Recursion Pharmaceuticals wanted to expand their headquarters in downtown Salt Lake City and began scouting for a location nearby. Empty land was hard to find. Empty buildings, however, were abundant in the declining retail spaces of Gateway Mall across the street. Could these large empty spaces be converted into state-of-the art pharmaceutical lab space? With a bit of determination and a whole lot of creative problem solving, yes, they could. Recursion is reshaping traditional pharmaceutical research by leveraging technological innovation to modernize drug discovery and development. Their corporate and workplace culture values collaboration, innovation, and transparency—which needed to be reflected in their expansion.
Engage Contracting, in partnership with GSBS Architects, worked closely with some of the industry’s leading engineers and trade partners to provide the highest quality craftsmanship that will serve Recursion long into the future. Engage Contracting demolished all interior finishes including, walls, doors, mechanical systems, and exterior entrances, while only leaving the structural columns. Construction then began with a redesigned building envelope, including a highly efficient HVAC system, water purification system, medical grade oxygen/hydrogen tanks, and a custom backup generator power system. Planning in a former retail space offered some unique challenges of a post tensioned slab construction that limited floor penetrations, tall cement ceilings, and a series of shear fire-rated walls blocking linear pathways. Despite these challenges, Engage Contracting was able to deliver a construction experience that highlighted the best that Utah’s trades have to offer to these rapidly growing industries.
We were very excited to recieve the 2023 UC&D Most Oustanding Project award in the Tenant Improvement Category earlier this week. Thank you to Utah Construction & Design, and congratulations to the entire project team!
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