WHAT'S THE POINT? WHY UTAH'S 'POINT OF THE MOUNTAIN' CONTINUES TO BE A CENTER OF GRAVITY.

AuthorFugal, Brandon
PositionSILICON SLOPES

Shock and awe--two words that best describe emotions exhibited by executives visiting Utah while driving the 20-mile stretch on 1-15 from Sandy to Pleasant Grove. Why the strong emotions? The numerous construction cranes reaching skyward coupled with structural steel climbing as high as 11 stories powerfully demonstrate the stunning economic development and growth of this unique area.

The "Point of the Mountain" is colloquially used to refer to the area where the Salt Lake County and Utah County metropolitan areas converge, referencing the mountain pass used by the highways and rail arteries that connect the two most populous areas in the state.

In the commercial real estate business, we have had a unique front row seat--orchestrating and witnessing the bold moves of the companies and developers that have created this area which has become the heart of Silicon Slopes.

Most companies that have gravitated toward this area have been driven by factors including the ability to effectively recruit and retain talent from both counties and locations providing new, innovative office product and build-to-suit potential. Decision making has transcended merely being in Lehi or Draper--it is about being at the center of the Wasatch Front.

I vividly remember conducting site tours with executives from Xactware and Ancestry.com, with both of those companies having outgrown their campus locations in Orem and Provo, respectively. While driving various sites, Jim Loveland (then CEO of Xactware), saw the potential to strengthen recruitment and take advantage of unobstructed panoramic views offering both mountain and lake backdrops. Ancestry.com observed the same advantages, with the opportunity to create a world-class campus setting that would enable it to stage its dynamic growth and provide onsite amenities for its employees.

This hasn't happened overnight. It required years of planning between the initial site tours to final occupancy/completion of these world-class buildings. The process of commercial real estate development is not for the impatient or the faint of heart. The vision of those companies, coupled with the resources and efforts of a dynamic development team, launched one of the most impressive and expansive office campus locations in the Intermountain West. It is rewarding to reflect on the fact that just a few short years ago, Traverse Mountain was just a large vacant expanse of undeveloped property. Today, it is teeming with activity with...

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