By 1953, Kitchell wasn’t just constructing buildings—it was constructing a future. Recognizing the inevitable ups and downs of the construction industry, founder Sam Kitchell made a game-changing decision: diversifying into real estate development. The experience building during the Korean War, coupled with economic fluctuations in the industry, reinforced the need for stability through counter-cyclical markets.

This foresight led to a partnership with Utah Construction and Mining Company, marking the beginning of Kitchell’s real estate development legacy. Their first major venture? A 100,000-square-foot office building in downtown Phoenix, developed and leased back to Mountain States Telephone & Telegraph (which later became CenturyLink). The success of this project propelled them to expand into Albuquerque, New Mexico, where they developed another office building.

But Kitchell didn’t just develop and build—it innovated. These projects incorporated a state-of-the-art construction technique: the lift-slab system. Instead of the traditional floor-by-floor approach, all concrete slabs were poured in the basement, then jacked up and welded to the steel columns. This pioneering method streamlined construction and set new efficiency benchmarks in the industry.

“We constructed what was then a Class A building for Mountain States for $8.50 per square foot and leased it to them for $1.10 per square foot per year, triple net,” Sam Kitchell recalled. It was a strategic and profitable move, proving that Kitchell’s approach to development was as smart as it was ambitious.

What started as a hedge against industry volatility became a defining force behind Kitchell’s long-term success. Today, Kitchell Development Company continues to shape communities, carrying forward the same spirit of innovation and calculated risk that laid its foundation decades ago.