2024 in Review: Celebrating a Banner Year of Design Excellence

2024 was a landmark year for VCBO Architecture, marked by notable accomplishments, industry recognitions, and collaborative success stories.

From being named Engineering News-Record (ENR) Mountain States’ 2024 Design Firm of the Year to receiving 13 prestigious awards for projects across multiple sectors, VCBO is proud to reflect on a year defined by innovation, collaboration, and meaningful contributions to our communities. These accolades represent the dedication of our talented team, the trust of our clients, and our shared vision for creating spaces where people can thrive.

ENR Design Firm of the Year

Earlier this year, ENR Mountain States selected VCBO as its 2024 Intermountain Design Firm of the Year. This highly respected distinction reflects our commitment to architectural excellence, community impact, and industry leadership.

ENR’s Design Firm of the Year honors are decided through a rigorous process involving votes by editors nationwide, evaluating criteria such as regional revenue, innovative initiatives, noteworthy projects, and community involvement. VCBO’s selection is a testament to the accomplishments of our talented team and our ongoing mission to shape the built environment with creativity and care.

Project Awards

VCBO’s projects took center stage in 2024, earning recognition for their innovation, functionality, and lasting impact.

We are deeply grateful to have been recognized by Utah Construction + Design, Engineering News-Record (ENR) Mountain States, the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of Utah, and the International Interior Design Association (IIDA) Intermountain Chapter. These honors celebrate the meaningful collaborations and shared vision we’ve had with our clients, as well as the dedication of our team to designing spaces that bring people together, inspire connection, and endure.

The projects recognized included:

Intermountain Health Primary Children’s Hospital, Larry H. & Gail Miller Family Campus

Winner of the 2024 Most Outstanding Large Healthcare Project by Utah Construction + Design, Project of the Year by ENR Mountain States, Best Healthcare Project by ENR Mountain States, and Project of the Year by AGC of Utah.

The opening of the Primary Children's Hospital Larry H. & Gail Miller Family Campus represents a significant advancement in expanding pediatric healthcare in the rapidly growing Utah County and southern Salt Lake County region. The second full-service location of the world-renowned provider, the new campus will greatly enhance children's healthcare in the Intermountain West and support Intermountain's vision of building the nation's model pediatric health system.?

The Miller Family Campus — designed with children at its heart — incorporates elements aimed at making patients and families as comfortable and engaged as possible. Beyond healthcare, the campus is designed to be a supportive environment, offering family spaces, childcare, and a park for all abilities, reflecting a focus on children.

Intermountain Health Supply Chain Fulfillment Center & Acute Pharmacy Expansion

Awarded Best Manufacturing Project by ENR Mountain States.

This important project to expand Intermountain Health’s fulfillment center is critical to ensuring that the hospital system is able to save lives and provide the best treatment possible, ensuring doctors, nurses, and staff have access to the tools, equipment, and medication they need to provide care every day.

Intermountain Health Central Laboratory Expansion

Awarded Renovation/Restoration Project of the Year by Associated General Contractors of Utah.

Westminster University L.S. Skaggs Integrated Wellness Center

Recipient of the 2024 Most Outstanding Green/Sustainable Project by Utah Construction and Design and Green Building of the Year by Associated General Contractors of Utah.

The Integrated Wellness Center began as a vision to create a respite fostering holistic wellness for all students. Each space focuses on a particular aspect of wellness to create a comprehensive resource to help students live better, healthier lives.

The building includes a health clinic in addition to spaces for individual and group therapy, student-led gatherings, fitness spaces, and a demonstration kitchen where students can learn about meal preparation and budgeting. The standout feature of the center is a central courtyard, symbolizing the building’s connection to the outside world and providing a tranquil environment for students to enjoy.

Canyons School District Union Middle School

Recipient of the 2024 Most Outstanding K-12 Project by Utah Construction and Design and K-12 Education Project of the Year (over 50 million) by Associated General Contractors of Utah.

Epitomizing innovation and modern learning, the replacement of Union Middle School is a beacon of community-focused education design. Through thoughtful planning, stakeholder collaboration, and creative problem-solving, the new facility was designed to foster a dynamic environment that inspires curiosity, collaboration, and community engagement.

Union Middle School’s architectural narrative revolves around eight distinct building blocks, each serving a specific function and thoughtfully crafted to promote learning, collaboration, and well-being. The blocks are separated by 60-foot courtyards enclosed on three sides, providing outdoor learning environments while maximizing the natural light flooding the interior spaces.

Carpets Plus Plaza

Named Retail Project of the Year by Associated General Contractors of Utah and recipient of the Tilt-Up Achievement Award by the Tilt-Up Concrete Association.

The Carpets Plus project included a warehouse addition to existing retail space in order to support this family-run business that provides premium home appliances, window treatments, and flooring to the rapidly growing St. George.

An additional large retail building was added in front of the warehouse to maximize aesthetic appeal while simultaneously creating a new revenue source.

Weber State University Noorda Engineering, Applied Science, & Technology Building

Recipient of BEST Learn - Higher Ed at the 2024 IIDA Intermountain BEST Awards.

The Noorda Engineering Building is a celebration of the forward-thinking and technically precise minds within its walls. Situated on the north end of Weber State University, this 144,000-square-foot facility serves as the new home for the College of Engineering, Applied Science & Technology.

Engineering principles are expressed in the design details to support theoretical and experiential learning. This versatile facility provides an innovative space where students can learn, study, and thrive.

Thank You For an Incredible Year

As we reflect on an incredible year of milestones and achievements, we are filled with gratitude for the trust our clients place in us and the strong partnerships that made these accomplishments possible. We are thankful to Jacobsen Construction, Big-D Construction, and Hughes General Contractors for their fine work on these buildings, as well as our fantastic team of engineers and subconsultants who contributed to these meaningful projects!?

Looking to 2025, we are energized by the opportunities ahead and eager to embark on new collaborations and projects that reflect our passion for excellence and bring meaningful design to life. Together with our partners and clients, we look forward to building on this momentum, creating spaces that inspire and endure, and continuing our purpose to create spaces for people to thrive.