We’re not in Kansas anymore

Utah County is not known for many things. We have two universities, a few malls, lots of kids, and that’s about it. But that could all change. Brandt Anderson, a local entrepreneur, has convinced world-renowned architect Frank Gehry to design a multi-billion-dollar development in Lehi.

Gehry’s latest project was unveiled at the Utah Flash Factory in Lehi on Sept. 24.

The Point, as it is called, is a triangle-shaped development that will house retail shops, a basketball arena and Utah’s tallest building, a 450-foot-tall hotel.

“The development will produce 30 percent of its own energy and blend in with the natural landscape that exists in Utah,” said developer Brandt Anderson.

The design, keeping in Gehry fashion, is foreign to traditional Utah
architecture. “It looks like stacked blocks that arch and twist in every direction,” said David Hatch of Lehi, who was with his family to view the models. “It will be nice to have something this big in Utah, and by Frank Gehry.”

The Point would put Utah County on a list of international locations that span from Bilboa, Spain, to Paris, France. No longer would “Happy Valley” be Utah County’s only identifiable mark.

The project is not in the clear yet. Money still needs to be raised and the plummeting economy is not helping, but Anderson feels confident that he will be able to do so. “There is skepticism, I get it. … The market will come back and you will see this project on the move.”