Frank Gehry's architectural designs in Lehi to be unveiled in August.



The public will finally be able to see what the much-anticipated Frank Gehry-designed project in Lehi will resemble when the famed American architect's artistic renderings are unveiled in early August.

"The designs will show what the hotel looks like, what the (10,000-seat) arena will look like, how retail plays in, and what some of the homes will look like," Provo entrepreneur and owner Brandt Andersen told the Daily Herald on Tuesday.

Public interest in the multi-billion-dollar mixed-use project, which showcases what is potentially Utah's tallest building -- a 450-foot tall hotel -- has been strong since it was first announced last February because of Gehry's involvement. Gehry is the creative genius behind architectural icons like the Guggenheim in Bilbao, Spain.

An unexpected discovery of thermal water beneath the 80-acre site, in addition to ample wind and solar energy sources, provided the inspiration for an architectural design with a new "green" emphasis, Andersen said. About 30 percent of the project could be fueled by green energy, he said.

Inspired by the natural architecture found in Utah's slot canyons such as The Narrows at Zion National Park, the Lehi project will include the 250-room hotel; a signature 500,000-square-foot, 10,000-seat arena; an amphitheater; 3.6 million square feet of residential space or 2,500 condo and multi-floor residential units, and 1.12 million square feet of retail space. The project also includes a boating lake, a wakeboard cable water park and 61 acres of open space.

"Pending final approvals by the city, we will also disclose some letters of intent from national and local tenants for the project by the end of summer. Retail interest is strong because they know of Frank's involvement, the specialized nature of the project and its proximity to the ski resorts," Andersen said.

Once the final project approvals are given this summer, construction will begin on the hotel, the arena as well as the two wakeboarding lakes, Andersen said.

As a precursor of the Gehry project, Andersen, also the owner of Utah Flash, will also be remodelling the Open Court, an 80,000 square foot recreational center in Lehi that he bought a month ago to be the new headquarters of the NBA affiliate. The building, which cost between $5 million and $10 million, will be renamed The Factory and will resemble what he called a "postmodern luminescent cube."

The Factory, located on 4425 N. Thanksgiving Way in Lehi, will also be used as a practice space by the Utah Flash, and will host community basketball camps.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

This is great news for Utah. Can't wait to see the designs.