The Power of Community: Thank You to Everyone Behind the Overlook House Foundation
Our 2026 project, the Overlook House, is officially underway! Our students arrived in Bluff in late August and completed the first three-week session — always the most physically demanding one. Under severe desert heat, they excavated the ground, mixed concrete, and poured the foundation. We could not have done it alone. Despite the heat, the power of community kept us going, and we want to say thank you to everyone who stood with us.
Honored Visitors
On September 17, the Utah Navajo Trust Fund (UNTF) brought Utah State Treasurer Marlo Oaks and Utah State Auditor Tina Cannon to visit our site. For Treasurer Oaks, it was a return visit — he toured one of our earlier projects a few years ago, and we were so glad to have him back to see how the program continues to grow. For Auditor Cannon, it was her very first visit, and we were thrilled to introduce her to our students and our work. Thank you both for making the trip to Bluff and for your genuine interest in our students.
Generous Neighbors
Our homeowner — a cheerful older gentleman currently living in a trailer on site — watches over the daily progress in his safety vest, while his family built a shaded break hut for the students. Thank you for welcoming us so warmly onto your land.
Local Support
Heavy excavation was made possible by backhoe assistance from the Red Mesa Chapter and Jackson Lee of JR Construction. Thank you for lending your machines and your skill — the foundation truly started with you.
Excavating for the foundation with JR Construction's backhoe.
Collaborative Hands
Huge thanks to Diana. We also received critical volunteer support from the BYU Global Engineering Outreach (GEO) team, and invaluable guidance from UNTF, whose partnership has supported DesignBuildUTAH@Bluff for many years.
Our students with the BYU Global Engineering Outreach (GEO) team, in front of the newly poured foundation.
Material Partners
Donated materials from Big-D Construction have arrived on site, leaving us fully prepared for the next stage. Thank you, Big-D, for your continued generosity.
What Comes Next
With the foundation complete, the team will begin structural framing at the end of September. This next session is where abstract ideas transform into real spaces, and we look forward to seeing the house take shape daily. To everyone named here, and to all our donors, alumni, and friends — thank you for your ongoing support, dedication, and belief in our mission.