The Making of A Legend

By Steven Fine, Signature Landscapes

The contractor installed Calstone Quarry Stone Pavers in the front and the upper-level areas surrounding the entire plaza. The project was completed in a lightning-fast six weeks. At dusk, the large boulder fountains can be seen above the rock ledge-fountain. Photos courtesy of Steven Fine, Signature Landscapes

Signature Landscapes laid more than 35,000 square feet of hardscape to complete The Legends Project, a job that transformed a gas station exit in Reno's sister city, Sparks, Nevada into a giant outdoor gathering point. The Legends at Sparks Marina outdoor mall and retail center boasts 100 multi-use tenants on a 1.2 million square foot parcel. After the master plan was given the official green light, Signature Landscapes came in to complete the job of installing multiple paver styles, sizes and formats in just six weeks.

The Legends project transformed the space into a mall and retail center, with 100 multi-use tenants on 1.2 million square feet. More than 35,000 square feet of hardscape was installed in multiple paver styles, sizes and formats. Calstone Quarry Stone Natural Slate; Belgard Dublin Cobble Pavers; Belgard Holland Stone Pavers; Wausau Granitex 24-inch pavers and Wausau Washed Glass 24-inch pavers were used throughout the project.

The large, raised Wausau Granitex pavers allow water to catch below, providing water for the bubbling boulders. The larger, interactive fountains shoot water from eight zones along the perimeter.

Wausau pedestals were used to support the 24-inch Granitex pavers. The pedestals devices are made of a high-impact copolymer polypropylene and were adjusted to the exact height requirements to achieve a flush installation.

Even though Signature Landscapes had the project in their sights for half a year, it was still a challenge to suddenly go from full-stop to all-forward at the drop of a hat. And even with the fortune of becoming Northern Nevada's largest landscape construction company, Signature Landscapes still had to scramble to hit the ground running with the tight 6-week deadline.

One of the project's unique features included the floating boulder fountain and plaza suspended on a Wausau Tile's pedestal system. The interactive piece featured three enormous bubbling boulders perched above the hidden fountain base, topped by 24-inch Wausau Granitex pavers, fountain elements blasting water in a 30-foot radius, and a dozen smaller boulders casually placed among the smaller CalStone and Belgard paver foundation.

Shown here is the largest central plaza hardscape with the boulders on pedestals, fountain reservoir, and the majority of pavers completed. Belgard Holland Stone was used for the central common areas. The contractor set a thin sand layer beneath the paver material above the concrete layer. The teams cut all material with two wet saws.

The landscape contractors used two saws throughout the entire project. Crews were able to rip through the materials quickly, and the wet pump was necessary to keep dust to a minimum.

Among the many challenges Signature Landscape faced was the compressed time frame, which demanded that many trades work side-by-side. To accommodate this challenge, the contractor's crews would have to work around other trades. Here, the ''east fountain'' and plaza area received a partial install of CalStone Quarry Stone, then awaits completion while stucco and mason finishing crews completed the storefronts.

The daunting task of completing the project by the deadline was compounded by the sheer scope of the entire operation. The company was required to work in an extremely tight area alongside every other major trade, working at a feverish pace trying to get their own pieces of the puzzle completed on time.

''At one point, Signature's paver teams were right behind the concrete crews as they poured the 'rat-slab' foundation,'' said Lebo Newman, head of construction for Signature Landscapes. ''Trades virtually on top of each other might make for a heated atmosphere, but the cool headed leadership from the general contractor created a energetic team environment.''

Nine specialists were employed to accomplish the hardscape. In the foreground, Wausau Granitex 24-inch pavers were used for the main water element base. Belgard Holland Stone was used around the perimeter of the fountain area. The contractor set the paver joints in polymeric sand to help permanently set the material. The contractor laid the Wausau pavers on their proprietary pedestal system. The 'rat-slab' cement was poured in below the pavers in this curving hardscape ramp.

Paver installation crews worked alongside masonry crews and electrical teams to nail down final details and finishing work. The circular area's pavers include the CalStone Quarry. The walkways of Belgard Holland bordered with the Belgard Dublin Cobble represent 95-percent of all walkways and paths.

Signature Landscapes crews are shown here laying a curved edge with pavers. The 'rat-slab' cement below the pavers is shown in this curving hardscape ramp. The workers had to contend with working in tight quarters with other trades. Working as a two-man team in the application process ensured flawless professional curves. Since even minor mistakes would clash head-on with the tight timeline, this installation-team strategy actually saved time and expenses in the long run.

Bottom line, the crews were committed to getting this project off the ground and launched on time. The Legends project was ushered-in for a weekend crowd of more than 100,000 people from across the state.

According to Neil Krutz, the community development director for the city of Sparks, ''The development that has happened out there so far is fantastic,'' Krutz said. ''It has met and exceeded our expectations. The quality of the construction, the architecture, the use of the different materials from stone to metal to wood, glass, concrete has led to a very nice looking center for families to come visit and spend money, which is a good thing for everyone involved.''