The Sun Also Rises: Kennecott Land Sets the Bar for Vibrant, Sustainable Communities
Written By: Connor Anderson
In the early 2000s, Kennecott Land—a subsidiary of Rio Tinto— set out to transform former mining lands into enduring places to live and work. The first and largest example is Daybreak in South Jordan, Utah. This article looks back at Daybreak’s momentum and sustainability commitments circa 2010.
Daybreak by the Numbers (Through 2010)
- Community launch: Home sales began in 2004.
- Households: About 2,500 families, with a population near 10,000.
- Market share: Roughly 16% of all new homes sold in the Salt Lake market in 2009.
- Commercial space: Just over 1 million sq. ft. of retail, office, and industrial space delivered.
- Major employers: Land sale enabled an eBay data center to open in Daybreak.
Six Cornerstones of Sustainability
From the outset, Kennecott Land filtered decisions through sustainability. The team emphasized safe, vibrant neighborhoods, a healthy environment, lifelong learning, a robust local economy, integration of natural and open spaces, and active collaboration with stakeholders.
Moreover, energy management shaped planning and design. Commercial buildings targeted LEED certification (Gold/Silver), and the Daybreak Corporate Center became Utah’s first LEED Platinum office building. Homebuilders committed to ENERGY STAR®, while on‑site construction waste‑recycling kept materials out of landfills.
- Smarter resources: Low‑flow fixtures offered to buyers; goal to plant 100,000 trees.
- Community life: Organic community gardens; abundant parks and open space.
- Education: Daybreak’s combined elementary school & community center earned LEED Silver and Energy Star recognition.
Transit‑Linked Growth & New Projects
Next, attention shifted to jobs and services. In July 2010, crews broke ground on a 208,000‑sq‑ft University of Utah Health multi‑specialty center near Daybreak’s South Station—convenient to the Mid‑Jordan TRAX line. Likewise, the Crossing at Daybreak—a ~300‑unit apartment community—rose adjacent to the rail.
Looking ahead from 2010, Kennecott Land envisioned a 500‑acre town center and held entitlements for up to 14 million sq. ft. of retail/office/industrial (including 9 million sq. ft. of retail and office).
Safety & Health: A Zero‑Harm Culture
In 2005, Kennecott Land certified its environmental management system to ISO 14001 standards— a foundation for an integrated health, safety, and environment (HSE) program. The company adopted the TRACK approach: Think through tasks, Recognize hazards, Assess risks, Control hazards, and Keep safety first. In practice, that meant tighter standards in some areas than OSHA, frequent HSE interactions, and holding contractors to the same bar.
Quick Facts (2010)
- Developer: Kennecott Land (a Rio Tinto company)
- Community: Daybreak, South Jordan, Utah
- Commercial milestones: 1M+ sq. ft. delivered; major employer expansions
- Green milestones: LEED Platinum corporate center; LEED Silver school/community center; ENERGY STAR homes
- Transit: Mid‑Jordan TRAX extends directly into Daybreak
- Future‑ready (as of 2010): 14M sq. ft. entitlements; planned 500‑acre town center
