Fort Bliss Replacement Hospital Situated in northeastern El Paso, at the foot of the Franklin Mountains, is a sprawling 1.1 million square-foot medical complex, the Fort Bliss Replacement Hospital. The Fort Bliss Replacement Hospital, constructed by Clark McCarthy Health Partners II, is one of the most ambitious military hospitals in the history of the United States and provides the military community a place of healing and respite. A city unto itself, this expansive campus required six years of construction and the passion, dedication, and expertise of thousands of individuals to produce a world-class facility serving active duty personal, retired vets, and military family members. We are pleased with the beauty the natural stone brings to the project and are proud to have been an integral member of the team. At the Fort Bliss Hospital dedication ceremony the facility was referred to as the “Crown Jewel of Military Medicine.” The Mountain Valley quartzitic stone was selected over dozens of others for several reasons. First, HDR Architects, the USACE and Clark McCarthy required that all of the stone be quarried from a single quarry so that the project had good continuity and avoided a “patchy” feel. For this same reason they required all of the material to be fabricated by a single fabricator. With there being nearly 400,000 sq ft in total not many quarries or fabricators could meet this requirement. Third, the high compression strength, 17,500 psi, and low water absorption rate, 1.67%, would provide excellent longevity for this staggeringly huge project despite the massive temperature swings, high wind loads and blasting sandstorms. Fourth, the high Solar Reflective Index of the stone, 50, would ensure that the building was not absorbing the intense desert heat and straining the environmental systems. However, there was a more personal reason to choose this particular stone. The light-colored material with its broken face, light tans and peach movement looks native to the El Paso area. These features made this mammoth project look as if it had been roughhewn from the desert from which the structure sprang rather than assembled or cobbled together like a scar on the landscape. This hospital, that will serve so many who have spent their lives in our service, draws the eye while still appearing as if it has always belonged. The stone also serves as a natural transition to the exterior spaces, with corridors leading to the exterior healing and meditation gardens lined with stone that is the carried outside into these areas where patients and their families can spend time recovering. The stone is used as an architectural way finding feature, from the pedestrian canopies that guide and shelter patients and their families as they travel to and from the hospital, into the main lobby that welcomes all. The different finishes of the stone used in strategic spaces help to set the mood and enhance the atmosphere of each space. The smooth honed stone found in the chapel promotes peace and calm while the rugged natural cleft material in the healing and meditation garden reconnects the attendant with nature. As you enter the heart of the hospital there stands the grand rotunda. This amazing architectural element features honed finish natural stone that has been shaped into a radius wall that towers 4 stories in height. As part of a large open area with plenty of natural light, you not only appreciate the beauty of the stone chosen, but the craftsmanship and passion of those who worked to bring to life. Studies show that the design and décor of a hospital play an important role in a patient’s recovery. We feel strongly that the natural stone on the Fort Bliss Replacement Hospital adds an enduring beauty that will enhance the community for many years.

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dōTERRA Global Corporate Campus is a 203,000 square foot office complex housing over 800 employees east of I -15 on Pleasant Grove Boulevard in Utah County, Utah. Built by Jacobsen Construction, this campus is made up of several structures interconnected by a circulation spine. Two of the structures are 4 story towers clad mostly in 28,000 square feet of thermaled Arches Red sandstone and glass that is joined together by atrium space clad solely in 3,200 sq feet of honed and radius Arches Red sandstone. doTERRA quite literally means “gift of the earth” and it is this same concept that the designers applied to the building. By choosing Arches Red Sandstone, they were able to reflect the deep color of Southern Utah’s “red rocks” that is additionally enhanced by the deep brown undertone that gives the project some very “earthy” tones. The combination of curtain wall glazing and natural stone materials provide a high tech feel grounded in natural materials to make the connection back to nature. The project was designed with a rain screen system and installed with the Gridworx stone cladding system. The stone was all installed by the masonry company Child Enterprises who had never before used this particular system. As with any project and new product there were bugs to work out but Child was up to the challenge. By working with Gridworks and Delta Stone they were able to find a system and a process that made sense and worked for all parties. The material was fabricated with continuous kerfs on the top and the bottom of each cladding piece. By keeping the tolerances tight on the honed radius pieces as well as the precise distance from the kerf to the back of the material Child Enterprises was able to install this with minimal difficulty.

