Central to the design of Paragon Station is a desire to embrace the existing historical character while introducing a sensitive modern design solution. Formerly known as the Westgate Business Center, the building has gone through a number of rehabilitation efforts over its lifespan. Cues from the successes and failures of those efforts were taken for the design of Paragon Station.
The south façade has been left largely intact throughout the building’s life. Since it serves as the main public face along the adjacent 200 south corridor, maintaining its appearance and integrity was paramount. Conversely, along the Eastern façade, large mirrored glass bay windows have been removed in effort to strip the façade down to the original concrete structural frame and work within this grid with a more appropriate contemporary intervention. Individual loft units have been inserted into this existing framework and present themselves as cantilevered volumes at varying depths along the eastern and northern facades. Penthouse units have been added atop the existing roofs, each with a dedicated deck and floor to ceiling glass which offer stunning views of downtown Salt Lake City and Wasatch Mountains.
Paragon Station has incorporated a number of sustainable practices in its design, including geo-thermal heating and cooling, passive ventilation, and natural daylighting along the entire building perimeter and a central four story atrium. Green living practices are also encouraged with the implementation of recycling stations and electric vehicle recharging stations.