Water, Water Everywhere

The fountain circle covers a 12-foot radius, and is made from Ancient Stone pavers installed over concrete. Workers built the fountain tower using CMU block construction, and then covered it with faux stone veneer and precast concrete scuppers. The stainless steel cap was placed on top of the precast concrete and to finish the area, sandblast-finished precast-concrete bollards surrounding the circle were installed.

This Todd & Associates, Inc. project challenged contractor The Weitz Company, LLC to transform the Sagewood Senior Living Community in Phoenix, Arizona into a resort atmosphere. A key component of the desired character was the introduction of water elements to soften the desert Southwest setting.

The cascading water feature is physically separated from the pool and is on a separate pumping system. All pumps and equipment are located in a remote pool equipment room as part of the pool building, which also including restrooms and an outdoor food service area.

The challenge for this 300-plus-unit retirement community was to develop a series of water features with water conservation and minimal maintenance as a primary objective, while filling the area with the sound of water. These features were placed at areas of entry/arrival, to provide a backdrop in areas specifically designed to encourage social interaction.

Major Water Features
The project's major water features include the main street mixed-use area with a signature fountain, carrying the three-dimensional metal logo of Sagewood, at the arrival/entry plaza and port cochere.

Water flows located between the independent living apartment buildings provide a focal point for the sound of water within the courtyard. The need to minimize the use of water for the internal courtyards is reflected in the "trellis" fountain at the commons terrace area overlooking the pool deck.

 

Workers set all the rocks in place using a crane and front-end loader.

With the exception of the "trellis" fountain overlooking the pool deck, all fountains have no above grade open reservoirs, which reduces the amount of water evaporation and keeps maintenance to a minimum. The "trellis" fountain, designed to carry a scarlet bougainvillea over its top, doubles as the water source for the swimming pool below; water cascades over natural granite boulders to the pool deck area.

Workers plumbed the trellis fountain so that it doubles as the water source for the swimming pool below. The fountain runs on a separate pump system. Stones were used in combination with precast concrete to be compatible with the project building materials.

The tower measures 4-feet across and 8-feet high. Construction involved preparation of the concave concrete basin and rolled edge in conjunction with installing water and electrical access from the underground parking immediately below. Flush mount lights were also installed in the basin surface to illuminate the scupper tower from all sides. A single water reservoir was installed within the tower to ensure equalized flow through the eight scuppers.

The hardscape for the pond fountain was constructed of CMU, atop which workers added faux stone veneer and precast concrete lentils with scuppers. The company treated the pond basin to gunite covered with black Pebbeltech finish. Workers set the natural granite seating boulders into the concrete deck and adjacent landscape beds using a skid-steer.

Although the "trellis" fountain and cascading waterfall overlook the pool deck in the commons area, the fountain runs on a separate pump system. Real heavy timber and stone were used in combination with precast concrete to be compatible with the project building materials. Other features in the courtyards include cast bronze frogs that double as a water feature of their own, a hand-carved Canterra stone fountain and other drought-resistant plantings. The water features and other amenities also provide a pleasant backdrop for the swimming pool and outdoor food service areas. Small internal courtyards within the independent living buildings use green walls, grass turf and water features that work in concert to create seasonal microclimates, enhanced by the sound of flowing water.

Workers hand placed the cast bronze frogs, which are two-feet long and were set on a 4-foot wide cantilevered concrete ledge. There were additional trades involved, including concrete, plumbing, electrical, and greenscreen trellis backdrop installers.

The hand-carved Canterra stone fountain features black Mexican pebbles over a fiberglass grate covering reservoir. The crews installed submersible pumps to push the water.

Awards
The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) awarded Sagewood Gold and Innovation Awards for "Best Outdoor Amenity" for its patio and pool area and a Silver Award for "Best Independent/Assisted Living Community" in its 50+ Housing Awards competition.

The natural granite boulder was hand selected and workers drilled the length through for a low-flow water seep into a similar basin covered with Mexican pebbles.