Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The University of Utah received a $469,920 Project Grant award dated February 15, 2026, from the National Science Foundation's Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems under the Engineering program (CFDA 47.041). This longitudinal study will quantify energy and mass-balance changes associated with urban sustainable redevelopment by examining the Fleet Block project in downtown Salt Lake City through January 31, 2029. The primary deliverables include field measurements and numerical modeling outputs that characterize how neighborhood-scale redevelopment affects local environmental conditions, including temperature, humidity, air quality, human comfort, pollution exposure, and building energy use.

The project will deploy a high-resolution measurement array consisting of an eddy-covariance tower and 16 low-cost monitoring stations around the city block, collecting data from building demolition through new construction and occupancy. Deliverables include new transport models developed and tested to identify redevelopment components that significantly impact the environment, along with generalized findings and recommendations applicable beyond Salt Lake City. The research will also produce collaborative outputs engaging city officials, residents, and University of Utah students, providing urban planners with evidence-based understanding of economic and social tradeoffs associated with various types of urban change.