Big-D took the lead as Construction Manager/General Contractor for the renovation and seismic upgrade of the Wallace F. Bennett Federal building in downtown Salt Lake City. The renovations and seismic fortification to the 1960’s building give the public a secure workplace to conduct business with federal agencies.



The 300,000 square-foot building’s pre-cast concrete skin exterior was completely removed and replaced with a new, energy efficient, glass and stone exterior. Seismic upgrades incorporated a steel external brace frame system constructed around the entire perimeter of the building, additional footings, shear walls and reinforcement of the elevator core. Work was complicated by the presence and subsequent removal of PCB’s and asbestos.



The building’s exterior renovation and state-of-the-art seismic design features made a favorable impression on Harvard University Graduate School of Engineering, who selected the project for further studies of seismic upgrade on existing structures. Additional renovations at the entrance and lobby showcase GSA’s nation-wide First Impressions program, aimed at creating a positive first impression in federal facilities.



Big-D completed the renovations in only one year, with minimum disruption to over 600 existing tenants who continued to occupy the building throughout construction.



The Wallace F. Bennett Federal Building is recipient of the following awards:

2002 AIA Utah Chapter Merit Award

Intermountain Contractor Best of ’02 Project of the Year

2002 GSA Honor Award for Construction Excellence

2002 ABC Utah Honorable Mention, Governmental and Institutional Project