of Total Building Commissioning,

sees “the goal of commissioning as

assuring the success of the project for the

owner, designers and contractors alike.”

Likewise, Joe Havey, President and CEO of

Ecube, states “With the construction of

buildings being more complicated, while

trying to reduce overall energy usage,

proper building commissioning becomes

much more important.”

Both companies specialize in

commissioning of buildings of all sizes,

including LEED certified buildings, as

well as mission critical facilities such as:

hospitals, laboratories, and data centers.

One company that benefitted from TBC

services is Xactware where TBC provided

commissioning services on the $60 million -

250,000 sq. ft. facility in Lehi. On this project,

TBC worked closely with Big-D Construction

and according to Eric Dunn, Big-D Project

Manager, TBC “organized things so

that the process went smoothly. Their

understanding of the systems and how

they were all supposed to work together

was integral to the project’s success.

TBC brought a history of knowledge and

experience of commissioning systems and

how to integrate all aspects as one working

unit.” Dunn stated.

Likewise, Ecube provided building

commissioning services on the 110,000 sq.

ft. USTAR Life Sciences Research Center in

Logan. The firm was brought on early in the

project’s design phase and contributed to

the overall evaluation of systems for the

building. According to Jill Jones, President

of Salt Lake-based ajc architects, “Ecube

provided an independent voice and

perspective to the overall system design

and provided additional value to the

efficiency of the systems selected.”

When talking about building

commissioning, it is important to

mention a major player in the game – the

Building Commissioning 101

Required changes now effective per updated International Energy Conservation Code

By Amy Steinbrech

> Building Commissioning

The SJ Quinney Law School at the University of Utah is an example of how building commissioning can influence design. (courtesy VCBO/SmithgroupJJR)


State of Utah. The Division of Facilities

Construction and Management (DFCM)

manages all State-owned facilities and

is responsible for their construction and

maintenance. DFCM provides a wide

variety of services for State agencies, from

selecting an architect and/or engineer

to conducting testing and inspections

all the way through monitoring the

warranty period. According to John

Burningham, Energy Program Director

at DFCM, the agency is well prepared to

meet the new IECC requirements and

they do not expect many changes to

their commissioning efforts due to their

past robust commissioning practices.

“As building owners we are pushing

our commissioning teams to provide

the level of service we need to fully

optimize the functional performance of

our buildings. The result is buildings that

are more comfortable, energy efficient and

cost less to operate”, Burningham stated.

He believes that commissioning, when

done effectively, adds significant value to

State owned buildings during construction

and over the life of the building.

Both TBC and Ecube see definite

advantages to these new code

requirements. However, both see

some challenges. “In some cases, there

will be slightly higher initial design

and construction costs. However,

commissioning, when performed by an

experienced provider, helps save money.”

Havey stated. For TBC, “LEED has been a

major driver for commissioning in buildings.

The new IECC code will expose contractors

to commissioning that have been unfamiliar

with the process. Our challenge will be

to educate them about commissioning

and show them how it can reduce their

warranty costs and provide them with a

better product overall,” Dodd stated.

For additional information about the

new IECC code changes, and what they will

mean to your company’s bottom line, visit:

http://www.totalbuildingcommissioning.

com/2014/07/standby-for-changes-

required-commissioning-for-commercial-

mechanical-and-lighting-systems-per-the-

iecc-2012-code/.


In looking at the numbers behind

UC&D’s 2014 Top Utah Engineering Firm

Rankings, what stands out the most is the

consistency local engineering firm’s have

shown in the past 2-3 years, with average

annual revenues either holding steady, or

illustrating positive signs of growth in all

disciplines.

Of the 16 firms to participate this year,

14 disclosed annual revenues. Included in

these rankings are 8 civil engineering firms,

5 MEP (mechanical/electrical) firms, and 3

structural engineering firms. Every effort

was made to encourage firms to participate,

whether or not they disclosed revenues.

Horrocks Engineers of Pleasant Grove,

a civil firm, was the top revenue producing

company from 2013 at $25.6 million, a nearly

$6 million, 23% increase over 2012.

MEP firm Van Boerum & Frank Associates

of Salt Lake was second overall and No. 1

MEP at $11.2 million from 2013, followed by

Draper-based Sunrise Engineering (civil) at

$9.8 million, Jones & DeMille of Richfield (civil)

at $9.78 million, and Spectrum Engineers (MEP)

of Salt Lake at $9.06 million.

Three civil firms – H.W. Lochner of Salt

Lake ($5.5 million), Michael Baker International

of Midvale ($5.3 million) and Psomas of Salt

Lake ($4.76 million) were within $750,000 of

each other. Each of those firms saw a slight

downturn in revenues from ’12-’13.

The remaining six firms to disclose 2013

revenues – were within $500,000 +/- of their

respective 2012 numbers. Reaveley Engineers

+ Associates was the highest revenue-

producer among structural engineering firms

at $4.64 million, followed by BHB Consulting

Engineers (structural) at $3.41 million. Two

electrical firms, Envision Engineering and

Ken Garner Engineering, came in at $2.67

million and $1.87 million, respectively.

