Phase one construction starts on Central Ninth Mead Up project /  by Keaton Howell

The Central Ninth Community Council, in partnership with the Rise Athletic Foundation and GSBS Architects, is excited to announce the beginning of phase one construction on the Mead Up public space project.

From Utah Business, by Central Ninth Community Council, Rise Athletic Foundation, and GSBS

//Sept 2, 2025SALT LAKE CITY — The Central Ninth Community Council, in partnership with the Rise Athletic Foundation and GSBS Architects, is excited to announce the beginning of phase one construction on the Mead Up public space project. As part of this initiative, the concrete has been poured for the first of two futsal courts, marking a significant milestone towards creating a vibrant half-acre gathering and activity space under the Interstate 15 West Temple off-ramp in Salt Lake City.

The Mead Up project aims to transform the area under the Interstate 15 freeway off-ramp into a recreational hub featuring two futsal courts, a dog play area, and a gathering space for Salt Lake City residents. With support from the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT), Salt Lake City Council, Administration, and Community Reinvestment Agency (CRA), and with the enthusiastic backing of residents, businesses, and philanthropic donors, the project demonstrates the power of community collaboration and commitment to enhancing public spaces.

As we work diligently to secure additional funding for the remainder of the project, the support we have received thus far has been invaluable. The completed Mead Up project will not only provide recreational opportunities but also foster a sense of community and belonging among residents of the Central Ninth and Ballpark neighborhoods.

Included in this release are new renderings by GSBS Architects of the upcoming space, which emphasize the vision for a welcoming environment for all.

For more information about the Mead Up project and updates on phases two and three, please get in touch with the Central Ninth Community Council chair, Douglas Flagler.

Utahraptor State Park near Moab prepares for grand opening /  by Keaton Howell

MOAB, Utah — Utah’s newest state park is preparing for its grand opening this spring. Utahraptor State Park will provide more recreation options in the busy Moab area and preserve Jurassic-era dinosaur fossils.

The park was formally created in the 2021 Utah legislative session, but with minimal infrastructure, the park had a long way to go before opening to public use. Primitive camping areas within the new park’s boundaries that were previously open to the public have remained so but with a $15 per night fee.

With new roads, trails, campsites and a visitor center, park officials hope to preserve the historic significance of the area and provide easy access to popular outdoor recreation areas.

The new park is located about 15 miles northwest of Moab, the famous gateway city for both Arches and Canyonlands National Parks.

Read the whole article here

Building up community: 2023 Exemplary Public Servant Jeff Martin /  by Keaton Howell

Jeff Martin literally dove into a career in public service in high school, becoming a lifeguard for Murray City Corporation (Murray City), Utah, a job he kept through college. “Then I left for a brief stint to work in the automotive industry and ended up coming back to manage the pools in our city,” Martin says. “And then about 2017, they created the facilities division, and I was lucky enough to become manager of that.” …

Three GSBS projects honored with UC&D 2023 Most Outstanding Projects awards /  by Keaton Howell

Left to right: Murray City Hall, GSBS Architects SLC Office, Recursion Pharmaceuticals

By Eric White, GSBS—Published December 28, 2023

GSBS Architects and our partners were recognized at the annual Most Outstanding Projects Awards Breakfast, hosted by Utah Construction & Design Magazine. Three of our recent projects were awarded, and you can find video links to each project below.

Most Outstanding Adaptive Reuse: GSBS Architects SLC Office—the renovation of our 125-year-old warehouse in downtown Salt Lake City into a modern, flexible space that celebrates this historic landmark.

Most Outstanding Municipal: Murray City Hall—a new 85,000-square-foot combined city hall and PD that welcomes the public and revitalizes its neighborhood into “the emotional heart of the city.”

Most Outstanding Tenant Improvement: Recursion Pharmaceuticals—an expansion that repurposed 24 previously retail spaces into 120,000 square feet of state-of-the art health-sciences laboratory and office space.

NEW LONE PEAK TRAM OPENS AT BIG SKY RESORT /  by Keaton Howell

By SAM Magazine—Big Sky, Mont., Dec. 19, 2023

SAM Magazine—Big Sky, Mont., Dec. 19, 2023—Lone Peak tram, the largest on-mountain infrastructure project in Big Sky Resort’s history, opens today. Big Sky Tram. The resort broke ground on the installation in summer 2022 and began load testing the new Doppelmayr/Garaventa ropeway system in November of this year.

The grand opening will be marked with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and traditional bell ringing, as well as live music, craft beer, and coffee. Places on the inaugural public tram ride were auctioned off to benefit local organizations, including the Big Sky Community Organization, the Gallatin River Task Force, and the Morningstar Learning Center.

Read full article here

How GSBS and Salt Lake City plan to keep 'Hobbitville' a unique mix of art and nature /  by Keaton Howell

The exterior of the Allen lodge of Allen Park is pictured on Sunday. The space is slated to remain a mixture of art, nature and history moving forward, according to an adaptive reuse and management plan final draft released on Monday. (Carter Williams, KSL.com)

By Carter Williams, KSL.com | Posted - Dec. 12, 2023 at 8:03 a.m.

SALT LAKE CITY — Allen Park, a 92-year-old space that Salt Lake City acquired and made a public park in 2020, will remain a unique blend of "art and sciences in the wild" for generations to come, park planners said Monday.

Salt Lake City Public Lands Department officials unveiled their proposed final draft of an adaptive reuse and management plan for the park Monday evening, which seeks to maintain its quiet nature and build on its art history by possibly opening some of its buildings to become art studios.

"Most people preferred the direction of 'art in the wild' — that idea of preserving the tree canopy, making it an area for quiet use of the community, maybe small gatherings," said Christine Richman, director of planning and economic development for GSBS Architects and a consultant on the project, during an online open house where the draft was released.

The draft will go through another public comment period before it's sent through the city approval process. Salt Lake City Council members, who will likely vote on the measure next year, have the final say on what the final plan will look like.

Read full article here