In the heart of Sugar House Park, something remarkable has taken root — part engineering marvel, part sculptural masterpiece. Known as the Sego Lily, this three-petal installation is far more than a flood-control structure; it is living public art, and Boulderscape's sculpted shotcrete gives it form.
Construction began in fall 2017. What initially appeared as a concrete flood-control channel evolved into a dynamic landscape combining Utah's geological story with pioneer heritage — accomplished through Boulderscape's expertise in architectural shotcrete.
The north wall, engineered to deflect floodwaters from Parley's Creek detention basin, was transformed by Boulderscape artisans into a flowing petal. Shotcrete surfaces were carved, stained, and textured to resemble natural rock formations, gently sloping into a landscaped plaza of seating outcroppings and native plants.
The south wall continues the design with sculptural benches, flowing walkways, and narrow paths mimicking a flower's fluid geometry. Rocky mounds were formed to resemble Echo Canyon's geological textures, finished with aggregates matching the region's distinct sand and pebble composition.
The third petal is a reinforced berm surrounding the park, its vegetation rows divided by seven sculpted shotcrete "veins." These veins reference Utah's agricultural heritage — specifically 19th-century pioneer crops in the Salt Lake Valley — one of Boulderscape's most meaningful blends of natural and cultural storytelling.
The tunnel beneath 1300 East — part of the Parley's Trail pedestrian and bicycle route — was also within Boulderscape's scope. Its south-facing wall was textured to replicate a distorted coal seam, referencing regional geological fault lines and continuing the project's theme of blending science, history, and design through sculpted shotcrete.
The Sego Lily stands as a tribute to nature and narrative — a proud addition to Boulderscape's portfolio of projects where infrastructure becomes art.
