FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 11, 2010

Contacts: Lisa Harrison Smith
801-913-9748
John Becker, GSBS and MWL Architects
801-359-0246

Salt Lake City Selects Architects to Design
New Public Safety Building

Mayor Becker Accepts Selection Committee’s Recommendation for PSB Architecture Team

SALT LAKE CITY - Mayor Ralph Becker today announced GSBS Architects and McClaren, Wilson & Lawrie, Inc. (GSBS/MWL) as the architectural team selected to oversee the design and construction of the new Salt Lake City Public Safety Building and Emergency Operations Center.

The decision was based on the unanimous recommendation of a selection committee comprised of City police, fire, planning and administration staff as well as several local community and business leaders. After reviewing proposals and conducting extensive interviews with final candidates, the selection committee forwarded its final recommendation to Mayor Becker for consideration. Mayor Becker agreed with the conclusion of the selection committee to hire the GSBS/MWL team.

“GSBS Architects and McClaren, Wilson and Lawrie will help us achieve our goal of creating buildings that both promote public safety and add to the vibrancy of our community,” said Mayor Becker. “Clearly, this team shares in our commitment to a vital downtown Salt Lake City and is prepared to involve the community in the design process for the Public Safety Buildings.”

“The GSBS/MWL approach to the project stood out, clearly, as the most community-focused and technically savvy submission,” said selection committee member and Downtown Community Council Chair Christian Harrison.

Deeda Seed, selection committee member and community representative added, “The selected architecture team demonstrated a strong understanding of the urban design issues associated with the new Public Safety Building: environmental sustainability, maximizing the functionality of the building, and, perhaps most significantly, the need for community involvement in the design process. As an added bonus, the team relies heavily on local subcontractors so the majority of taxpayer dollars expended on this project will stay in our community.”

The design team offers extensive expertise in the area of public safety buildings and has a far-reaching portfolio of similar projects including the police headquarters in Seattle; police and fire headquarters and emergency operations center in Santa Monica, CA; and police headquarters in Dallas. Local projects
include the new east/west buildings of the Utah State Capitol Complex, seismic upgrades to the Wallace F. Bennett Federal Building, and the Utah County Health and Justice Building.

“We are honored we’ve been chosen to design this important facility, following a rigorous selection process. We look forward to working with Salt Lake City’s world-class team,” said Mike Stransky, president of GSBS Architects. “Mayor Becker has a strong vision, which includes local jobs for local workers, green buildings, and good communication with the community. We are prepared and eager to meet these high expectations.”

Design of the new building will begin immediately. Construction is tentatively scheduled to begin in early 2011.

About the Public Safety Buildings
In November 2009, more than 65 percent of Salt Lake City voters approved the $125 million general obligation bond to fund the construction of the new Public Safety Buildings and Emergency Operations Center. The facility will serve Salt Lake City residents, visitors and businesses to better meet the needs of Utah’s Capital City. The project is expected to be completed by 2013. Project details, timelines, and progress updates can be found online at http://www.slcgov.com/psb