Staker & Parson Meets with Utah's Congressional Delegation

Staker & Parson Companies, North Salt Lake, Utah, recently visited with Utah's Congressional Delegation in Washington, D.C. as part of the Transportation Construction Coalition Fly-In. Congress and the Bush Administration are currently considering provisions for a new transportation bill, as TEA-21, the current bill, will expire in Sept. of 2003.

"Our goal in meeting with Congress was to advocate for adequate investment in the nation's federal highway program," said Scott Parson, vice president for Staker & Parson Companies. "We support any funding that will provide our nation and state a means of maintaining and improving our transportation investment. A significant investment will be required at the federal and state level if we are to maintain our world-class transportation system."

The Road Information Program states that poor road conditions are a factor in an estimated 12,600 fatalities each year. The same study estimates that 4.3 billion hours per year are wasted on congested roads at a cost in excess of $47 billion. It also shows that cost of congestion to US businesses has more than tripled in recent years affecting the highway transportation system's vital role in moving products to market.
Staker & Parson Companies' research into Utah road conditions found that according to the Road Information Program:

• Roadway Conditions are a factor in an estimated 30 percent of traffic fatalities. There were 292 traffic fatalities in 2001 in Utah.
  
• 83 percent of the $42 billion worth of commodities delivered annually from sites in Utah are transported on the state's highways.
  
• Driving on roads in need of repair costs Utah motorists $385 million a year in extra vehicle repairs and operating costs - $257 per motorist.
  
• 24 percent of Utah's major urban roads are congested.
  
• 31 percent of Utah's major roads are in poor condition.
  
• Vehicle travel on Utah's highways increased by 52 percent from 1991 to 2001. Utah's population grew by 32 percent during 1990-2001.

Emma Eccles Jones College of Nursing Remodel Ribbon Cutting

Cameron Construction, Salt Lake City, along with AJA Architects enjoys showcasing their talents at the ribbon cutting ceremony for the University of Utah Emma Eccles Jones College of Nursing Fifth Floor remodel.

The project manager is Kevin Cameron of Cameron Construction and the project architect is Elizabeth J. (Liz) Blackner, AIA of AJA Architects.

The second phase of the project was complete around the first week of June. The administration and staff are very pleased with the new look. John McNary of the University of Utah congratulated the team on a job well done.

First Home Depot for Helena, Mont.

R&O Construction of Ogden is constructing the first Home Depot to be built in Helena, Mont. at 1801 E. Custer Avenue. The 128,571-sq.-ft. project includes the home depot warehouse plus a garden center. R&O will also complete the site work.

R&O Construction has completed other Home Depots in Wyoming, Colorado, Idaho, Arizona and Utah. Home Depot projects are constructed through R&O's large retail division. R&O's other divisions include Large Commercial, Special Projects and Residential Construction.

ACC and National Park Service Work to Keep Bryce Canyon Open

ACC and the National Park Service are working together to keep Bryce Canyon open during road reconstruction. All services will remain open during construction, but visitors are asked to slow down in construction work zones and pay attention to traffic control.

On March 31, ACC began the reconstruction of the main road leading into the park. This is Phase II of a major road reconstruction of the first ten miles of road into the park; it is scheduled to take two years. The project includes widening and straightening the road and providing a safer route for cars, pedestrians and bicycles.

Construction is funded with monies appropriated by Congress and administered by the Federal Highway Administration and the National Park Service.

New Office Transcends Tenets of Traditional Architectural Firms

Architectural Nexus, a principal architectural firm formed by the recent merger of Jensen Haslem Architects P.C. and Thomas Petersen Hammond Architects, unveiled its new 23,000-sq.-ft. office. The innovative space, which transcends the tenets of traditional architectural firm offices, is the result of an internal competition that commenced when the two companies merged to create Utah's largest architectural firm in November.

The new office, located at 2150 South 1300 East, features four "neighborhoods" that fill the quadrant of the space and each include a team of project managers, project architects, designers, technical staff and a principal. The neighborhoods, which house a team focused on a specific industry, were designed with a system of "boulevards" that include activity spaces, glass walled conference rooms and open copy and design centers (CAD drafting areas).

"Traditionally, large architecture firms are divided according to job function and rank," said David Cassil, AIA Architectural Nexus Principal, and one of the project's lead designers. "Our goal was to design a team environment with as much open spaces as possible to foster collaboration and improve not only the work environment, but also our creative product."

The office's exposed ceiling highlights the space's unique design, which includes an undefined relationship of planes where the walls and ceilings never meet. Planes overlap intentionally throughout the office to create movement and continual flow symbolizing that design is an ongoing process that is never complete. Lighting is recessed and tucked into the areas behind the walls and ceilings so that all areas are filled with light.

The space also includes an oversized circular lobby that doubles as a large meeting area and gallery, highlighting the firm's marquee projects.

Architectural Nexus's two Salt Lake City offices have moved to the new location and are working under one roof for the first time since the merger. The new office will house the majority of the companies more than 100 professionals, which includes 34 registered architects. Architectural Nexus also has an office in Logan.