Salt Lake Organizing Committee (SLOC)

2002 Winter Olympic Games and PARALYMPIC Games

Soldier Hollow - Cross Country, Biathlon and Nordic Combined Venue

Wasatch Mountain State Park, Midway, Utah

Soldier Hollow, near Salt Lake City, Utah, was the site of the Cross Country and Biathlon Venue for the 2002 Olympic Games and the 2002 Paralympic Winter Games. The venue includes more than 23k of International Ski Federation (FIS) and International Biathlon Union (IBU) certified competition ski trails; a 50m shooting range; a 7,000-seat stadium; a 6,500 sf Competition Management Building; a temporary facilities compound for media, athletes and other accredited personnel; and a spectator drop-off loop and entry plaza. Other components of this many-faceted design were thematic development, custom bridges, utilities, roads, walkways, and a snow-making system. 

FiLL p.l.l.c.  principal Phil Hendricks Jr. ASLA led a multidisciplinary design team in the preparation of the master plan and construction documents.  A core issue concerning SLOC was the sustainability of the site. EDAW addressed this concern through site drainage to supply wetlands mitigation areas with adequate moisture; revegetation with native species; and energy conservation/low maintenance of the permanent buildings. Soldier Hollow received an “A” – the highest environmental grade awarded to SLOC by the Environmental Advisory Committee, an environmental watchdog group monitoring the development of Salt Lake’s Winter Games.

The venue is located in Wasatch Mountain State Park, owned by Utah State Parks and managed by the Soldier Hollow Legacy Foundation.  Soldier Hollow has maintained its world-class reputation transitioning into a highly successful all-season park, open space, and special events venue hosting national and international events year round, including: the Heber Valley Pow Wow; International Sheepdog Classic; Utah Mountain Bike Race Series; Cross Country and Biathlon Competition and Training Center; and public recreation and other special events.  

FiLL p.l.l.c.  principal Phil Hendricks Jr. ASLA served as the: prime consultant, principal-in-charge, contract manager, lead planner and landscape architect while at EDAW/AECOM.