SALT LAKE CITY A Salt Lake City-based architectural firm is transforming its space into a living building. It s one of the first of its kind in the Intermountain West and is designed to operate as a natural element and generate its own energy. The hope is to kind of envision a new paradigm for architecture, and that buildings can be more than simply a place of shelter to do business and to do whatever the primary function of that building might be, said Brian Cassil, spokesman for Arch Nexus architectural firm. This building will certainly serve that, but the idea is to demonstrate and to set an example that architecture can be so much more. It can be resilient, it can be inspiring for sure. It can provide all of its own electricity on an annual basis. It can recycle and reuse water. It can incorporate agriculture, he said.