SALT LAKE CITY | The Triad Center | 43 FLOORS | 1986 | NEVER BUILT

Sight-Seer · #1 Posted **Jan 16, 2009, 12:04 AM**

The Triad Center would have taken up three blocks: the one occupied by the current Triad Center and the ones south and east of it. At the time, in 1984, the cost was estimated to be $410 million. Converting that to current dollars is beyond me, but with inflation it probably would have dwarfed City Creek Center, currently under construction in downtown Salt Lake.

News of the Triad Center plans generated a lot of excitement in Salt Lake, and lots of conceptual drawings appeared in local newspapers. I'd like to share some of these with forum members. Personally, I was very excited by this project.

The Triad Center was to be built in phases. The first phase consisted of the existing buildings. This building, One Triad Center, was planned to be one of two identical (but mirrored) buildings that would have framed the historic Union Pacific Depot to the west. It would have been constructed during the second phase. I've always liked the looks of it, especially the blending of historic elements, such as the brick arches, with the modern elements. I think the shape and setting was wonderful and would have complemented the historic nature of Salt Lake perfectly. At forty-three stories, it would have dominated the skyline.

Future Mayor · #2 Posted **Jan 16, 2009, 12:10 AM**

I wasn't aware that it was originally proposed to be all three of those blocks I only remember the current block in the proposal. Then again I was only in about 2nd grade when I first heard about it so thus why my memory may be slightly foggy. I do however recall there was suppose to be a couple of 30+ story residential towers. Does that sound right?

Would you have happened to come across any other rendering of the project, I would love to see more?

While the block to the south is obviously occupied now, that spot were the tower above sits is still available. Having an office, residential or mixed use tower on the site would be nice, maybe not 43 stories as originally proposed (that would look odd in the skyline, unless it's twin could be built, which it can't) but something 20 - 25 would be nice, in my opinion.

delts145 · #3 Posted **Jan 16, 2009, 12:15 AM**

I think there were actually three, but maybe two residential towers. I think the block just east, along So. Temple, where the LDS Church is planning campus expansion. The second identical 40-plus tower would have stood where the Energy Solutions Arena stands now.

Sight-Seer · #4 Posted **Jan 16, 2009, 12:39 AM**

I have more clippings. If this project had been completed, Salt Lake would look very different.

Sight-Seer · #5 Posted **Jan 17, 2009, 5:28 AM**

The Triad Center evolved through several iterations. In 1982 it looked like this:

Two years later it had evolved some more. A map appears below.

A 30-story Hyatt-Regency Hotal was added, which would have been connected by skybridge to the block to the west. The supports for the skybridge can still be seen in the median of 3rd West. The plans showed two hotels.

A year later, in 1985. Triad planners had decided to decrease the height of the office building to 35 stories or 500 feet. The reason they gave was that the Church was planning an office building on the corner of South Temple and State, which we now know as the Eagle Gate Tower. The latest iteration of the Triad Center appears below.

Note that the Hyatt-Regency had evolved into something that would have looked very interesting. It is the building with four corner towers topped by spheres. It's too bad this was never built. The other two buildings on that block were office buildings. There were three condo towers on the south block.

Below are some pictures from the ground-breaking ceremony.

Dozens of enormous metal columns were later delivered and lay in stacks on the block to the east for about a year. Financing problems delayed construction. It seems the khashoggi's had fallen on hard times. It was finally admitted that the tower and the rest of the project would never be built. The metal girders were sold as scrap to a company down in American Fork. I saw them there for a while, but they eventually disappeared for good.

jedikermit · #6 Posted **Jan 17, 2009, 4:19 PM**

I think my first inklings of my urban planning/skyscraper obsession were when those pictures were in the newspapers back in the 80's. It probably took me until the late 90's to stop cursing Adnan Khashoggi's name. Great finds--thanks for sharing those with us.

Of those buildings, the one I still like the best is that revised Hyatt Regency--love that crown.

ctobsl · #7 Posted **Jan 17, 2009, 5:35 PM**

Sight-Seer,

Great Posting...
It brings back memories...

Thanks for all the information and news clips about the Triad. It was such a long time ago and I could not remember everything that was planned, but I knew it was big. I remember now, seeing all those clippings. It's nice to have a link to direct everyone to so they can see for them selfs what could have been and to answer everyones questions about it.

