The Allison, Newberg, Ore.
EXPERIENCE
Guinett’s involvement with the project was quite extensive, both with sourcing and installation.
“We installed all the natural-stone veneer on all the buildings,” says Paull. “We also did the exterior walls out in the garden area. And, we installed the paving stones on the exterior, both sandstone and limestone.
“And, we did the granite steps, the stone in the main spiral staircase and the landings.”
As the project went along, the company also took on all the precast work, including the lintels and sills. And, it did the slate inside the water features, as well as the placement of large boulders within the landscape.
Because of the developers’ desire for LEED certification, choosing the right stones for the job also became a challenge.
“Joan (Austin) would ask different questions, and I’d say, ‘I know of a place back East or a place here in Washington, or in Oregon,’” Paull relates. “From all these places I got samples to meet the look they wanted. Then, because they were trying to meet LEED requirements, all the sources I had back East went away except for some of the paving stone.”
Paull’s involvement in the selection of the façade stone for The Allison – a Montana mossy rock sandstone – was particularly helpful, according to Shaun Barry, the Lease Crutcher project manager responsible for the façade, and Jerry Cates, who filled the same role with stone supplier Stone NW of Vancouver, Wash.
“Basically, we had given the owners some options, and they had decided on a stone,” says Barry. “However, due to Gregg Paull’s experience with that particular stone, it was determined it was probably not the best fit. There had been problems with rust coming out of the stone and staining the concrete surfaces below, so we picked a similar stone, which ended up being the Montana mossy rock.”
As with so many others involved in the project, Cates’ firm first became involved with the project through the architects.
“They came to one of our yards and saw one of our granite fountains, and that spurred it on,” Cates says. “From there, we started working with the different masons on the bid process, supplying samples and helping them build panels and displays.”
Cates describes the Montana mossy rock as a sandstone ideal for veneer applications.
“We work with a quarrier to go in and pick the rock,” he says. “It’s picked right off the surface in cow fields. We’ve used it in a few other projects around the area, and we did cut some corners for wrapping around the building.”