City Creek Center, Salt Lake City, Utah. Salt Lake City’s 23-acre City Creek Center is a perfect balance of modern innovation and natural beauty. It challenges the paradigm of retail development by incorporating a bold landscape strategy to center a dense mix of residential households, offices, and retail spaces. Of utmost importance to the client and owner groups were the intended retail success and the inclusion of a creek which authentically recreates characteristics of the natural spring-fed City Creek in an urban environment. Located adjacent to the historic headquarters of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, the project owners were steadfast in their long-range visioning for City Creek Center to create a timeless site as relevant in 100 years as it is today. There was a tremendous opportunity to insert a pedestrian layer into Salt Lake City’s large superblock network to complement existing transit flows of automobiles, mass transit, and light rail. The concentration and proximity of amenities, open space, housing, and street life provides an impetus for people to want to walk around the new Downtown. The new pedestrian layer inserts a new scale, a new texture, and a new urban design into the existing urban fabric. Stone was a natural choice for a site intended to have the quality and character to last 100 years and be an authentic environment evocative of the surrounding natural canyons and hills. Mountain Blend Sandstone is used for seat walls. Mahogany Brown, Mesabi Black, and Prairie Brown stone are used for the fountains in various finishes. Earth Blend Cobbles line planting areas and the authentic creek bed providing an environment in which real trout breed and swim. Pepper Brown Granite (China) is used in paving units that help guide pedestrians from one area to another. Natural stone frames the open space and is the primary material on the pedestrian ground plane. 480 tons of Quartzitic Sandstone was quarried from local stone quarries to supply the boulders that reinforce the authenticity of the creek and creates the bedrock for water flowing over the cascades. The creek is the largest flowing watercourse built on-structure in the United States. Exemplifying the complexity of this feat is an area dubbed the ‘Bermuda Triangle’ where the primary 18-foot tall waterfall courses over the projects of four different architects and three contractors. For this cascade, quarried boulders would need to be shaped to fit together like a giant puzzle to ultimately appear as naturalistic stone formations. 3D models of each cascade were created to assist in the careful selection of the 276 boulders. A full-scale mock-up served to solidify connections between large cascade boulders. The boulders were cut and assembled, seismic joints detailed, and a sealed water test confirmed success before the mock-up was transported boulder-by-boulder and reassembled on the site. Since its opening on March 22, 2012, retailers here boast the highest sales out of any of their stores attributing the success to the overall revolutionary design moves featuring a landscape centered approach.

Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints Provo City Center Temple. In the early morning of December 17, 2010 a misplaced electrical light started a fire in the attic of the historic Provo tabernacle. The fire completely destroyed the building except for the exterior masonry walls. The tabernacle was originally built in 1882 and dedicated in 1898. The center spire was removed in 1917. The tabernacle has been a center for the community’s activities for the last 100 years. In the October 2011 LDS General Conference, after working through a preliminary design, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Church President, President Monson, announced that the tabernacle would transition to the Provo City Center Temple. The design then began in earnest and required 14 months to complete. In order to transform the tabernacle to a temple, a majority of the temple support spaces had to be located in the basement and under the north plaza. This would require excavating down 40 feet below the building with the help of 411 micropiles. To create the design vocabulary for the building, historic details were used from original Provo Tabernacle. Other inspiration came from Victorian Design movements: Eastlake and High Gothic Revival. Materials and finishes historically had high contrast and vivid colors, which were toned and controlled for a temple experience. Eastlake movement predominantly rejected the traditional Victorian color pallet and used three color selections: Olive green, Rust red, and Ochre yellow, with touches of green/blue. Most of the exterior of the shell was able to be reused instead of tearing it down. In an effort to not only match the historic look of the structure but also to match the existing stone work on the building, Mountain Valley Quartzitic sandstone was selected to replace damaged stone accent elements and create new accent and landscape elements. Because of the dense and durable nature of the stone, Mountain Valley stone was able to deliver the match to the original stone, some of which was able to be salvaged and reused from the original structure, as well as a promise to perform well for the decades or centuries to come. This stone was also used extensively throughout the new underground parking structure. Construction for the project took approximately 4 years and 8 months. The building was dedicated on March 20, 2016. Because of the herculean efforts of the design, construction and fabrication teams the integrity of this beloved historic landmark has been preserved and future generations will be able to use and appreciate this great structure.

