Medinah Country Club

Words: Dan KamysFebruary 2008 CASE STUDY #1

Creating new spaces that connect back to a distinctive architectural heritage

Medinah, Ill.

Award: Gold, Paving and Landscape Category Installation System: Sand-Setting Bed on Aggregate Base Landscape Architect: Private Gardens, Public Spaces Inc. Contractor: R. Sanchez & Sons Manufacturers: The Belden Brick Co. and Endicott Clay Products Co.
When the PGA scheduled a major golf tournament at a distinguished country club in suburban Chicago, the club members determined to make the grounds around their clubhouse as impressive as was their renowned golf course. Private Gardens, Public Places Inc. was hired to create new terraces, gardens and walkways serving the clubhouse and the practice putting green. This area, which was to be spotlighted on national television, was also to be a traffic hub, providing safe pathways to the front doors, the locker rooms and the pool passage, despite being surrounded by the clubhouse's main driveway. The goal was to make the new gardens and the existing building appear as if they were built at the same time. The clubhouse, which was completed in 1924 in the Moorish Revival style so popular at the time, challenged the firm with its style and mass. Which architectural features, repeated in the landscape, would best tie the building and landscape together? With these questions in mind, the firm traveled to southern Spain to research, first-hand, Moorish design, architecture and gardens. R. Sanchez & Sons was asked to install the mosaic of clay pavers.

R. Sanchez & Sons was asked to install the mosaic of clay pavers. The clay pavers were chosen because of the variety of available colors. Initial planning was key in making this project successful. To blend in with the structure, they had to do a lot of mathematical gymnastics to make the patterns work properly. The placement of each brick was called out, since there were seven colors in the patterns. To assure future maintenance would be minimized, a 12-inch crushed limestone base was used, though many local projects use six- to eight-inch bases. A sand-setting bed was laid on top of the base and the pavers set in it. Brick edging was set in concrete to act as an edge restraint. In laying the pavers, the installers left just enough space for sand to filter into the joints and keep the pavers edges from chipping. The pavement also had a crown along it, which created a slight wedge shape to the joint and helped keep the joints from being too tight at the top edge. This also kept the pavers from touching and possibly chipping in service.

After hosting a past PGA Championship, Medinah Country Club and its grounds are ready to host other major tournaments with the likes of Tiger Woods.

Case Studies: Pavers in Hardscaping    — Northeastern University

   — American Tobacco Historic District Renovation

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