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Salt Lake County announces next phase of Salt Palace Convention Center reconstruction, supported by completion of full project team. Jacobsen Construction and AECOM Hunt join award-winning team to enhance Utah's premier convention facility - a cornerstone of the Sports, Entertainment, Culture and Convention (SECC) District. Salt Lake County // April 3, 2026 SALT LAKE COUNTY, Utah - Salt Lake County announced that it has entered Phase II of design and planning for the comprehensive reconstruction of the Calvin R. Rampton Salt Palace Convention Center, marking a major step toward a more modern, connected and visitor-focused destination in downtown Salt Lake. Additionally, Salt Lake County announced a complete planning, architectural, and construction team to realize the transformation of the Salt Palace Convention Center by 2031. It will prioritize coordinating closely with nearby stakeholders to enrich the broader 50-acre district into a connected walkable vital section of downtown which will ultimately serve as a modernized gathering place focusing on entertainment, sport, conventions, and culture. "The creation of the Sports, Entertainment, Culture and Convention District (SECC) is a generational opportunity to reinvent a vital section of our state's capital city," said Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson. "With strong support from our community partners and world-class project team, we are confident this investment will result in a fundamentally reimagined section of downtown serving local residents, area business as well as visitors to downtown Salt Lake." Part of the design concept involves adding a second full-service ballroom to the convention center that enables Salt Lake to host multiple major events simultaneously, something meeting planners have long requested, and competitors already offer. This addition will help to generate an estimated $105 million in additional annual economic impact on top of the $300 million per year that the center already generates in its current form. The facility will retain a similar square footage total while enhancing connectivity between levels to create better attendee flow, reduce congestion, and improve the overall event experience. These improvements position the Salt Lake to support future major events and continue growing as a premier convention destination. To support the reconstruction, the County has also finalized its project team with the addition of Jacobsen Construction and AECOM Hunt, chosen through a competitive RFP process. Operating as a joint venture, the firms will lead construction for the redevelopment. The construction firms join local architectural firm MHTN Architects and global firm Populous, which specializes in stadium and venue design. Construction management services are provided by Construction Control Corporation and Rider Levett Bucknall (RLB). The on-going operations of the convention center are provided by Legends Global. These firms together provide the local and global expertise to deliver a revitalized facility aligned with the broader goals of the Sports, Entertainment, Culture and Convention (SECC) District. As part of the County's development of a vibrant, connected SECC District and downtown, this team will also join Salt Lake County Arts & Culture to oversee renovation of the back-of-house of Maurice Abravanel Hall, aligning with lead architect Sparano + Mooney Architects, and the Visual Arts Center, home to the Utah Museum of Contemporary Art (UMOCA), joining lead architect Allied Works. Together with the Salt Palace Convention Center, these three buildings and surrounding public space are being designed under a unified project team to enhance connectivity and public impact of the culture and convention components of the SECC District. Funding for the project is made possible through the Convention Center Revitalization Zone (CCRZ) and tax increment financing mechanisms designed to reinvest in the County's convention and tourism infrastructure. The selected design concept will ensure the most cost-effective path forward, maximizing the value of public investment while still achieving the features of a world-class facility. "When conventions thrive, our community thrives," Kaitlin Eskelson, President and CEO of Visit Salt Lake shared. "Tourism currently injects $6.1 billion into the Salt Lake County economy annually, and this modernization of our convention center improves our ability to better serve residents and visitors by offering a more seamless and connected experience in the area. It will also generate more hotel stays, more restaurant traffic and more tax revenue to reinvest in the County." As the project moves into the next phase of design development, additional details and timelines will be released as they become available. Salt Lake County will continue to share updates as the project advances. Additionally, design concepts for Abravanel Hall's back of house renovation and the Visual Arts Center are also still under development. About Salt Lake County Salt Lake County is Utah's most populous county, home to over 1.2 million residents and the state capital, Salt Lake City. The county provides a wide range of services including public health, parks and recreation, criminal justice, and economic development. Under Mayor Jenny Wilson's leadership, the county has prioritized public safety, infrastructure investment, sustainability, and economic growth that benefit all residents. For more information, visit saltlakecounty.gov. About Jacobsen Construction Jacobsen Construction brings more than a century of Utah-based construction leadership. As a 100% employee-owned company, Jacobsen has earned recognition as one of the nation's top contractors, including 17 consecutive years on ENR's Top 100 Green Contractors list. Jacobsen's recent projects include the award-winning Astra Tower in downtown Salt Lake City, which earned Utah Construction & Design's Project of the Year honors, along with the Grand Hyatt Deer Valley and Intermountain Health Primary Children's Hospital campuses. About AECOM Hunt AECOM Hunt is the nation's leading builder of convention