Regarding the busiest market

segments for participating firms, obviously

the highway market is tops among civil

engineers, with two firms, H.W. Lochner and

Michael Baker International having 100% of

their revenues from highway.

Among building designers, top

markets in Utah include healthcare, higher

education, K-12, commercial/retail and civic/

institutional. Sunrise reported just over

two-thirds of its overall revenues from the

wastewater and water segments.

2014 Top Utah Engineering Firm Rankings

Utah Construction & Design is pleased to publish a list of the Top Engineering Firms in Utah based on revenues generated in 2013 by

firms with headquarters and/or offices in Utah. Firms are ranked by revenues generated from their UTAH OFFICES. Firms who chose

not to disclose revenues (DND) are ranked after revenue-disclosing firms in order based on number of employees. Every effort was

made to contact respective firms and encourage their participation.

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> Marketing Solutions

It’s a proven fact that the attention span

of the average American is 8 seconds.

Imagine what that means for the

proposal you’ve just spent a week

preparing. Will the reviewer take the time

to read your detailed project approach? Or

will he/she scan through, moving on to the

next? Given the above statistic and the fact

that selection committee members are

busy professionals with multiple proposals

to review, it’s a pretty good bet they are

scanning.

What can you do to attract and keep

the attention of that selection committee

reviewer? Over the last few years I’ve

been converted to the idea of using

graphics to catch attention and keep the

reader engaged – all the way through the

proposal.

It’s easy enough to do: just think of

your proposal like a glossy magazine. Your

goal is to make the proposal something the

reviewer WANTS to look at.

Here are a few simple tips to use

graphics to attract attention to your

proposals:

• Invest in high quality photography.

Hire an architectural photographer to

make your project pop. Infuse life in

the photos by showing people using

the space. Use stock photos of happy

people connected to the project

(example: show a happy senior couple

in a proposal for an assisted living

facility).

• Convert boilerplate information to

infographics. 65% of Americans are

visual learners. We are attracted

to visual clues and our brains store

images in long-term memory. Text

that otherwise would be glossed over

can become interesting when shown

as a graphic. Don’t have access to

Illustrator? Use online infographic

creators like Piktochart or Easel.ly to

create custom infographics.

• Reinforce management plan text

with graphic representation. Don’t

let that custom management plan

be overlooked. Pull out main ideas

and emphasize them with a graphic.

This grabs the reader’s attention,

concentrating it on that section. With

interest piqued they will look for

details nearby.

• Use pull-out quotes and bullets. Keep

them concise, relevant and interesting.

Using bullets and pull-out quotes are

the time-tested way to catch a scanner.

• Double-side your prints. Use the

extra page to showcase large photos.

Consider spanning photos across page

spreads for that magazine look.

• Cut unnecessary “fluff” narrative. Make

it worth their while if they do pause to

read your text. Concentrate on what’s

really important to the client and you’ll

keep them reading.

• Utilize white space. Attractive layouts

include a place for the reader’s eye to

rest. Less is more.

Kimberly Johnson is the Marketing

Manager at Ogden-based R&O

Construction, and President of the Society

for Marketing Professional Services –

Utah Chapter (2013-14). She has 14 years

experience marketing in the AEC industry

and is a Certified Professional Services

Marketer (CPSM).

Graphics Attract Attention

By Kimberly Johnson

Kimberly Johnson

What can you do to attract and keep the attention of that selection committee reviewer? Over the last few years

I’ve been converted to the idea of using graphics to catch attention and keep the reader engaged – all the way

through the proposal.


Index of Advertisers

Arnold Machinery ..............................................................................................................................37

Babcock Design Group ...................................................................................................................36

BHB Consulting Engineers ...........................................................................................................36

busybusy.com ......................................................................................................................................15

Dunn Associates .................................................................................................................................14

FFKR Architects ...................................................................................................................................13

Fox Audio/Video .................................................................................................................................46

Granite Construction .........................................................................................................................6

Hanson ......................................................................................................................................................45

Henry Day Ford ...............................................................................................................Back Cover

Holland & Hart ...................................................................................................................................IBC

Honnen Equipment .............................................................................................................................9

Kilgore Companies ............................................................................................................................27

Layton Construction .......................................................................................................................11

MCWI ...........................................................................................................................................................26

Method Studio .....................................................................................................................................39

Monsen Engineering .......................................................................................................................18

Parr Brown Gee Loveless ..............................................................................................................21

ProSoft .......................................................................................................................................................16

R&O Construction .................................................................................................................................5

Reavley Engineers + Assoc. .........................................................................................................13

Richards Brandt Miller Nelson ..................................................................................................39

Sohm Photogrfx ..................................................................................................................................44

Staker Parson Cos. ................................................................................................................................2

UDOT/Zero Fatalities ..........................................................................................................................4

Utelite ........................................................................................................................................................11

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

Utah Construction & Design

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