Gardner

What Gardner does

Gardner is a privately-held, family-owned commercial real estate development and investment firm headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, with additional offices in Boise, Idaho and Henderson, Nevada. Founded by Kem Gardner in 2004 (building on a career in CRE since 1973) and operated under CEO Christian Gardner since 2011 and President Brady Southwick since 2022, the firm has developed over 30 million square feet of commercial real estate across Utah, Idaho, and Nevada, representing $4.3 billion+ in cumulative construction costs spanning office ($2.2B+), industrial ($1B+), multifamily ($500M+), retail ($300M+), and medical/independent living ($300M+). Service delivery is integrated end-to-end: acquisition and underwriting, governmental relations, architectural design management, construction management, asset and property management (covering ~4M sq ft of Class-A assets), and LP equity facilitation.

The technology stack is conventional CRE-platform oriented — Yardi facilities management, Energy Star Portfolio management, and energy modeling — with a notable sustainability differentiator: Baltic Pointe in Draper, Utah, is the state's first all-mass-timber commercial building, designed to be 52% more efficient than the average Utah office, and supported by a $250,000 U.S. Forest Service Wood Innovations Grant. Recent buildings score an average Energy Star rating of 85, and rooftop solar offsets 3,252 metric tons of CO2 annually. Gardner is also a US Forest Service grant recipient and operates on a transit-oriented development model adjacent to TRAX and Frontrunner stations.

Gardner operates a platform-plus-subsidiaries model generating revenue through development fees, equity participation, property disposition, and recurring property management fees, supplemented by sister companies and subsidiaries: rPlus Energies (utility-scale renewable energy, established 2018), Summit Vista (1,600-unit senior living JV with Wasatch Group and Solamere Capital), Equity Catalyst (real estate equity marketplace), Philo Ventures (sustainability venture studio co-founded 2024), and the Gardner Foundation (philanthropy). Enterprise customers span Adobe (Lehi campus), Overstock, Vivint, Pluralsight, Tesla, Deloitte, Zions Bank, Intermountain Health, St. Luke's, Huntsman Cancer Institute, 26 Target stores, the VA, Marriott, Mountain America Credit Union, PepsiCo/Frito Lay, Clearwater Analytics, and the University of Utah and Boise State University. Distribution is relationship-driven, leveraging senior-executive direct outreach, broker networks (Newmark Mountain West, Marcus & Millichap, Colliers, CBRE, Landmark Property & Development), institutional co-investors (PGIM, Prudential), and government partnerships.

Name

Gardner

Legal name

KC Gardner

Website

https://gardnergroup.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Gardner is a privately-held commercial real estate developer with a 50-year operating history developing 30+ million square feet of office, retail, industrial, multifamily, medical, mixed-use, and senior living properties across Utah, Idaho, and Nevada.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Real Estate Development

NAICS

Real Estate Property Managers (53131), Offices of Real Estate Agents and Brokers (53121)

SIC

Real Estate Dealers (For Their Own Account) (6532), Real Estate Agents & Managers (For Others) (6531), Real Estate Operators (No Developers) & Lessors (6510)

akta.pro primary industry

Real Estate Development & Feasibility Advisory (Highest-and-Best-Use, Entitlements Support) (BPAJANAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Land & Development Site Brokerage (BPAJABAG), Commercial Real Estate Brokerage (Leasing & Sales) (FSAEAJAB)

Keywords

• Commercial real estate development
• Property management services
• Construction management
• Multifamily development
• Asset management

Headquarters

HQ city

Salt Lake City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Commercial Real Estate Development: Gardner develops commercial properties across multiple asset classes (office, retail, industrial, multifamily, medical, mixed-use, senior living) for third-party clients and its own portfolio. Revenue is earned through development fees, equity participation, and property disposition. The company has developed over 30 million square feet.
2. Asset and Property Management: Gardner manages a portfolio of roughly 4,000,000 square feet of Class-A office, mixed-use, retail, medical office, and industrial assets in Utah, Idaho and Nevada for itself and third-party owners, generating recurring management fees.
3. rPlus Energies (Renewable Energy): Subsidiary established in 2018 developing utility-scale renewable energy infrastructure (solar, wind, pumped storage hydro) across the United States. Contributes to economic and technological modernization of energy systems.
4. Philo Ventures (Venture Studio): Startup studio investing in and supporting early-stage companies with a sustainability focus. Co-founded by CEO Christian Gardner in 2024. Includes Philo Studio (executes ideas), Philo Fund (invests in early-stage teams), and Philo Development (sustainable building solutions).
5. Equity Catalyst (Equity Marketplace): Sister company to Gardner that raises equity for commercial real estate developments, purchases, and recapitalizations throughout the United States. Connects sophisticated LPs and GPs with elite sponsors and investment opportunities.
6. Summit Vista Senior Living: Largest independent senior living community and first life plan community in Utah, with 1,600 residential units. Owned in partnership with Wasatch Group and Solamere Capital. Gardner is the developer.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Gardner is a full-service commercial real estate development and property management firm that develops Class-A office, retail, industrial, multifamily, medical, mixed-use, hospitality, and senior living properties across Utah, Idaho, and Nevada. The firm manages approximately 4 million square feet of assets and has developed over 30 million square feet since founding, offering end-to-end services from planning, governmental relations, architectural design management, and construction through asset and property management, complemented by affiliated renewable energy, senior living, venture, and equity-raising subsidiaries.

