Utah Real Estate Challenge 2024

2024 UREC Kick Off Video

Overview

The Utah Real Estate Challenge (UREC) is an intercollegiate real estate development competition for undergraduate and graduate students throughout the State of Utah. The competition fosters an understanding of real estate development by giving students the opportunity to prepare and present a development proposal to a panel of expert judges. A grand prize of $20,000 will be awarded to the team with the most promising and economically viable real estate development plan. A second-place prize of $10,000, and a third-place prize of $5,000 will also be awarded. The competition is made possible by the generous support of the Ivory-Boyer Real Estate Center Board, sponsors, mentors, judges, and faculty from participating schools.

Interested in participating or sponsoring the event? Please reach out to Alicia Brooks at alicia.brooks@eccles.utah.edu.

Resources

UREC 2024
Team Competition Packet

The packet has all the info you need to get your team ready to register for the 2024 UREC competition. It has timelines, submissions requirements, information sessions schedule, and more.

UREC 2024
Finalists Team Presentations
and Awards Banquet

Thursday, April 11, 2024
11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Grand America Hotel

555 South Main Street
Salt Lake City, Utah

Please email Alicia.Brooks@Eccles.Utah.edu for information or to RSVP before Wednesday, April 3. Table sponsorships are available.

2024 Competition Details

We would love to have you involved in the competition! The UREC team will hold information sessions at various colleges and universities throughout the state. These forums will include a UREC presentation explaining the parameters of the competition with Q&A sessions. In January, we are planning an in-person info session at the U which will also offer an opportunity to meet students from other disciplines and schools so you can build your team. We will create an online team building spreadsheet to assist with team creation. To schedule a session at your school, please contact Alicia Brooks at Alicia.Brooks@Eccles.Utah.edu.

Each team must have at least two members and no more than five members. All team members must be enrolled students at a college or university in the State of Utah. A graduating student may participate if they complete all the graduation requirements during the 2023 fall semester. Student standing will be verified by the UREC planning team. Teams may utilize unpaid outside consultants and mentors, but only registered team members are eligible for award money. Previous winning teams have had a strong combination of planning, construction, finance, and design.

Students who register for the competition may utilize educational forums and other resources to aid in the creation and implementation of their real estate development plan. UREC will provide important reminders of upcoming events, forums, key submission deadlines, and judges decisions via email and the UREC website.

Should you have any questions regarding the competition or if you’d like to arrange an information session for your school, please reach out to the following:

Questions about the packet? Confused about the competition rules? Reach out to the following:

Awards

Competition Timeline

Team Registration Opens
Friday, Jan. 19, 2024, 8 a.m.
Team Registration Deadline
Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024, 11:59 p.m.
5-page Development Proposal Submission Deadline
Friday, Feb. 23, 2024, 5 p.m.
First Round Judges Presentations
Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024 at 8:30 a.m.
25-page Development Business Plan Submission deadline
Tuesday, April 2, 2024, Noon
Finalist Presentation and Awards Luncheon
Thursday, April 11, 2024, at 11 a.m.

2021 UREC Winners Video

2022 UREC Site Visit Video

2023 UREC Winners

First Place Winner

LOC: “The Place”

“The Place is an innovative and sustainable Student Housing Project on the of the University of Utah. It will be the anchor in realizing the vision of the U to create an on-campus community and will provide amenities for all.”

Team Members: Russell Dilworth, Nathan Frame, Porter Openshaw, Annika Tingey, and RaeLee Yancy

Second Place Winner

BCR Development: “The Summit”

“The Summit will be a mixed-use development located in West Point, Utah at the future intersection of US-193 and the West Davis Corridor extension. This project capitalizes on the northward growth from Salt Lake City in Davis County by establishing the foundation for a vibrant new city center. The site provides an attractive opportunity for developers and investors while creating value for a rapidly growing city.”

Team Members: Chase Dorius, Catherine Frost, Braxton Hackman, Braya Robbins and Ryan Ward

Third Place Winner

Cirque Studios: “Nexus”

Redefining mid-town Salt Lake City through a unique mixed-use adaptive re-use project in the heart of one of the fastest growing creative districts is The Montrose & Kilter Block. Through innovation, rooted character, and sustainability, this proposal aims to connect the gritty industrial feel of the Granary District with its sustainable, community-rich future. At a pivotal location, The Montrose is the highest and best use, serving this dynamic community by infusing rooftop amenity spaces and sustainability practices atop local roots.

Team Members: Lucas Chimento, Jack Gordon, Addison Martin and Alaina Prasek

Fourth Place Winner

Altior: “Athena”

“Big problems require big solutions. Athena is a transit-oriented residential project features a mix of first floor retail, student housing and multi family with an emphasis on safety and residential life in the heart of downtown. Athena is a unique housing model in Salt Lake City that allows for flexible floor pods that actively reflect the fluctuations in housing demand.”

Team Members: Casey Bowen, Samira Marjaei, Courtney Nielsen, and Valarie Williams

UREC 2022 Winners

First Place Winner

Pioneer Dev Team Members:

  • Bailey Johnson
  • Luke Littlefield
  • Cooper Parson
  • Kenley Roberts
  • Austin Taylor

Runners-up

ARCH Group Team Members:

  • Austin Dent

  • Russ Dilworth

  • Blake Hanson

  • Hunter Murray

  • Kevin Peterson

Runners-up

RJN Group Team Members:

  • Amro Al-Nimri

  • Morgan Julian

  • Scott Rojahn

Thank You to Our Sponsors

Chair’s Circle

Executive Committee

Sponsors