Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Courtyard

Words: Dan KamysThe Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Campus features a 70,000-square-foot stone paver plaza, constructed with several Quikrete underlayment and grouting products. Quikrete Sand/Topping Mix was used for the two-inch-thick paver underlayment over a cast-in-place concrete slab for all exterior installations.

Quikrete Polymer Modified Veneer Stone Mortar then was mixed and pumped into the one-half-inch paver joints. The veneer stone mortar was factory pre-blended with integral colors to compliment the natural stone colors.

Additionally, a white polymer modified veneer stone mortar formulation was manufactured to match an imported German limestone.

Quikrete Multi-Purpose Thin Set, a polymer modified thin set, was used for the installation of all interior stone tile. Quikrete Polymer Modified Veneer Stone Mortar exceeds the ASTM C 270 requirements for Type S Mortar and exhibits two-times the sheer bond strength of standard Type S Mortar.

The general contractor on the project was Johnston Construction and commenced in March 2010, with completion in September 2010. Quikrete products used included 3,000-pound Sand Topping Mix (447 bulk bags); 50-pound Multi-Purpose Thin Set (5,229 bags); and 80-pound Polymer Modified Veneer Stone Mortar — Colored (966 bags green, 1,050 bags charcoal and 84 bags white).
Lake Erie Brick Listing Highlights The Long-Term Value Of Well-Maintained Masonry
February 2026

A Cleveland.com “House of the Week” feature spotlights a 1932 brick home near Lake Erie with a $1.59 million asking price. For mason contractors, it is another reminder that brick exteriors can be a premium selling point, but only when the masonry is care

The Daily Digest
Read More
Stone Cladding Panels Forecast Signals More Stone Veneer Work For US Mason Contractors
February 2026

A new IndexBox market update says demand for stone cladding panels is expected to accelerate through 2035, fueled by a broader construction upswing. For US mason contractors who install stone veneer, that points to more opportunity, but also more pressure

The Daily Digest
Read More
New Cavity Fire Barrier Guidance Puts Masonry Wall Safety In The Spotlight
February 2026

A masonry trade group has launched a new Technical Committee and released its first guidance focused on cavity fire barriers. For mason contractors, it is a timely reminder that fire performance details in cavity wall construction deserve the same attenti

The Daily Digest
Read More
The Practicality Behind Cavity Walls
February 2026

The construction industry tends to chase certainty. We want walls that never leak, materials that never move, and systems that behave the same in the field as they do on paper. Every generation pushes for a tighter envelope, a thinner assembly, or a smart

Technical Talks
Read More