Wheeler Historic Farm Outdoor Education Center is a year‑round learning center, staffed and operated jointly by Salt Lake County and Utah State University’s Extension Office. The center was designed with partnerships in mind, providing a suite of flexible outdoor experiential opportunities.
The Outdoor Education Center will help visitors reconnect with nature, learn about Salt Lake Valley’s agricultural heritage and provide opportunities to learn about historic farming practices through hands-on experiences. Programmed elements for the 6,450-square-foot Outdoor Education Center include a 150-seat experiential learning lab, outdoor classrooms, demonstration kitchen, administration offices, student group staging and locker area, and functional learning gardens.
The location for this new learning center was intentionally placed along the edge of the historic Wheeler Farm campus, providing a direct connection to the existing 75-acre trail network. The goal for this center is to bring visitors into the education center for educational workshops and discussions, and then facilitate a direct connection for them to go out and engage with nature.
The firm, consultants and the general contractor are grateful for the opportunity to work with Salt Lake County, Wheeler Farm Staff and the USU Extension Stakeholders to bring this vision to reality in its unique natural setting. As part of the facility’s sustainability mission, Salt Lake City County achieved a LEED Silver certification for the building.
Owner: Salt Lake County
Principal Project Architect: Heber Slabbert, AIA, ajc architects
Design Architect: Ryan McMullen, AIA, formerly with ajc architects
Project Manager: Dijana Rambo, AIA, ajc architects
Civil Engineer: Koby Morgan, PE, Ensign Engineering
Landscape Architect: Steven Gilbert, ArcSitio Design
Structural Engineer: Alex Piket, SE, BHB Engineers
Electrical Engineer: Matthew Havercamp, PE, Spectrum Engineers
Mechanical/Plumbing Engineer: Ryan Boogaard, PE, Spectrum Engineers
General Contractor: Nicholson Management Company