centers, stadiums, and large public assembly venues. Founded in 1944, AECOM Hunt holds the #1 ranking for Sports construction from Engineering News-Record (ENR) and has built 16 NFL stadiums, 18 MLB stadiums, and 18 NBA arenas. Their convention center experience is equally impressive - AECOM Hunt recently completed the $3.2 million square foot renovation of the Las Vegas Convention Center while keeping the facility fully operational and is currently leading the $3.7 billion expansion of the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas, as well as the $500 million Fort Worth Convention Center expansion. About Construction Control Corporation (CCC) Construction Control Corporation is a Utah company that has provided cost estimating services for the construction industry since its founding in 1984. They have estimated over 4,000 projects, ranging from minor remodels to $200 million building programs. They estimate all aspects of the construction project, including mechanical and electrical systems. Unlike general contractors who assemble costs from subcontractors and suppliers, Construction Control Corporation quantifies and prices all materials, labor and equipment in the project. Their clients include architects, owners, developers, contractors, and government entities. About Rider Levett Bucknall (RLB) Rider Levett Bucknall is a global independent construction, property, and management consultancy providing a full range of services to maximize value in all areas of the built environment. RLB has a long tradition of delivering expert advice on some of the region's most iconic projects from transforming and modernizing the Sacramento Convention Center in California to working alongside University of Colorado Health to deliver ground-breaking healthcare facilities and assisting architects to deliver environmentally friendly high-rise buildings like the PNC Tower in Pennsylvania. About MHTN Architects Founded in 1923, MHTN Architects is Utah's oldest architecture firm with a century-long commitment to creating meaningful spaces that enhance community life. The firm has designed many of Utah's landmark buildings across sectors including education, healthcare, civic and commercial. MHTN recently became the first architectural firm in Utah to achieve WELL Building Certification for their Salt Lake City headquarters, demonstrating their leadership in creating healthy, sustainable environments. About Populous Populous is a global architecture and design practice specializing in creating environments that draw people together for shared experiences. With over 40 years of experience and offices on five continents, Populous has designed some of the world's most recognizable sports venues, convention centers, and exhibition facilities. The firm's portfolio includes work for major events including the Olympics, FIFA World Cup and Super Bowl. Populous has extensive experience in convention center design, including projects such as the BMO Centre expansion in Calgary and their recent selection for Lincoln's new Downtown Convention Center alongside Clark & Enersen Partners. About Legends Global Legends Global is the premier partner to the world's greatest live events, venues, and brands. We deliver a fully integrated solution of premium services, including feasibility & consulting, owner's rep, sales, partnerships, venue management, hospitality, merchandise, and content & booking. Through our white-label approach, we keep our partners front and center while leveraging the power of our global network: over 450 venues, 20,000 events, and 165 million guests annually.

Wider bridges over I-290 topic of community meeting Tuesday. Village partnering with IDOT on planning process for wider bridges at Lombard, East and Oak Park avenues Local leaders are taking another stab at redeveloping infrastructure around the Eisenhower Expressway, and Oak Park residents are invited to take part in the process. A community meeting to discuss potentially expanding bridge crossings over the I-290 in Oak Park is set for next week. Oak Park is partnering with the Illinois Department of Transportation and engineering consultant AECOM on a federally funded study to "examine community needs" for expanded bridge crossings at East Avenue, Oak Park Ave and Lombard Street. The other Oak Park bridges over the Ike are also "planned for future reconstruction," but are not being focused on in this study, according to the village. The Oak Park focused session comes as IDOT works on "preliminary design" for a future I-290 reconstruction project, according to village officials. "This initiative is a major step toward reimagining the I-290 Eisenhower Expressway corridor ('the Ike') and strengthening the connectivity, safety and economic vitality of our community," the village said in a statement. "The study will focus on opportunities for expanded bridge decking over I-290, which could yield new development, public plazas and park spaces over the expressway. Your perspective is essential to capture the needs, priorities and lived experiences of residents, businesses, institutions and community partners throughout Oak Park and the surrounding region." The meeting is set for Tuesday, April 7 at the Oak Park Conservatory from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. I-290 is considered one of the most congested highways in the entire country, but there's been little progress on efforts to modernize the Eisenhower Expressway and CTA Blue Line from Downtown Chicago to the western suburbs over the last 20 years. Oak Park officials have been involved with multiple studies of the corridor over the years, including a "Cap the Ike Feasibility Study" completed back in 2005. Redeveloping the bridges could also include adding greenspace or public plazas to the bridge decks over the highway, according to the village. Last month, Oak Park's village board also approved the creation of a local steering committee to weigh in on the project. The committee is to be made up of representatives from six of Oak Park's volunteer citizen commissions, the Park District of Oak Park, the CTA and the Southtown Business District, according to village documents.

