University of Utah Health, in partnership with Mortenson, celebrated the groundbreaking of a new AirMed hangar at Salt Lake City International Airport, marking a significant milestone in expanding lifesaving air medical infrastructure for the region.
The project includes the construction of a new, approximately 20,000-square-foot facility and associated sitework designed to support University of Utah Health’s AirMed program and its mission to deliver the highest level of critical care transport when time matters most.
Located on the East Apron of the Salt Lake City International Airport, the new hangar is thoughtfully designed to serve as a high-functioning hub for the AirMed fleet, supporting rapid deployment and regional accessibility for time-critical medical transport across the Mountain West.
Key Points
- The approximately 20,000‑square‑foot facility will support critical care air medical transport and rapid regional deployment across the Mountain West.
- The hangar features sustainable design, energy‑efficient systems, and optimized space for aircraft maintenance and crew readiness.
- The project strengthens operational readiness for AirMed, one of the nation’s longest‑standing air medical transport programs.
Purpose-Built Design Enhances Efficiency and Sustainability
Emphasizing sustainable building practices, the facility incorporates environmentally responsible materials and energy-efficient systems to minimize its environmental impact. The hangar’s layout was intentionally developed to optimize workflow, enhancing aircraft maintenance operations while providing well-designed accommodations that support flight crew readiness.
This purposeful design directly supports AirMed’s mission to deliver the highest-quality care to patients and continue striving for excellence in every aspect of the profession.
“This new AirMed hangar represents a critical investment in our ability to deliver lifesaving care when every second counts,” said Eric Swanson, MD, medical director of AirMed at University of Utah Health. “By enhancing our operational readiness and regional access, this facility strengthens AirMed’s mission to serve patients across the Mountain West with the highest level of critical care transport.”
Nearly Five Decades of Air Medical Service Across the Mountain West
Established on June 16, 1978, AirMed was the eighth air medical transport program in the nation and has provided specialized, lifesaving care for nearly five decades. Today, AirMed transports trauma, burn, medical, pediatric, neonatal, high-risk obstetric, intra-aortic balloon pump, Impella, and ECMO patients 24 hours a day.
The program operates five helicopters and one airplane positioned throughout northern Utah and Wyoming, serving one of the largest geographic regions of any flight program in the nation. AireMed routinely transports patients from Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Nevada, Montana, New Mexico, and Idaho. Its main base is located at University of Utah Hospital, with satellite bases in Layton, Park City, Tooele, and Rock Springs, Wyoming. All AirMed bases are staffed 24/7.
“AirMed’s nearly 50-year history underscores its essential role in delivering complex, lifesaving transport for patients with the most urgent needs,” said Gina Hawley, DrPH, MHA, system associate chief operating officer at University of Utah Health. “This new hangar builds on that legacy by ensuring our crews have the infrastructure needed to continue providing highly specialized care—any hour of the day, wherever it is needed.”
"This project reflects the generational impact construction can have for our communities,” said Sarah Narjes, general manager for Mortenson’s Salt Lake City office. “Our business is our customer’s business, and we are honored to serve the University of Utah and AirMed in delivering a state-of-the-art hangar to ensure that AirMed can operate at the highest level and provide critical care for Utah and the Mountain West.”
Mortenson is the design builder, leading the project alongside key partners—including Architectural Nexus, Dunn Associates, Kimley-Horn, and Spectrum Engineers—and bringing together specialized expertise in health care, aviation, and complex infrastructure delivery.
The project is expected to be competed in May 2027.
Exterior rendering of the new AirMed hangar at Salt Lake City International Airport
Rendering of the entry inside the new AirMed hangar.
Rendering of a training room for AirMed crew inside the new hangar.
About University of Utah Health
University of Utah Health is the state’s only academic health care system, providing leading-edge and compassionate care for a referral area that encompasses 10 percent of the US, including Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, and much of Nevada. A hub for health sciences research and education in the region, U of U Health has a $531 million research enterprise and trains the majority of Utah’s physicians, and more than 1,670 scientists and 1,460 health care providers each year at its Colleges of Health, Nursing, and Pharmacy and Schools of Dentistry and Medicine.
With more than 27,000 employees, the system includes 12 community clinics and five hospitals: University Hospital, Huntsman Mental Health Institute, Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah, University Orthopaedic Center, and the Craig H. Neilsen Rehabilitation Hospital. For 16 straight years, U of U Health has ranked as one of the top performing US academic medical centers in the rigorous Vizient Quality and Accountability Study.
About Mortenson
Mortenson is a U.S.-based, top-25 builder, developer, and engineering services provider serving the commercial, institutional, and energy sectors. Mortenson’s expanding portfolio of integrated services helps its customers move their strategies forward, ensuring their investments result in high-performing assets. The result is a turnkey partner, fully invested in the business success of its customers.
Mortenson’s Salt Lake City office serves Utah and the greater Wasatch Front, delivering integrated services across diverse sectors. With a long history in Utah, Mortenson has partnered with public and private customers to plan, build, and deliver projects that support the state’s growth and strengthen local communities.