City Creek Center Earns Prestigious International Award

Outside the Lines constructed water features and rockwork at outdoor retail center in Salt Lake City.

Outside the Lines plays a major supporting role in the shopping experience at City Creek Center, named “Best Retail Development, USA” in the prestigious International Property Awards for 2012. City Creek Center won for the Americas region, which includes the U.S. and Canada, Central and South America and the Caribbean.

City Creek Center also placed in the top three for the global, or “World’s Best Retail Development” category. More than 2,000 entries from 89 countries competed in the categories of retail, residential, office and mixed-use properties, among others.

OTL constructed the 1,200-foot-long City Creek and constructed several fountains at the shopping mecca in Salt Lake City, Utah. City Creek Center, which opened in March 2012, is part of the 23-acre City Creek master plan developed by City Creek Reserve, Inc. The sustainably designed and vibrant walkable urban community of offices, residences and shops is a centerpiece of Utah’s capital city.

“We’re extremely proud of our role at the center,” said Hugh Hughes, OTL president. “The project had some of the best project managers, architects and developers in the country, and we were thrilled to be part of that elite team.”

OTL’s craftsmen worked hand-in-hand with the development team at City Creek Center to fulfill their dream of creating a unique shopping center. Anchored by Macy’s and Nordstrom, the world-class fashion and dining destination offers more than 100 premium stores and restaurants.

OTL Recreates Iconic City Creek

“You could say OTL delivered City Creek for us – literally,” said Val Fagre, former City Creek Reserve project manager, Block 76. Fagre oversaw most of OTL’s work at the center before he retired from the company in March 2012.
“The heart and namesake of our development is the re-creation of City Creek, which many years ago used to run through the downtown area of Salt Lake City,” Fagre said. “OTL did a wonderful job of recreating City Creek, from its headwaters at the east end of the development to the terminus on the western border.”

The walkway throughout the 20-acre development centers on the newly created City Creek, which was designed by landscape architect SWA Group. The iconic creek is a re-creation of the south fork of historic City Creek, a creek that once coursed through downtown. A portion of the creek is stocked with indigenous Utah trout and features two, 18-foot waterfalls that cascade over natural Utah sandstone boulders.

“OTL can be very proud of its delivery of the creek, which is the centerpiece of the City Creek development,” Fagre said. “Their creativity and experience made it possible.

“The design and delivery of the water feature was technically challenging, and OTL met the challenge by working with our architects, local construction managers and subcontractors to construct a functional work of art,” he continued. “Because of their excellent supervision and high quality workmanship, they were able to deliver a unique final product. Their contribution to the City Creek development is very much appreciated.”

OTL also constructed the “Flutter” fountain and three linear fountains with 108 arching nozzles at the north entry to City Creek. The linear fountains sets the backdrop for the “Flutter” fountain, which features a ballet of dancing water that forms the shape of bells. WET Design designed the “Flutter” fountain, while CMS Collaborative designed the linear fountains.

“City Creek Center is a feather in OTL’s cap,” Fagre said.

City Creek Center Breaks New Ground

“City Creek Center broke new ground, from sustainable design and community collaboration to breathtaking features and amenities,” says Ron Loch, AIA, vice president of planning and design for Taubman, which owns and manages City Creek Center and co-developed the center with City Creek Reserve.

“It’s exciting to be recognized by this esteemed group as the best retail project in the Americas region in 2012,” Loch said.

The International Property Awards is an annual celebration of the finest achievements across the globe in residential and commercial property, covering Africa, Europe, Arabia, Asia Pacific, the United Kingdom and the Americas. Established 18 years ago, it is the world’s most prestigious property competition.

“City Creek’s unique retail center has enlivened the surrounding blocks. It is attracting new residents and drawing locals and tourists downtown again,” said Bill Williams, lead architect for the master developer of the mixed-use project, City Creek Reserve.

Fagre, also of City Creek Reserve, said “I’d welcome OTL on any project with the same high quality features at City Creek Center. “OTL delivered what they said they’d deliver.”

If you would like to work with a team of skilled professionals on your next water feature, rockwork or themed project, please contact Outside the Lines at (714) 637-4747 or email them at info@otl-inc.com.