University of Westminster LS Skaggs Center for Integrated Wellness
Salt Lake City
EXCELLENCE IN SUSTAINABILITY and BEST PROJECT, HIGHER EDUCATION/RESEARCH
Presented by Jacobsen construction
owner University of Westminster
Leading design company and structural engineer VCBO architecture
General Contractor Jacobsen construction
Road engineer McNeil Engineering
MEP engineer Electric salmon
Equipped with 145 photovoltaic solar panels on the roof, this 11,200 square meter all-electric wellness center is a clean positive energy facility. It includes a student medical clinic, counseling center, wellness studio, demonstration kitchen, courtyard, meeting space and staff offices.
The facility’s wellness spaces are organized around a central courtyard to encourage outdoor time. Almost all rooms face the courtyard and gain natural light through massive windows. In the large classroom, one wall is designed to open onto the courtyard.
Spatial orientation also helps the facility’s energy efficiency. The windows to the west are limited to sight windows, while the large windows to the east and south are shaded by roof overhangs.
Natural materials such as wood, brick and zinc are combined with the building’s solid wood elements, including solid wood beams and columns, as well as cross-laminated timber decks and roof panels, to reinforce the building’s overall sustainability.
Photo courtesy of Jacobsen Construction and Cody Brown
In August 2023, city officials unexpectedly informed the project team that all utility connections had to be completed within two weeks or crews would have to wait until the following spring. Faced with one month less than expected to complete this work, project management adjusted the schedule while business partners completed highly coordinated work over long hours to meet the unexpected deadline.
And when critical parts of the elevator were delayed, other tasks were re-sequenced to stay on schedule. Construction was completed on time and under budget in August 2024.
Communication with neighbors was essential because the university wanted to maintain good relations with its neighbors. Residents near campus were unhappy with recent utility shutdowns and road closures due to an unrelated construction project across Westminster Street, so the project team reached out to affected households with updates on any planned utility shutdowns.
The PV system had to be fully operational on Day 1. The project team ran a 28-hour consecutive installation, allowing the system to be fully activated 30 minutes before the building’s ribbon cutting.
