UTAH STATE EDITION
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July 9 2017 Vol. II • No. 14
“The Nation’s Best Read Construction Newspaper… Founded in 1957.” Your Utah Connection – Debbie Hansen – 1-702-239-0348 – dhansen@cegltd.com
Vivint Smart Home Arena Undergoing $125M Makeover By Lori Tobias
Rob Nish photo
CEG CORRESPONDENT
Crews are working with a drilling machine to drill piles, as well as mobile cranes and forklifts.
In 1991, when the home court for the Utah Jazz basketball team was built, construction was completed in record time — 15 months and 24 days. “At the time, it was built faster than any other arena in the nation,” said Jazz spokesman Frank Zang. Twentysix years later, the venue, now known as the Vivint Smart Home Arena, is once again the scene of some major construction work as it undergoes a $125 million renovation. But while the renovation may not be record-setting, certainly it feels that way to the contractor. Behind-the-scenes demolition started earlier this spring, but the real work had to wait for the NBA playoffs to end. Now, workers have only until late September to finish the job. “Our biggest challenge is with the Jazz and their schedule,” said Jeremy Blanck, project executive with Okland Construction Company, a familyowned business based out of Salt Lake City. “We’ve done arenas and venues before, but this is the largest amount of work in this short of a time period.
Magic: UDOT Crews Make Bridge Disappear Overnight By Katherine Devlin EDITORIAL ASSISTANT
Bangerter Highway in West Jordan was closed between 7000 and 7800 South overnight on June 10. The road closure itself wasn’t the news, but the reason was: Utah’s Department of Transportation (UDOT) crews needed to move a bridge.
The pedestrian walkway over the intersection was relocated so work could begin on a new freeway-style interchange — one of four that will be built along Bangerter Highway by the end of 2018. Crews worked from 11 p.m. to 8 a.m. the next morning to carefully remove the span, piece by piece. The bridge was then hauled away to be used in another part of Salt Lake see UDOT page 6
The renovations include a new 20,000-sq.-ft. glass front entry, new seats, new restaurant space, plus new and reconfigured suites and social gathering spaces.
We’ll have upwards of 200 to 500 workers a day, just depending where we’re working. They’ll be working six -10s, sometimes double shifting. It’s really just getting everything orchestrated and done.” Most of the construction work is interior demolition and interior renovation, Blanck said. While it’s not a big equipment job, crews are working
with a drilling machine to drill piles, as well as mobile cranes and forklifts. The renovations include a new 20,000-sq.-ft. glass front entry, new seats, new restaurant space, new and reconfigured suites and social gathering spaces. Already completed is the installation of 2,700 solar panels covering 80,000 sq. ft. and generating see ARENA page 8
UDOT image
UDOT reopens the intersection and is a step closer to the start of the Bangerter Highway Interchange project, scheduled to begin July 5.