Tri Pointe Homes unveils its new wellness models in Utah

Tri Pointe Homes recently announced the launch of LivingWell, a new wellness concept that expands on its LivingSmart program. The initiative is part of a multilayered strategy to enhance mental and physical health through innovative design focused on performance and human-centered approaches. 

The builder started construction on a roughly 7,700-square-foot model home in Utah that will be the first to showcase the LivingWell concept. It will then be introduced to the other homes in The Pavilions at Holladay Hills, a six-lot, upscale community near Salt Lake City featuring semi-custom homes ranging from 4,600 to 7,800 square feet.               

In an interview with The Builder’s Daily, Ken Krivanec, president of Tri Pointe Homes’ Washington and Utah division, said that the property was the “maiden voyage” for LivingWell, which could expand to other communities across the country in the future. Many of Tri Pointe’s buyers, who tend to be more established and affluent, see a home not only as a financial investment but also as an investment in their physical and mental well-being. 

The news comes about a year after Tri Pointe Homes broke ground on its first community in Utah, following its 2023 announcement of an expansion into the state.  

Combining high performance and design

The LivingWell brand builds on Tri Pointe’s LivingSmart initiative introduced in 2022. LivingSmart focuses on eco-friendly, high-performance home structure and systems features that conserve energy, reduce water use and improve indoor air quality as well as room air comfort. 

LivingSmart, Krivanec explained, focuses on five principles: energy, smart health, smart home, smart water and earth smart. The concept effectively adds value to the home itself, a feature LivingWell includes. 

The homes at The Pavilions at Holladay Hills will feature advanced framing, duct sealing, upgraded insulation and energy systems that will achieve a HERS score of 59, indicating a highly energy-efficient home. Enhanced air quality is provided by a heat-recovery ventilator system, MERV 13 filtration, low-VOC materials, and a whole-home humidifier. 

LivingWell expands on those features to also focus on how a home feels, with design elements that include abundant natural light, smooth flow between rooms, and a seamless connection between indoor and outdoor spaces. There will be quiet zones and restorative bathrooms to create spaces perfect for reflection and relaxation, as well as areas designed for flexible living, including a carriage house above the garage. 

Celebrity designer Bobby Berk, an Emmy-winning TV host, spearheaded the interior design project. 

“I think LivingWell distinguishes itself by viewing wellness through a whole-home design lens, rather than limiting it to a single room or amenity or aesthetic layer,” Krivanec said. 

A key feature of the LivingWell concept is connecting with nature and focusing on designing beautiful outdoor spaces. The Pavilions at Holladay Hills, located next to the Wasatch Mountains, are likely to attract buyers who want to feel connected to the local landscape. 

The outdoor gathering areas will have a courtyard layout with edible gardens, orchard plantings, and pollinator-friendly landscaping. 

“I think that LivingWell is about nature, and it’s about the buyer wanting nature as part of their buying decision,” Krivanec said. “That meant that we had to look at the outdoors, we had to look at the indoors, and we had to look at everything that went into this home.”

In February, Japanese builder Sumitomo Forestry announced that it had acquired Tri Pointe Homes in a blockbuster $4.5 billion all-cash deal. Sumitomo Forestry, the envy of many of its American peers, has spent years pursuing wellness initiatives in Japan through eco-friendly homes and design. 

The builder promotes healthy living in its Japanese homes by using wood-based construction, taking advantage of timber’s natural insulation and calming aesthetics to support mental and physical well-being. 

Tri Pointe’s growth in Utah

Tri Pointe Homes officially announced its expansion into Utah in 2023 and soon started building its operations in the state. Last year, the builder broke ground on about 139-lot The Crossings at Lake Creek in Heber City. Two more communities, Aspire at Holladay Hills and Polaris at Terraine, both in Salt Lake County, are also available for sale now, and another community is scheduled to grand-open in about two weeks. More projects are expected to follow. 

Krivanec, who is originally from Utah, said that expanding into the state made a lot of sense for Tri Pointe Homes. The state has a thriving, diverse, and growing economy. Utah’s population growth rate is also among the highest in the nation, increasing by 8.2% between 2020 and 2025, rivaling the population gains in states like Texas and South Carolina. 

“We evaluated this market and decided it’s a place we want to be. It was one of the top markets for job creation, and had been for several years, and that trend is expected to continue,” Krivanec explained, highlighting the state’s diverse economy.