At Think Architecture, we believe the best projects start with strong relationships. For over 15 years, we’ve partnered with DAI Utah, a development company with a mission to create meaningful connections. Together, we’ve completed more than 30 projects that shape the built environment and strengthen ties between people and communities.
A Mission Rooted in Connection
DAI credits its success to a mission focused on connection. These connections reach beyond buildings to the people and communities they serve, including a culture of collaboration among employees, trust with city partners, positive rapport with design and construction professionals, and opportunities for residents to connect in their neighborhoods.
In a recent conversation, Joe Salisbury, Partner at DAI, shared that these connections are intentional, built into every project. From five-foot-wide sidewalks to benches placed near mailboxes, DAI designs details that encourage natural exchanges among residents. Salisbury explains, “We’re about living our values and weaving that into everything we do.”
DAI: Listening, Learning, and Living Values
DAI centers on how residents experience their communities. Through its “Love Where You Live” survey, run by an independent firm, DAI set a 90% resident approval goal. With a 34% response rate, results show 87% approval. This data reflects the satisfaction residents feel in places that encourage connection and belonging.
The Orchard at Farnsworth Farms: A Community Designed for Belonging
A strong example of this mission is The Orchard at Farnsworth Farms, an award-winning mixed-use community in Sandy, Utah, designed with Think Architecture. The project shows how thoughtful design fosters interaction and connection.
The Orchard balances modern living with historic roots, integrating townhomes, apartments, and shared spaces into a walkable, human-centered community. Green space and gathering areas with pedestrian pathways invite residents to come together, while architectural details help the development feel authentic and connected to its surroundings. Embracing the area’s agricultural roots, the neighborhood features a red barn-style clubhouse, orchard-themed green spaces, community garden boxes, and play areas. This project has become a model for development that blends function and beauty with real community impact.
A Lasting Partnership
As design partners, Think Architecture is honored to contribute to DAI’s vision. Our collaboration reflects a shared belief that residential architecture and development should be centered on the people who use them, and the places they call home. Together, we’ve created communities that inspire connection and belonging. At the core of every DAI project, the message is clear: when connections are the foundation, communities thrive.
