Desert Hills High School

Project Team

Structural Engineer: BHB Consulting Engineers
Owner: Washington School District
Architect: Naylor Wentworth Lund Architects
General Contractor: Bud Maha Construction
Steel Joist Manufacturer: Vulcraft
Steel Detailer: Dixie Fabrication
Steel Fabricator: Dixie Fabrication
Steel Erector: Bud Mahas Construction

Project Type: Non-Industrial

Project Description

The new Desert Hills High School may have all the functions of a traditional high school; however, it does not appear as one. It is a striking facility with an eye-catching blend of integrated color concrete tilt-up buildings, metal panels, masonry, architectural concrete, and glass. Even though it looks like it might have cost more than a typical high school, its actual cost per square foot is less than other high schools built in Utah at the same time. Desert Hills High School is located in St. George, Utah. Washington School District was looking for a cost efficient high school campus that could be built in a timely manner and that is just what they got. Withstanding the challenges though, the school district received a cost efficient high school campus constructed in 20 months. The Desert Hills High School is a phenomenal design and contribution to the industry.

What Makes This Project Interesting

Desert Hills High School is a three building, 250,000 square feet, high school facility: The Athletics Facility, The Vocational Facility, and The Classroom Facility. The three separate buildings give the school a campus feeling. This project was not only a challenge to design, but also to build. There were many spandrel and cantilevered panels to accommodate entry ways, large openings, etc. Sandwich panels were used in some locations for exterior walls in areas that required a durable wall surface. Some of these areas were the gymnasium, wrestling room, cabinet shop, welding shop, etc.

Advantages Of The Chosen Structural System

Open web steel roof joists and floor joists were chosen because of the economics and speed of erection. It was found that an open web steel floor joists spaced from 7 foot to 8 foot o/c was the most economical system to span the 15 foot to 34 foot clear spans. The joists carry a 3 ½” (5 ½” Total) concrete slab over metal deck. Not only was this an economical system but gave a very solid feeling floor. The roof joists in most areas were spaced at 6 foot to 7 foot o/c. Again, this was the most economical system to span the 15 ft to 45 ft roof spans. Two 92” deep girders at approximately third points of the auditorium span approximately 90 feet. These girders carry roof joists spaced at approximately 10 feet o/c. The catwalks to access the stage lighting etc were coordinated to be hung from the roof structure and run through the 92” deep girders. The gymnasium roof is framed with 125 long, double pitched, open web steel joists at 9’-4” o/c. The 9’-4” o/c spacing was selected to give the structure a more open look and to make it easier to accommodate ducts.

Project Scope

What was the scope of this project? For the structural engineering firm, the scope of the project was to design the entire structure which consisted of the reinforced masonry walls, the concrete tilt-up walls, the roof system, the floor system and the foundation system. The structural engineering was also responsible for shop drawing review, site visits and questions during construction.

Project Details

Project Construction Cost: $43,000,000.00
Joist cost, including fabrication and erection: Approx. $1,850,000.00
Size (square ft.): 250,000
Roof area using joists (square ft.): 285,000
Floor area using joists (square ft.): 64,000
Joist area (square ft.): 285,000
Joist engineering to delivery (# days): 6 Months
Joist erection (# days): 13 Months

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