Spectrum Engineers Wins National Presentations Room Award

Presentations magazine has honored Spectrum Engineers with a 2005 Best Presentations Room Award in recognition of the firm's design of technology systems at the Legislative Distance Communication Room at the Utah State Capitol West Office Building.

Capitol staffers refer to the room as the "Star Wars Room" for good reason: It features advanced technology and media systems, specifically designed to provide flexibility.

Two side-by-side rear-projection screens and dual control-from within the room or from an adjacent control room-provide media and conferencing capabilities.

Unique to the Communications Room is its cabling system. Connectivity for users is brought through the table legs and accessed via tilt-up panels. Intense planning allowed designers to provide wiring and connections, including floor boxes, to ensure connectivity regardless of table configuration. Network, Internet, A/V, power and control connectivity is provided. Flexibility neither compromises the room's aesthetics nor its ease of use.

Big-D Construction awarded
Human Services Center Project in Ogden

Big-D Construction has been awarded a $6.4 million contract to build the Ogden Human Services Center, a new state regional center located at 925 E. 25th Street.

The center will include space for the Department of Human Services, Division of Child & Family Services and Human Resources, Department of Health and State Office of Rehabilitation. It will also include a dental clinic for the Department of Health and the Department of Public Education Rehabilitation Office.

The building will be constructed to fit the neighborhood because the site is adjacent to a historic housing area. The first phase of construction includes demolishing the east wing of the existing structure to allow for the new 54,000 square foot building.

Construction will begin in July with completion expected April 2006. Salt Lake City-based MHTN is the architect.

According to Jim Allison, Big-D Construction, the design is similar to a Frank Lloyd look, or a "prairie style," where the emphasis is on horizontal rather than vertical elements. Low sloped roofs, longer overhangs, and building materials allow the new building to blend into the residential neighborhood.

Design Workshop's Utah office
moves to expanded quarters in Salt Lake City

Following growth in both commissions and staff in recent months, the Park City office of Design Workshop, an international award-winning landscape architecture, planning and urban design firm, has moved into new and larger quarters at the Sweet Candy Building in Salt Lake City.

The firm's Utah office, which opened in Park City in August 2000 with one staff member, has grown to a current staff of 17. The move from their previous Park City location will give staff members more space for client meetings, design charrettes and staff.

"As a Utah native, I'm happy that Design Workshop has had this opportunity to extend its dedication to sound environmental practices and smart growth to the Intermountain West ," said Terrall Budge, a partner in the firm. "We're grateful to be able to bring our design and planning expertise to the continuing growth challenge of the Salt Lake Valley."

The Salt Lake office has developed a talented urban design, community planning and resort design team. Dave Nicholas, who coordinated the design and construction of the new office space, as well as the move itself, leads the office as operations manager. Chuck Ware, Principal, comes to Salt Lake from Design Workshop's Denver office, where he worked on implementation of urban, campus, resort and community spaces.

Among the office's current projects are Daybreak, a dynamic mixed-use community in South Jordan, Utah, and the interpretive landscape for the Museum of Natural History at the University of Utah, as well as projects in Provo, Brigham City and Logan. The office is also involved in the planning and design of two mixed-use developments in Las Vegas: Harbor Island and Union Park.

New traffic engineering group
enters the western market

Based in Ogden, Western States Traffic Engineering (WSTE) opened its doors this month to service commercial and subdivision development needs in the western U.S. From traffic impact studies to variance requests, WSTE offers a full range of traffic engineering services.

WSTE targeted this ever-growing market to minimize the financial impact of state Department of Transportation (DOT) requirements on real estate development. With experts in traffic engineering on board, WSTE engineers work to move a building project as quickly as possible through the regulatory process. DOT regulations can add significant time and expense to a project's development cost. The more quickly these requirements can be met, the more quickly a project can begin to recoup this investment cost.

Currently providing traffic engineering services in Utah, Arizona, and California, WSTE plans to expand to other western states as projects and markets open up in those areas.

Furst Construction Completes new Car Dealership

Furst Construction of West Valley City recently completed a new automotive dealership for Low Book Sales in Lindon. The 18,000-sq ft., $10 million facility is the second commercial location for the independent dealership.

The dealership includes approximate 8,000-sq ft of indoor showroom space and 7,500-sq ft of maintenance and service space as well as a car wash area.

Construction of the building began in September of 2004 and was completed on time and on budget despite weather delays.

Witaker Construction Opens new Headquarters

Witaker Construction of Brigham City celebrated the opening of a new corporate headquarters in June. Company President Rick Witaker was joined by friends, family, employees and members of the Chamber of Commerce for a ribbon cutting to open the new 14,000-sq ft., two story office building.

"This is the fourth move for the companies' offices in our 52 year history," said Bob Whitaker. "Originally by dad operated out of our home and repaired equipment under a canvas tarp spread between two trees. Then he purchased a gas station on main street in Brigham City and built an 8 x 12 shed that was used as our office for years."

The new building includes a 1,800-sq. ft. training facility. A fully equipped classroom that can hold 40 people.

"Safety training is a large part of the schooling we complete in-house but more and more we are finding that the changing technology of our industry requires us to provide job training for the old-timers as well as the new hires," said Dennis Whitaker.

The new office also consolidates the company's offices, shops and equipment yards on one site west of Brigham City with room to expand. A reminder of the company's history, a 1928 Bader backhoe, rests on one corner of the property.

Today, Whitaker has over 150 employees with an annual volume of work exceeding $25 million. They have 26 utility crews working on projects including sanitary sewers, storm sewers, culinary water systems, natural gas lines and telecommunications lines. They are currently completing a two year contract for the construction of concrete utility tunnels at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, N.C