Massive Concrete Pour Kicks Off City Creek Project

First major component of proposed $1.5 billion development in downtown Salt Lake is an estimated $150 million residential tower. For the foundation, workers poured 7,600 cu. yds. of concrete in an area 150 ft. long, 130 ft. wide and 13 ft. at its deepest point.

The first major construction aspect of the massive City Creek Center project in downtown Salt Lake occurred March 14-15 as more than 7,600 cu. yds. of concrete were continuously placed during an overnight 15-hour period, laying the foundation of an estimated 32-story, $150 million residential tower.

Key parties involved during the pour included general contractor Okland Construction of Salt Lake City, concrete supplier Geneva Rock Products of Salt Lake City, and Burbidge Concrete Pumping. Geneva utilized four of its Wasatch Front plants for ready mix supplies, while Burbidge used six of its pumping trucks. In all, more than 850 loads were delivered to the job site, peaking at about 100 deliveries per hour.

The foundation area is 150 ft. long by 130 ft. wide and 13 ft. deep at the deepest point. The foundation is supported by 172 auger-cast piles that plunge 72 ft. below ground. The foundation includes 670 tons of steel rebar, enough to manufacture 285 full-size pickup trucks.

Workers used special equipment to vibrate and mix the concrete as it was poured so that it cured without forming separate layers or cold joints that would weaken the structural integrity of the foundation. The “performance-based design” of the foundation incorporated innovative high-rise engineering and construction techniques, including advanced seismic protection measures.

Mammoth Winco Distribution Center to be Built in Boise

A. Epstein and Sons International, Inc. of Chicago has been chosen to design and build a new 786,000 sq. ft. grocery distribution center for WinCo Foods, a major supermarket retailer with more than 60 stores in California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon and Washington.

The new center is located in Boise on 80 acres southeast of Boise Airport. The center will feature 246,000 sq. ft. of refrigerated space and 330,000 sq. ft. of warehouse space. In addition, the facility will have 107 truck docks, a dispatch office, truck maintenance facility, refueling center, vehicle washing center and guard house. Groundbreaking is planned for summer of 2009.

“The new facility will cost-effectively support WinCo’s rapid growth and low-cost business model as well as well as Epstein’s continued leadership in design-build for distribution centers in the grocery industry and beyond,” said John Patelski, executive managing director with Epstein.

This is the third major assignment from WinCo, an employee-owned company headquartered in Boise and whose stores are open 24 hours a day. Epstein also designed and built a 725,000 sq. ft. distribution center in Ceres, Calif., completed in 2004. It currently is in the process of expanding that facility by 125,000 sq. ft.

Cameron Completes Jewish Synagogue

Salt Lake City-based Cameron Construction recently completed the 30,000 sq. ft. synagogue for Temple Har Shalom in Park City, Utah, adjacent to Hwy 224. This world-class facility provides the Jewish community a permanent location for all of its religious and social activities.

Professor Alfred Jacoby of Germany and Prescott Muir Architects of Salt Lake City designed the facility. The building consists of classrooms, conference room, offices, kitchen, a multi-purpose room and synagogue. The building was constructed of block, brick and wood siding, with radiant heat, state of the art electrical and AV systems and classic interior finishes, wood ceilings, polished concrete floors and stained glass windows. The main dedication of the facility is scheduled for June 27.

Sturgeon Electrical Project Close to Completion

Midgley Construction of Salt Lake is close to finishing up a new office and maintenance facility for Sturgeon Electric in Salt Lake City. The $2.6 million facility totals about 21,000 sq. ft. that includes a 6,000 sq. ft. office building and a 15,000 sq. ft. warehouse. Sturgeon Electric, a Henderson-Colorado based provider of electrical construction services, is nearly doubling the size of its current facility. Using tilt-up construction, Midgley will finish the building in brick and glass and the grounds will feature a xeriscaped landscape system.

Snake River Bridge Replacement Underway

Sletten Construction Company of Boise started construction in March on the $10 million Snake River Bridge Replacement project, located in Weiser, Idaho. Originally proposed as a bridge remodel, the project has taken shape as a brand new bridge, since projected costs were close to identical.

The original bridge, built in 1956, will be replaced by an 876 ft. long bridge that will be built in two phases. To start, a one-lane structure will be built next to the old bridge. When that is finished, traffic will be moved to the new structure during which, the old bridge is removed. When the old bridge is completely removed, the second half of the new bridge will be built and the two structures connected. From pier to pier, six 146 ft. suspension beams will hold up the bridge itself, supported by 20 beams, which measure 4 ft. in diameter, drilled 100 ft. deep in the ground. The bridge is scheduled to be completed in September 2009.

Idaho Technologies Project Breaks Ground

The Salt Lake City, Utah-based Idaho Technologies business office is under construction. The project is being built by Paulsen Construction and broke ground in March, with an expected completed by the end of 2008. The remodel is projected at $5 million and is an expansion of the third floor of the already existing office building, which when complete will total 45,000 sq. ft.

Robinson Bros. Building Mt. State Pipe Facility

Robinson Brothers Construction of Vancouver, Wash., started construction on the new Mountain States Pipe Manufacturing Building in April in West Jordan, Utah. The two-story, 50,000 sq. ft. office and warehouse building will be built using tilt-up concrete and finished with painted concrete. The $3.8 million budget includes a man-made stream with a built-in waterfall, bringing a unique natural element to the project. Construction will be complete by December 2008.

Northwest Community Center in Midst of Remodel

Zwick Construction of Salt Lake City began construction in March on a $1.3 million remodel of the Northwest Community Center in Salt Lake.

The renovation project includes putting in new CMU walls, a new grid ceiling, new electrical updates, and improvements to the HVAC systems. Currently the facility offers a full gym, an office area, and an indoor sand volleyball court, which was originally a pool that was filled in with sand. The remodel includes a new parking lot, which presents an obstacle for the construction process, said Darin Zwick, president of Zwick Construction.

“Part of the difficulty is working with the high water table in this area,” said Zwick. “Working in sequence and on schedule requires a well laid-out plan.” The project is slated for completion in October 2008.

New Student Center Planned for BYU Idaho

The student union building at BYU Idaho in Rexburg, Idaho is undergoing its second renovation since it was built in1965. Salt Lake-based FFKR Architects in conjunction with Okland Construction of Salt Lake is working with BYU Idaho to remodel and make additions to the existing building, estimated at $70 to $75 million.

The 270,000 sq. ft. student union center remodel will include a new food services area and bookstore. And a unique addition to the building is a completely enclosed sky bridge that will span from the student union to the library.

Make Shatzer of Okland Construction said “the challenging aspect of the construction process is working around a functioning building. It’s a tight sight and working while keeping the building running, with students, faculty and staff using the building is difficult.” The project began in May 2007 and is slated for completion July 2010.