Product overview

Gardner is a 50-year-old, full-service commercial real estate development and property management company operating as part of The Gardner Group. The core Gardner entity develops and manages retail centers, multifamily residential, office, industrial, medical campuses, and senior living properties across Utah, Idaho, and Nevada, with a portfolio exceeding 30 million square feet. Gardner operates as a platform-plus-subsidiaries model: the core Gardner company handles commercial real estate development and property management (development, governmental relations, architectural design, construction management, asset/property management, LP equity opportunities), while sister companies rPlus Energies handles renewable energy, Summit Vista operates senior living, Philo Ventures runs a startup studio, and Equity Catalyst operates a real estate equity marketplace. Key notable projects include Baltic Pointe (Utah's first mass timber commercial building) and The Shops at Sky View retail development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• rPlus Energies: Subsidiary developing large-scale renewable energy generation and electric storage projects including solar, solar plus battery, wind, and pumped storage hydro facilities
• Summit Vista
• Philo Ventures
• Equity Catalyst
• Gardner Gives
• Baltic Pointe

Products and services

• Development Services

Quantifiable outcome

• 52% more efficient building: Baltic Pointe mass timber building energy performance vs. average Utah office building
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers24 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• Landmark Property & DevelopmentmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 8 June 2026Landmark Property & Development serves as the exclusive leasing team for The Shops at Sky View retail development in Lehi, Utah, a Gardner-Plumb project. Landmark handles tenant representation and retail leasing for the 300,000+ sq ft project that secured Target and Life Time as anchors.
• Management ElevatedcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 November 2025Gardner Group and Management Elevated formed a joint venture to own Saratoga Storage in Lehi, Utah — an 88,015 sq ft storage facility. Management Elevated is a Utah-based self-storage third-party manager and consulting firm. Gardner sold its interest in November 2025 through Marcus & Millichap.
• Intermountain HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2025Gardner Group partnered with Intermountain Health to develop Nevada's first standalone comprehensive children's hospital at UNLV's Harry Reid Research and Technology Park in Las Vegas. Gardner is co-developer with Intermountain Health on this 200+ bed hospital expected to open in 2030, generating $724 million in economic impact during construction and $841 million annually once operational. Groundbreaking expected early 2026.
• UNLV Research FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2025UNLV Research Foundation (UNLVRF) entered a land lease agreement with Gardner Group and Intermountain Health for the site of Nevada's first standalone children's hospital at UNLV's Harry Reid Research and Technology Park in Las Vegas. The park will eventually include 1.5 million square feet of retail and office space.
• ARCO ConstructioncoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerARCO Construction served as the design-build contractor for Wasatch Electric's 163,626 sq ft facility at Jones Landing in West Jordan, Utah. Gardner developed the project and ARCO built it. ARCO is described as the #1 design-build warehouse and distribution builder and #5 largest design-build general contractor in the nation.
• Newmark Mountain WestmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNewmark Mountain West, the leading full-service commercial real estate brokerage in the Intermountain Region, facilitated the 163,626 sq ft lease to Wasatch Electric at Jones Landing. Robert Kingsford represented Gardner Group (landlord) in the transaction. Also brought Wasatch Electric as tenant to Jones Landing.
• Marcus & MillichapmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMarcus & Millichap (NYSE: MMI) arranged the sale of Saratoga Storage in Lehi, Utah on behalf of the Gardner/Management Elevated joint venture. Jordan Farrer and Adam Schlosser represented the seller. Gardner Group had previously developed the 88,015 sq ft storage facility.
• Wasatch ElectricminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWasatch Electric is the tenant in a 163,626 sq ft build-to-suit facility at Jones Landing in West Jordan, Utah, developed specifically for them by Gardner. The custom facility includes 30,000+ sq ft of office, warehouse for distribution, and shop space for their vehicle fleet.
• rPlus EnergiescoreOthersrPlus Energies is a subsidiary of Gardner Group established in 2018 to develop large-scale renewable energy generation and electric storage projects (solar, solar plus battery, wind, pumped storage hydro) across the United States. Christian Gardner co-founded rPlus. It operates as a separate but affiliated company, sharing Gardner's sustainability mission.
• Philo VenturesminorOthersPhilo Ventures is a startup studio co-founded by Christian Gardner in 2024 in partnership with Gardner Group. It focuses on sustainability through three arms: Philo Studio (executes ideas), Philo Fund (invests in early-stage teams), and Philo Development (sustainable building solutions). Operates as a separate venture from Gardner Group.
• Equity CatalystcoreOthersEquity Catalyst is a sister company to Gardner that raises equity for commercial real estate developments, purchases, and recapitalizations throughout the United States. Eli Mills serves as CEO. The platform connects sophisticated LPs and GPs with elite sponsors and investment opportunities, focusing on institutional investors and family offices.
• U.S. Forest ServiceminorOthersThe U.S. Forest Service awarded Gardner a $250,000 Wood Innovations Grant to support the use of mass timber/natural wood products in the Baltic Pointe Office building in Draper, Utah — the state's first all-wood commercial building.
• Utah Climate & Clean Air CompactminorOthersGardner is a member of the steering committee for the Utah Climate & Clean Air Compact, a coalition of Utah business and political leaders committed to combating climate change. Gardner is one of 100+ signatories on the compact pledge.
• UCAIR (Utah Clean Air Partnership)minorOthersGardner was recognized as UCAIR Business Partner of the Year in 2022 for its contributions to improving Utah's air quality through sustainable building practices, rooftop solar, and energy efficiency measures.
• Shepley Bulfinch and GenslermajorTechnology or IntegrationShepley Bulfinch and Gensler are the architecture firms announced in January 2025 for the Nevada children's hospital project at UNLV Tech Park. They have been conducting design work and will adapt plans to the specific site for the 200+ bed hospital.