Thanks,
Anthony

SLC Projects · #8 Posted **Jan 17, 2009, 6:10 PM**

Holy freaking shit. That would of been awesome. I had no idea of the size of this project. Our skyline would of been twice as big as it stand now. Now i'm depress.

Somebody should sent a e-mail with those renderings to emporis.com so they could file those under Salt Lake's never built list.

TANGELD_SLC · #9 Posted **Jan 17, 2009, 6:59 PM**

my exact sentiments. I'm going to go kill myself now, reincarnate, and add more posts later tonight

I think two of those monsters would still have looked really cool.

Stenar · #10 Posted **Jan 17, 2009, 7:48 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jedikermit

It probably took me until the late 90's to stop cursing Adnan Khashoggi's name.

You can thank Ronald Reagan, George Bush, Sr. and Oliver North for the Triad towers never getting built.

Khashoggi helped the Reagan administration with the arms negotians in the Iran-Contra affair and in exchange, when the shit hit the fan, the US govt. froze all of Kashoggi's assets and he had no access to funds to complete the Triad Center.

Viperlord · #11 Posted **Jan 17, 2009, 7:56 PM**

found this model sometime awhile back.

Urban_logic · #12 Posted **Jan 17, 2009, 9:59 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Viperlord

found this model sometime awhile back.

I'm good with this! Forget the hotel, the condo towers, and whatever else was going on the other two blocks. Just finish this one, somebody! Why did they build the rest of the block, then stop short of the huge tower?? Even if it was a 25 sotry tower, I'd still be happy. Boldoze the effing parking lot and build that mother trucker!!

I am seriously pissed now! It's like showing me I was going to get a Jaguar, then you give me a rusty, run-down, 30-year-old Ford instead!! If I was alive then, I don't think I would have been able to handle the news.

delts145 · #13 Posted **Jan 17, 2009, 10:15 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stenar

You can thank Ronald Reagan, George Bush, Sr. and Oliver North for the Triad towers never getting built.

Khashoggi helped the Reagan administration with the arms negotians in the Iran-Contra affair and in exchange, when the shit hit the fan, the US govt. froze all of Kashoggi's assets and he had no access to funds to complete the Triad Center.

That's right.... Now I understand. Damn Feds......... Where's Jack Bauer when you need him.

TANGELD_SLC · #14 Posted **Jan 19, 2009, 6:50 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Viperlord

found this model sometime awhile back.

That model made me happy in my pants

I want to slay the ones responsible for preventing it's realization!!!

Skyscrapers4Me · #15 Posted **Jan 19, 2009, 9:54 AM**

Sorry to burst anyone's bubble, but Khashoggi is...well, I'll leave it up to your opinion:

I got all excited about this project, when it came out. Folks from Denver tried to tell Salt Lakers not to trust him, that he tried to scam them, but everyone here was too excited and enamored of the idea. He pulled the same crap in Houston, then Salt Lake took the bait.The lawsuits went on for 10 years, just to pay the contractors & their subs on what WAS built. $140 million worth, in the 1980's.

He screwed a lot of people and skipped off in his gilded jet. He got extradited from Switzerland...but managed to make bail. He managed not to get indicted, but two years later...he was up to it again.

Khashoggi's had his hand in a lot of questionable pies, so to speak. Our friends, the Marcos' of the Phillippines, "worked" with him. So have the Bin Ladens, Colonel Ghaddafi, junk bond "artist" Michael Milken, Bebe Rebozo, dictator Bokassa, "escort" Heather Mills...the list goes on and on...

http://www.slate.com/id/2058706/
http://www.vanityfair.com/magazine/a...09/dunne198909
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/ar...3261-7,00.html
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpag...pagewanted=all

Some may call him a "shrewd" or "cunning" businessman. People around him say that he is very charming. Donald Trump says he is wonderful at bringing people together but "a horrible businessman". He seems to like to hang out ( hide??? ) in Switzerland a LOT.

I believe he never had intentions of paying one cent to develop Triad. It would've been great if it HAD been completed...but like the old saying goes, "If it sounds too good to be true...", well...you know the rest.

Just my two cents...