Salt Lake County and Smith Entertainment Group (SEG) have announced their selection of master architects and construction partners for the ambitious renovation of the Salt Palace Convention Center and the comprehensive development of the Sports, Entertainment, Culture and Convention district in downtown Salt Lake City. The announcement, made early Friday morning, represents a significant milestone in the $1.4 billion project aimed at transforming the heart of the city's downtown area.
"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 focuses on creating seamless walkability from the Delta Center all the way to City Creek, fundamentally reimagining how residents and visitors navigate downtown Salt Lake City.
A major component of the redevelopment involves the demolition of the back half of the Salt Palace Convention Center, which is currently owned by Salt Lake County. The county confirmed to KSL TV that demolition is scheduled to begin in February 2027. The project encompasses county-owned land between South Temple to 100 South and 200 West to 300 West, strategically positioned where the new district will connect with the Delta Center.
For the architectural leadership, Salt Lake County has selected global design practice Populous Holdings, Inc. and Utah's oldest architecture firm, MHTN Architects, to spearhead the renovation's architectural efforts. The construction oversight will be managed by Utah-owned Construction Control Corporation in partnership with Sacramento-based consultancy Rider Levett Bucknall (RLB). These selections emphasize the project's commitment to combining international expertise with strong local involvement.
Complementing the county's selections, SEG 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 boasting an impressive portfolio of sports and entertainment districts. Their notable projects include 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), the 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," Henrie 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 financial scope of the project totals $1.4 billion, with $900 million already secured through a resolution with Salt Lake City, leaving $500 million still unaccounted for in the current funding structure. The comprehensive designs for the project are not expected to be released until mid-to-late 2026, allowing sufficient time for detailed planning and community input.
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. Through this collaborative effort, beloved venues and spaces will be improved and there will be better walkability and connectivity downtown. The reimagined area will serve as a gathering space for residents and visitors alike."
The project represents a collaborative effort involving multiple stakeholders, with Wilson expressing gratitude to key partners. "We have deep gratitude for 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," she concluded. The transformation is expected to significantly enhance Salt Lake City's entertainment landscape and strengthen its position as a major destination for sports, culture, and conventions in the Mountain West region.
