Salt Lake County and Smith Entertainment Group have announced their selection of master architects and construction partners for the ambitious renovation of the Salt Palace Convention Center and the comprehensive redevelopment of the Sports, Entertainment, Culture and Convention district in downtown Salt Lake City. The announcement marks a significant milestone in the next phase of transforming the heart of the city's entertainment corridor.
"These selections represent some of the best talent in the industry, with a unique and necessary blending of local and national expertise," said Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson in a press release. The vision for the new district aims to transform downtown by creating seamless walkability from the Delta Center all the way to City Creek, establishing a cohesive entertainment and cultural hub.
As part of the redevelopment plans, Salt Lake County has confirmed that the back half of the Salt Palace Convention Center, which is currently owned by the county, will be demolished. The targeted area encompasses county-owned land between South Temple to 100 South and 200 West to 300 West, where the new district will connect directly with the Delta Center.
For the architectural leadership, the county has selected global design practice Populous Holdings, Inc. and Utah's oldest architecture firm, MHTN Architects, to spearhead the renovation's architectural efforts. On the construction side, Utah-owned Construction Control Corporation will partner with Sacramento-based consultancy Rider Levett Bucknall (RLB) to oversee the building process.
Simultaneously, Smith Entertainment Group announced that architecture and design firm HKS will lead the master design plan for the remainder of the district. HKS brings extensive experience to the project, operating 29 offices across nine countries and having been involved in designing numerous high-profile sports and entertainment districts. Their portfolio includes AT&T Stadium and the Arlington Experience District (home of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys), Victory Plaza in Dallas at the American Airlines Center (home of the NBA's Dallas Mavericks and NHL's Dallas Stars), Huntington Bank Stadium Masterplan for the NFL's Cleveland Browns, and SoFi Stadium (home of the NFL's Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers).
Ryan Henrie, Salt Lake County's Facilities Management Associate Division Director, outlined the project's ambitious connectivity goals. "The goal is pretty ambitious: to connect City Creek, Abravanel Hall, the Salt Palace, Japan Town and the Delta Center, to allow more walkable areas between the venues," he explained. "Right now there's a lot of stops and starts so people have a hard time connecting to those spaces, this will really open that up I think."
The timeline for the project shows demolition of the designated area expected to begin in February 2027. The total estimated cost for the new district project stands at $1.4 billion, with $500 million still unaccounted for after Smith Entertainment Group secured $900 million through a resolution with Salt Lake City. Project designs are not scheduled to be released until mid-to-late 2026.
Mayor Wilson emphasized the community impact of the development, stating, "As excited as I am to see the new district develop and our visitor economy grow, I'm most excited about enhancing community opportunities through intentional placemaking." She noted that through this collaborative effort, beloved venues and spaces will be improved with better walkability and connectivity downtown, creating a reimagined area that will serve as a gathering space for both residents and visitors.
The mayor also expressed gratitude to the various stakeholders making the project possible, acknowledging "the Utah State Legislature, our partners at Salt Lake City, Smith Entertainment Group, and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for making this possible." This comprehensive redevelopment represents one of the most significant urban planning initiatives in Salt Lake City's recent history, promising to reshape the downtown landscape and enhance the city's entertainment and cultural offerings.
