Its grand opening is a few weeks away, but already a new reception site in Salt Lake City is top-level.
"Top" meaning, if nothing else, the tallest.
But the 23rd floor of the Wells Fargo Center, 299 S. Main, will offer receptiongoers more than a longer-than-usual elevator ride. Two large rooms and a few smaller meeting rooms feature spectacular views of the Salt Lake Valley, exquisite architectural style and amenities aplenty.
"Normally when you go into a ballroom at any of the hotels here, they may have beautiful wallpaper and a nice chandelier, but really what our space shows off is the beauty of our city and the mountains," said John Dahlstrom Jr., executive vice president and general counsel for building owner Wasatch Property Management. "You just can't beat it."
Wasatch Property has formed a subsidiary, Avanti Executive Suites and Conference Centers, to offer the 23rd floor for receptions, weddings and socials and the 17th floor for executive offices available for leases ranging from one day to one year.
The 25,000-square-foot floors in the trapezoid-shaped, 26-floor building that Wasatch Property acquired last year are being made available to the public for the first time. The building was built as headquarters for American Stores, and Albertsons took it over when it acquired American Stores. For a while, the building was used only by the Salt Lake Organizing Committee.
Wells Fargo occupies nearly half the space in the building and is among about a dozen tenants. Wasatch Property has marketed the 23rd floor as an amenity for tenants needing the occasional large space.
But others can rent it. The two-story, west-facing Atrium Room can seat up to 250 people. The Wasatch Vista Room, with a view of the mountains, can accommodate up to 500 people.
JoNell Snow, event director for the 23rd floor, said its attributes include the distant views, with city lights visible at night through a bluish-purple glow that filters in from lights ringing the building's top.
The space is flexible enough to accommodate various group sizes, from one-on-one interviews to weddings to corporate social events. Walls can be removed to form one large room from the five meeting rooms, each containing a viewing screen, an LCD projector, videoconferencing devices and high-speed Internet access.
Covered parking, available catering service, access to a rooftop helipad, walking distance to hotels and TRAX and other characteristics also are expected to make the space popular.
"The level of finish on these floors is unbelievable. The building itself is incredible. The amount of attention to detail that was put into the building was amazing, that a company would spend the amount of money American Stores did to put this up," Dahlstrom said.
"Truly, they wanted a world-class showcase, but the top two floors were taken an even higher level. We've got a world-class place here."
The executive offices on the 17th floor are designed for use by small yet growing companies that can share receptionists, business machines and conference space.
"With our executive suites, we're providing space where people can come in immediately and get work done," Dahlstrom said. "You won't have to have the overhead costs 365 days a year. You can just use what you need. It's a great concept."
Construction to install the executive suites continues, but already 10 to 15 tenants have signed up. Twenty-eight more suites will be available.
The 23rd floor's private grand opening will take place Oct. 2. Snow is handling bookings for that floor, and Shauna Hardy, general manager of Avanti Executive Suites, is coordinating the leasing of space on the 17th floor. Rate details and other information are available by calling them at 961-4000.
E-MAIL: bwallace@desnews.com