AECOM and SMU announce strategic partnership to invest in the future of AI in infrastructure talent. Innovative collaboration unites industry and academia to develop the next generation of leaders for AI in infrastructure. DALLAS - WEBWIRE - Thursday, April 2, 2026 AECOM, the trusted global infrastructure leader, today announced a strategic partnership with Southern Methodist University (SMU), establishing a framework to advance artificial intelligence driven research, workforce readiness, and longterm talent development in infrastructure engineering. The partnership builds on AECOM's deep domain expertise and global experience delivering complex infrastructure solutions, alongside SMU's academic leadership and research excellence. At the center of the partnership is a doctoral fellowship program within SMU's Lyle School of Engineering, designed to develop advanced engineering and AI expertise in areas critical to the future of infrastructure delivery. Through sustained collaboration, AECOM and SMU aim to strengthen the connection between academic research, realworld application, and highvalue careers, reinforcing the role of universities and industry as engines of workforce development and economic growth. "Building the infrastructure of tomorrow requires more than technology, it requires people with the skills, vision, and leadership to apply it responsibly and at scale," said Troy Rudd, chairman and chief executive officer at AECOM. "This partnership with SMU reflects our commitment to talent and innovation, translating advanced AI research into practical solutions and meaningful careers that support resilient, futureready communities." The fellowship program will support PhD and Doctor of Engineering candidates whose research focuses on applying AI to complex infrastructure challenges. Fellows will work closely with SMU faculty and AECOM technical leaders on complex, highvalue engineering challenges with real commercial application, drawing on AECOM's technical expertise and client experience to link academic discovery directly to industry. "Preparing the next generation of engineers means closing the gap between academic research and real world application," said Dr. Nader Jalili, Mary and Richard Templeton Dean of the Lyle School of Engineering at SMU. "Through this partnership, our doctoral fellows will be co-mentored by SMU faculty and AECOM technical leaders on real commercial applications. This creates a seamless pipeline where our students translate rigorous academic discovery into immediate industry impact, culminating in clear career pathways that deliver lasting societal benefit." The partnership will be guided by a joint advisory board comprising representatives from both AECOM and SMU, helping to ensure alignment between research priorities, academic rigor, and evolving industry demands. The program preserves SMU's academic independence and commitment to publishable research, enabling knowledge generated through the collaboration to contribute broadly to the advancement of science, engineering, and society. AECOM and SMU's partnership was formally announced at the Industry Innovation Summit 2026, hosted by the SMU Lyle Center for Digital and HumanAugmented Manufacturing. The announcement was led by Lara Poloni and Janne Aas Jakobsen, alongside Dr. Nader Jalili, Dr. Amin Salehi-Khojin, and Dr. Usama El Shamy. About AECOM AECOM is the global infrastructure leader, committed to delivering a better orld. As a trusted professional services firm powered by deep technical abilities, we solve our clients' complex challenges in water, environment, energy, transportation and buildings. Our teams partner with public- and private-sector clients to create innovative, sustainable and resilient solutions throughout the project lifecycle - from advisory, planning, design and engineering to program and construction management. AECOM is a Fortune 500 firm that had revenue of $16.1 billion in fiscal year 2025. Learn more at aecom.com. About Southern Methodist University SMU is the nationally ranked teaching and research university in the dynamic city of Dallas, and a member of the prestigious Atlantic Coast Conference. SMU's alumni, faculty and more than 12,000 students in eight degree-granting schools demonstrate an entrepreneurial spirit as they lead change in their professions, communities and the world. Visit www.smu.edu. WebWireID352764 This news content was configured by WebWire editorial staff. Linking is permitted. Distribute your news. * Every day, hundreds of individuals and companies choose WebWire to distribute their news. * WebWire places your news within numerous highly trafficked news search engines generating leads and publicity. * Submit Your Release Now!