Element31 Apartments – Rimrock Construction

With construction spanning from November 2013 to December 2015, Element31 at Brickyard, in Salt Lake City, Utah, is a contemporary living apartment complex with a touch of exquisite luxury. With a wide array of amenities, residents can escape to the rooftop lounge, high-end fitness center, theater or a resort-inspired pool and spa. Owner Brickyard31 LLC turned to Rimrock Construction, based in Draper, Utah, for general contracting services due to its successful history of completing multifamily and mixed-use facilities.

Numerous unanticipated challenges were met and overcome from the start of construction on the Element31 at Brickyard project. The site for the facility rests on top of an old brickyard factory in Salt Lake City, which created numerous soil issues. During excavation, walls of brick were also discovered. “It’s really a tight fight on the property so the proximity to neighbors during construction was a challenge,” says Stephen Benson, project manager for Rimrock. “There’s also an existing office tower right there on-site that was fully operational throughout the entire project.” Ultimately, this allowed the Element31 developers to maximize lot space by building right up to the office tower and building the units above a subterranean parking structure.

Assembling a strong team

As a general contractor, Rimrock managed the Element31 at Brickyard project by working with well-qualified subcontractors. Due to unforeseen circumstances, Benson was the third project manager to be brought in on the job. Although the strategic partners had already been contracted for the project, Benson felt comfortable with the companies that had signed on, as Rimrock had previously worked with a majority of them. “We have great relationships with our subcontractors that we do a lot of repeat business with,” Benson explains. “We have worked with a lot of our subs for many years.”

Rimrock was founded in 1999 and is a company based on integrity, dedication and values. With approximately 60 employees Rimrock offers its clients complete general contracting services including design-build, pre-construction, construction management, open book accounting and value engineering.

In the preconstruction phase, Rimrock gathers bids based on the design and presents the offers to the owner for approval. Included in the bids will be cost savings and value engineering options that can save money. By keeping the structural integrity and design elements in mind, Rimrock Construction will look for alternative methods and products that are most affordable for any project.

“In most cases, we start value engineering during the preconstruction and design stages of the project,” Benson explains. “We carry this effort throughout the subcontractor buy-out and continue during the construction stage. We will not stop looking for savings until the project is complete.”

Assistance through the process

Rimrock is a unique group of professionals who know and understand real estate. Since 1999, Rimrock has specialized in multifamily, office space, mixed-use and senior living facilities. “We navigate our clients through the landscapes of real estate because they can be very treacherous,” says Benson. “We want to be of the utmost value to those who choose to work with us.”

Understanding that every community is built one brick at a time, Rimrock is able to create a culture where people are able to interact together comfortably. “When we approach any project, it is with the idea that generationally that product will stand and benefit cultures yet to even be born,” Benson explains. “We all enjoy coming to work and our clients feel that when they come here. That same culture emulates itself in our construction.”

Benson has been in the construction industry for more than 15 years. Prior to joining Rimrock in 2012, Benson specialized in custom cabinetry. Despite the differences in the scope of projects, Benson says that his experience and knowledge have translated well to his duties with Rimrock. “When you’re working in customized cabinetry, you have to really be able to envision what a client is looking for,” he says. “I use that ability just on a larger scale to imagine what a structure is going to look like when it’s built. That also helps to anticipate and troubleshoot any issues that may come up.”

As Rimrock continues to add projects like Element31 at Brickyard to its portfolio, the company will remain a leader in multifamily, mixed-use and office space construction, while providing guidance, open-book accounting and integrity to its clients.