Grill of the city
Steve Kieffer
vice president
Big-D construction
Kieffer says the outlook for Salt Lake City’s construction market is positive, with a boost from essential work serving the community, specifically health care, municipal projects and transportation improvements.
“We are monitoring how cost conditions evolve and expect some sectors, such as office and retail, to remain selective even as activity picks up,” he says.
“Economic strengths include public investment in infrastructure and facilities, continued growth in advanced manufacturing and a workforce that is being reshaped by technology and new career paths.
Weaknesses are labor capacity, price volatility, procurement uncertainty and the constant need to align project expectations with current construction costs.”
Kieffer says Big-D’s 2026 is focused on major transit and public infrastructure projects, expansion and modernization of healthcare facilities, as well as continued investment in advanced manufacturing and industrial development. “We will also monitor adaptive reuse and reinvestment in existing buildings, along with trends in new office development opportunities,” he adds.
