The Aspen Center for Learning is a specialized educational facility located in Heber, Utah, serving individuals with special needs over the age of 22. The 21,000‑square‑foot, single‑building project was designed to provide a safe, functional, and supportive learning environment tailored to its users. FOCUS Consulting provided full structural engineering services and comprehensive BIM modeling, supporting the project from early coordination through final design.

A Purpose‑Driven Educational Facility

As a dedicated school facility, the Aspen Center for Learning was designed with functionality and adaptability as key priorities. The building includes a gymnasium, which serves as a central component of daily programming, requiring open, unobstructed floor space and significant vertical clearance. These requirements, combined with the amount of snowfall the Heber Valley can receive, made early coordination and precise structural planning essential to the project’s success.

From the outset, the design team emphasized accuracy, coordination, and constructability to ensure the building would meet long‑term educational goals while remaining resilient in a high snow‑load environment.

Structural Design and BIM Coordination

A defining feature of the project was the development of a fully integrated 3D structural model that included custom steel trusses and specialized framing elements. The structural design and documentation were completed entirely in ArchiCAD, aligning with the architect’s preferred platform. This approach enabled seamless coordination between architectural, structural, and mechanical systems while maintaining a high level of modeling accuracy throughout the project.

Delivering a Coordinated Design

The primary structural challenge centered on the gymnasium roof. The space required tall clear heights to support athletic activities while also meeting high snow‑load requirements. In addition, the roof structure needed to support mechanical units, increasing both the structural complexity and coordination effort. FOCUS addressed these challenges by designing custom steel trusses spanning approximately 60 feet across the gymnasium. The trusses were engineered to efficiently manage snow loads, mechanical equipment, and architectural constraints while delivering the required interior volume. Regular coordination with the architect helped resolve conflicts early and resulted in a highly coordinated, buildable set of construction documents.

Through custom structural solutions, detailed BIM modeling, and proactive collaboration, FOCUS helped deliver a facility that supports both the functional needs of its users and the technical demands of the site. The Aspen Center for Learning demonstrates how thoughtful structural engineering and integrated BIM workflows can enhance coordination and support specialized educational environments.

For inquiries or to understand more about our services, feel free to contact us at 801.352.0075 or info@focus-es.com.