Members of the media on a tour of the City Creek Center watch the unique retractable glass roof slide into place over the shopping galleria Wednesday October 26. The new shopping and dining destination will transform downtown Salt Lake City with it's mix of modern architecture, historic restoration and the above ground flowing City Creek flowing through the setting. It is opening March 22, 2012.Photo courtesy Al Hartmann | The Salt Lake Tribune
Members of the media on a tour of the City Creek Center watch the unique retractable glass roof slide into place over the shopping galleria Wednesday October 26. The new shopping and dining destination will transform downtown Salt Lake City with it's mix of modern architecture, historic restoration and the above ground flowing City Creek flowing through the setting. It is opening March 22, 2012.Photo courtesy Al Hartmann | The Salt Lake Tribune
A Logan-based welding company is behind the makings of a retractable roof system that is to be a focal point of a new multi-million dollar upscale shopping center set to open in Salt Lake City this week.
Ducworks Inc., located at 1725 N. 600 West, worked with the contractors Jacobson Construction and Uni-Systems, to complete the multi-million dollar system over an 18-month period. With the help of 50 workers, Ducworks fabricated approximately 2 million pounds of structural steel for the retractable roof system that covers about two blocks of downtown Salt Lake.
The system has become one of the most talked-about features of the mall. Other unique features will include a 1,225-foot-long replica of its namesake, City Creek, complete with spawning fish, three waterfalls and 420 tons of boulders and a fountain that erupts in choreographed jets of water and fire.
City Creek Center, the retail portion of the mixed-use development in the heart of downtown — which also includes offices, condominiums and apartments — is set to open Thursday with a ribbon-cutting at 9:30 a.m. It has been reported that more then 50,000 people per day are expected to flock to downtown Salt Lake City between Thursday and Saturday for the grand opening.
“It was a real honor to be selected to do it,” said Ducworks President Jeremy Jenkins about the opportunity to construct the roof. “You take on a project like this and you don’t really know what you’re getting into. It’s a leap of faith. It made us step up our game and become a better company. There’s a sense that after you do something like this, you can do anything.”
Jenkins credited Downtown Rising — a community-led effort that defined priorities and projects to help shape the future downtown — and other sponsors, including the Mormon church and mall operator Taubman Centers, for deciding to “keep it local” when selecting the organizations to make the roofing system, he said.
The main shopping center building at City Creek is split into two rectangular sections that are joined by the outer frames of where the roofing panels are supposed to slide. The roofing system consists of 12 fabricated panels supported by 36 ribs. Each panel is 100 feet wide, and when the system is fully extended, it spans 60 feet.
“As the roof opens and closes, it has to open in sequence, because the panels overlap each other,” Jenkins said. “That makes it really complex.”
The roof is meant to be inconspicuous, so when the roof is open people cannot see it from ground level — a trait missing from many retractable roof systems that can be found at many of the nation’s famed sporting venues.
“Their intention is to leave (the roof) open as much as possible,” Jenkins said, adding that the exception is bad weather.
This roofing system at City Creek is the first known retractable roof system in the state, making it stand out from other architectural creations in Utah, Jenkins said.
“This is one of a kind; it’s going to be a attraction, I think,” Jenkins said. “I think families are going to go to City Creek, and that will be part of their vacation. ... So I definitely think this (roof) will be a tourist attraction.”
One Who Knows: you are correct, the roof itself will not be a tourist attraction. What I thought I was expressing (or was trying to express and obviously failed) during the interview with the reporter was that City Creek Center itself will be a tourist attraction. The retractable roof simply adds to the center's allure.
meh.. i disagree with the article, the roof may serve a purpose but I doubt people are going to travel from miles around to see a roof that for the most part will be open and stationary.. as well as stated in the article "So I definitely think this (roof) will be a tourist attraction" and "The roof is meant to be inconspicuous" really do not go together....
I am happy to see that the unique skills of people who work hard and do a good job are recognized by those outside of Cache Valley. These are not as easy to find as one might think. Certainly not as easy as finding disparaging remarks in the comments section of the HJ.
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One Who Knows: you are correct, the roof itself will not be a tourist attraction. What I thought I was expressing (or was trying to express and obviously failed) during the interview with the reporter was that City Creek Center itself will be a tourist attraction. The retractable roof simply adds to the center's allure.
meh.. i disagree with the article, the roof may serve a purpose but I doubt people are going to travel from miles around to see a roof that for the most part will be open and stationary.. as well as stated in the article "So I definitely think this (roof) will be a tourist attraction" and "The roof is meant to be inconspicuous" really do not go together....
What else did you spill?
I am happy to see that the unique skills of people who work hard and do a good job are recognized by those outside of Cache Valley. These are not as easy to find as one might think. Certainly not as easy as finding disparaging remarks in the comments section of the HJ.
This has been a monumental project. I am proud to have spilled sweat on this location!
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We welcome comments, however there are some guidelines:
Keep it Clean: Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexual language. Don't Threaten: Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated. Be Truthful: Don't lie about anyone or anything. Be Nice: No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading. Be Proactive: Report abusive posts and don’t engage with trolls. Share with Us: Tell us your personal accounts and the history behind articles.