Engineering firm scoops up 35K in Downtown office building

March 18, 2024 by Evan Curtis
Policy/Legislative, Urban Planning

By Taylor Anderson, Building Salt Lake, Link

An engineering design-build firm grew to its footprint in Salt Lake City this week when it picked up 35,000 square feet at 310 S. Main in Downtown.

Dennis Group, which primarily works in the food and beverage industry, first moved to the city in 1994 and has an office space around the corner on Market Street.

The firm said its team has grown to the point where it needs more space in the capital city.

“We’ve had the pleasure of witnessing the downtown area’s transformation as we’ve grown to over 100 Utah employees over the past three decades,” Dennis Group President Jason Jones said in a statement. “Salt Lake City has been a fantastic location for us, for both attracting high-skilled professionals as well as serving our Western US clients.”

The company said it plans to continue its growth in the city moving forward.

The lease is welcome news for the Downtown office market. Salt Lake City’s urban core hasn’t struggled as much as other cities’ in the wake of the pandemic, but things aren’t smooth sailing, either. Buildings have been selling at steep discounts despite a stronger than average recovery in Downtown activity compared to other cities nationwide.

Still, 310 S. Main represents the type of office building employees are still returning to. It is well-served by transit and sits among some of Utah’s best bars and restaurants.

JLL handled the lease and said the building has seven floors of available office space totaling 65,000 square feet, along with three contiguous full floors of up to 52,000 square feet, as well as smaller suites starting at 1,500 square feet.

The building also has amenities that property owners say are crucial to helping attract workers back to the office, like a rock climbing wall, bike storage and food and beverage options.

“Securing Dennis Group as a tenant at 310 South Main Street is a significant milestone for our team and the downtown submarket,” said Amanda Lawson, vice president of JLL. “This lease not only reflects the growing demand for high-quality, efficient office spaces but also highlights The Horne Companies’ dedication to catering to the needs of its tenants.”