The Stein Eriksen Residence’s design is based on brevity. Minimal ornamentation with an emphasis on natural, native materials. Recycled wood siding that has been nylon brushed to minimize variations in patina. The reclaimed wood was selected to provide a low maintenance exterior which would blend into its’ environment. The Ibex natural stone, native to the Rocky Mountain, was selected for its’ color variations that enhance the wood siding and its’ dry stack rustic lay. Its high density and low water absorption rate will ensure that the finish on these structures are not only beautiful but very durable. Steel, wide flange beams and timbers provide the modern/mountain detailing that anchors the design to its’ mountain environment while low-pitched, grey, metal, standing seam roofs combined with flat single-ply roofing create the transitional forms of modern and lodge. Stein Eriksen Home 1 is the model home for 15 semi-custom residences combined with 39 stacked flat condominiums and amenities. Sited on a ridge top with panoramic views to Deer Valley, Park City and the Snyderville Basin, it is one of the last great development opportunities in the heart of the resort. This particular home was very challenging due to a small footprint, a steep climb from the road to the adjoining ski trail and severe height restrictions. So the design became a response to these challenges, plus overcoming the objections of a 4-story home. We decided to celebrate the height, with the stairs becoming a major design feature from the street. As you access the various floors, the view becomes more impressive and when you reach the 3rd floor, with its’ open living space, you are met with this massive view of the Wasatch Mountains and the upper ski runs. Success was based on maximizing views and light in every space. The winter months can be quite grey, yet maximized windows, light interior colors, and modern detailing have created a dynamic living space. The break from the typical mountain lodge to a transitional mountain modern has been a huge success in this Park City market. Buyers have expressed their attraction to a more sophisticated design yet still feeling comfortable on the mountain. The trends in our local market seam to follow those in the West as a whole. People want all of those factors discussed above as well as low maintenance and efficient design. We see the desire for large homes losing traction as the market is for smaller functional design. Amenities are a large factor in selecting a vacation home as well. Homes can become more efficient if the amenities can be shared and enhanced. Stein Eriksen Residences offer indoor/outdoor pools, health spa and fitness center, food and beverage services, as well as a kid’s room. Finally, rental management is important to consider since many buyers want to enhance their investment with a rental income stream while they are not in use. Lockout suites and owner storage space become important in this case.

This Is The Place Park-Black Pioneers Memorial. This beautiful memorial, situated at the This Is The Place Park in Salt Lake City, Utah, memorializes the contributions of the black pioneers who helped to blaze the way and settle the Salt Lake Valley. It specifically salutes the work and lives and sacrifices of Jane Elizabeth Manning, Green Flake, Hark Wales and Oscar Smith. Three huge monolithic blocks of Mountain Valley quartzitic sandstone, hewn from the mountains of Utah, were used to capture the lives and accomplishments of these great pioneers.

The Utah State University Brigham City Campus is as beautiful as it is functional. Clad in local Mountain Valley quartzitic sandstone this campus provides easy access to many University classes close to the Brigham City area. The honed finish of the stone allows you to see the incredible natural veining of the stone without giving a shiny finish.

Zions Bank-Heber City. This new two-story financial institution was built in Heber City, UT to serve the individual and business banking needs of this high mountain valley community. The branch includes drive-through teller service, a walk-in vault, ample public space / lobby area, and multiple conference rooms and offices. The community had long needed to build a new Zion’s Bank as the old bank was in a historic building clad with Heber Valley-native Quartzitic sandstone. Because the old building was so beloved, it was difficult to say goodbye to despite the fact that the branch had long ago outgrown the small but lovely building. Some tough choices had to be made but there was plenty of room for opportunity. The challenge was to make the new building large enough for the communities growing needs, fit modern comfort on the interior and still reflect the pioneer heritage of old town Heber main street. By using the red Quartzitic sandstone, quarried from the same area as the original, the architect was able to reflect and match the old town feel of Main Street. The effect is further amplified by the flat topped square look of many of its surrounding buildings. The huge stone columns flanking both the front and rear entrance are nothing short of majestic. This entire structure utilized the same stone but created depth and variation by switching between a pitched face veneer and honed accents. You can see the natural movement of the stone in vivid detail as it moves through the cladding, accents and columns. This structure stands as a testament that it is possible to create beautiful modern buildings without sacrificing the traditional feel of Main Street America.