Walker Center Receives 2012 Heritage Award

Vectra Management Group, owners of the Walker Center Building at 175 South Main Street, accepted the Utah Heritage Foundation’s “2012 Heritage Award,” representing a collective team of local architects, contractors, managers and engineers who were involved in the restoration and modernization of the historic building at the heart of downtown Salt Lake City.

“We are honored to receive the Utah Heritage Foundation’s recognition for the all-encompassing renovations made to the building over a span of five years on behalf of the talented team of professionals who made it happen,” said Vectra Management Group’s Jim Tozer, a co-owner of the building.

In 2005, Vectra Management Group, whose principals are Tozer and Raju Shah, sponsored Walker Center Associates in the purchase of the deteriorating, semi-occupied, 16-story property. In 2006, a stabilization, renovation and restoration of the Walker Center was initiated, with Shah and Tozer working hand-in-hand with the city to preserve elements integral to the building’s heritage. As an example, a ‘70s style canopy that surrounded the entire building was removed, the granite facade was restored and a historically sensitive canopy above the main entrance was installed.

According to Shah, “We saw this beautiful historic building and believed the time was right to return it to its original purpose—a respected office building attractive to tenants both in and outside of Utah. We have accomplished our goal of transforming the Walker Center into Class A office space, while returning it to the grandeur it had when originally constructed as the tallest building between the Missouri River and the West Coast.”

In 2006, the building was included in the Salt Lake City Register of Cultural Resources and placed on the National Register of Historic Places. With approval of the Historic Landmark Commission and Salt Lake City Council in 2008, Vectra Management Group returned Walker Center’s iconic 64-foot weather tower to Salt Lake City’s skyline. Today with AmericanWest Bank as its anchor tenant, Walker Center is once again serving banking customers at Second South and Main Street.

Celebrating its 100^th anniversary this year, the original Walker Bank is once again the premier historic office building in downtown Salt Lake City.

(5.7.12)