Building Utah: construction projects on the rise: Utah's construction industry was knocked down during the Great Recession, but industry insiders believe there's finally light at the end of the tunnel. Here's a look at some of the top construction projects on the rise across the state.

• Position: Building Utah Special Section

SALT LAKE AREA

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TRACY AVIARY PHASE 2C

Lake City--This phase of the project included new indoor and outdoor exhibits focusing on the birds and habitat of Mexico and Panama, a new bird show amphitheater, and related bird holding facilities along with further infrastructure upgrades.

Developer: Tracy Aviary

General Contractor: Big-D Construction

Architect: ajc architects

Estimated Completion: December 2013

Estimated Cost: $7.6 million

UTAH DATA CENTER

Camp Williams--This project involves design and construction services for a data center in Utah. The facility consists of approximately 1 million square feet, a 100,000-square-foot mission critical data center with raised flooring and 900,000 square feet of technical support and administrative space.

General Contractor: Balfour Beatty, DPR, Big-D Construction

Architects: KlingStubbins, Architectural Nexus

Estimated Cost: $1.2 billion

BIRKHILL

Murray--Located on South Main Street, Birkhill includes live/work townhomes and condominiums that intermingle with retail shops, restaurants, everyday services and businesses.

Developer: Henry Walker Homes

General Contractor: Henry Walker Homes Construction

Architect: THINK architecture

Engineer: Stantech Engineering

Estimated Completion: May 2014

Estimated Cost: $1.2 million

UTAH PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

Salt Lake City--This 2,500-seat theater is located on the 100 South block of Main Street. The theater will be co-owned by Salt Lake City and Salt Lake County, and will be operated by Salt Lake County's Center for the Arts. The theater will attract Broadway-style productions and provide another venue option for Utah's performing arts groups.

General Contractor: Layton Construction Co., Inc.

Architects: Pelli Clarke Pelli and HKS Architects

Estimated Completion: Mid. 2016

Estimated Cost: $110 million

DEE GLEN SMITH ATHLETICS CENTER

Salt Lake City--This 58,000-square-foot football center is home to the University of Utah football team. The center includes football coach offices, locker rooms, strength and conditioning facilities, training and injury rehabilitation areas, team meeting rooms, an auditorium to accommodate the entire team for meetings and film sessions, and a players' lounge.

Developer: State of Utah

General Contractor: Layton Construction Co., Inc.

Architect: VCBO Architecture

Engineers: Reaveley Engineers, PSOMAS, Ken Garner Engineering, Colvin Engineering

Estimated Completion: August 2013

Estimated Cost: $30 million

UNIVERSITY OF UTAH THATCHER CHEMISTRY ADDITION

Salt Lake City--This projects involves the construction of a new four-story concrete-frame addition to the existing Henry B. Eyring Chemistry Building at the University of Utah. It will include 14 research and teaching labs; 36 fume hoods; biological, biophysical, tissue culture and bio-organic laboratories; as well as faculty offices.

Developer: University of Utah

General Contractor: Okland Construction

Architect: VCBO Architecture

Engineers: Van Boerum and Frank, Spectrum Engineering, Reavely Engineers, RFD

Estimated Completion: March 2013

SALT LAKE CLINIC

Salt Lake City--The original Salt Lake Clinic, built in 1978, was recently replaced with a new 130,000-squre-foot facility. It is anticipated to be LEED Gold certified.

Developer: Intermountain Healthcare

General Contractor: Okland Construction

Architect: VCBO Architecture

Engineers: Jones Excavating, STF Electrical, SME, KHI Mechanical

Estimated Completion: June 2013

AMBULATORY CARE CENTER

Salt Lake City--This complex will be the main outpatient center for University of Utah Health Care (UCHC) and Primary Children's Medical Center (PCMC). Currently in construction are an ambulatory services building and pedestrian bridge for PCMC and a 1,400-stall parking garage. The next phase includes an ambulatory services building for UUHC.

Developers: University of Utah, Intermountain Healthcare

General Contractor: Jacobsen Construction Company, Inc.

Architect: MHTN Architects, Inc.

Engineers: Reaveley Engineers, Van Boerum & Frank Associates, Spectrum Engineering, Great Basin Engineering, Inc.

Estimated Completion: September 2014

Estimated Cost: $118 million

MERIT MEDICAL

South Jordan--The newest additions to Merit Medical's South Jordan campus are a 255,000-square-foot production building, receiving building and three-level parking structure. The facilities include dean room areas for producing medical devices, administrative offices, packaging areas and a cafeteria.

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Developer: Merit Medical Systems, Inc.

General Contractor: Jacobsen...