Scale indicators18 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Wood Partners: National multifamily developer active in the Mountain West. Gardner has hired senior developers from Wood Partners, and the firms compete for multifamily development and capital partnerships in overlapping geographies.
• Bridge Investment Group: Vertically integrated real estate investment manager with deep multifamily and affordable-housing focus. Several Gardner hires came from Bridge and adjacent multifamily firms; comparable in LIHTC/multifamily development execution.

Broad incumbents

• Cushman & Wakefield: Global commercial real estate services firm with property management, valuation, and brokerage. Jill Bengston (Gardner Senior PM) and others came from Cushman & Wakefield; comparable property-management services offering at larger scale.
• Marcus & Millichap: NYSE-listed commercial real estate investment sales brokerage (MMI). Provides investment-sales, capital markets, and advisory services and serves as a channel partner/broker for Gardner transactions; broader scope and publicly traded.
• Newmark Group: Public commercial real estate advisory and brokerage firm. Newmark Mountain West is a key leasing and transaction partner for Gardner, including the 163,626 sq ft Wasatch Electric lease at Jones Landing.

Direct peers

• The Boyer Company: Major Utah-based commercial real estate developer founded and led by Kem Gardner for 30 years before he established Gardner Company. Direct competitor in Utah office, retail, industrial, and multifamily development with comparable regional scale and tenant relationships.
• Woodbury Corporation: Intermountain West commercial real estate developer with multifamily, office, industrial, and mixed-use projects across Utah. Comparable in size, regional footprint, and asset-class diversification; some of Gardner's management team came from Woodbury/Colliers.
• Wasatch Group: Utah-based real estate developer and senior-living operator co-owning Summit Vista with Gardner. Highly comparable in master-planned community, multifamily, and senior-living development, and a frequent joint-venture partner.
• Hamilton Partners: Regional commercial real estate developer with Mountain West exposure spanning office, multifamily, mixed-use, and industrial. Comparable asset-class diversification and development scale to Gardner in similar geographies.

Regional players

• Ivory Homes: Largest homebuilder in Utah with growing commercial and land-development activities. Comparable in Mountain West residential and land development, though primarily a residential builder rather than commercial developer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gardnergroup

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Gardner