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VERSA-LOK DOUBLES GRAND PRIZES
IN 2006 LANDSCAPE DESIGN CONTEST
April 17, 2007
Receiving too many good entrants from which to choose a winner is
a nice problem to have when you’re running a competition. But that’s
what happened with VERSA-LOK’s 2006 Landscape Design Contest this
year. As a result, two grand prizes were awarded.
The renovation of Ward Parkway Shopping Center in Kansas City, MO,
won top honors for Chad M. Porter, design team leader with Shafer,
Kline & Warren, Inc. of Overland Park, KS. Porter’s extensive use of
VERSA-LOK Weathered Mosaic retaining walls in the landscaping
created an inviting entranceway and perimeter walls for the mall
that fit in beautifully with adjacent residential areas.
Garry Ferrell, landscape designer with Wilson Landscape Associates
of Columbus, OH, took home a first-place award with an expansive
residential project that incorporated everything from a curved
staircase that sweeps into an 11-foot retaining wall to a
freestanding outdoor gas fireplace—all built with VERSA-LOK Mosaic.
“The quality of the entrants this year was outstanding,” says
VERSA-LOK President Todd Strand. “We simply couldn’t decide between
the top two contestants, so we decided to double the prize money and
award two first-place winners and two runner-ups. It really speaks
to the caliber of landscape designers and contractors out there
using VERSA-LOK.”
Each first-place winner received $5,000; runners-up won $500 each.
MALL’S RENOVATION CREATED RETAINING WALL OPPORTUNITIES
Kansas City’s Ward Parkway Shopping Center underwent a major
reconstruction that included transforming the indoor mall into an
open-entry mall where customers can park outside the shops they want
to visit. That required considerable modifications to the malls’
exterior, parking areas and trafficways. A grade change from a 6
percent slope to a 3 percent slope on the east side of the shopping
center called for retaining walls to compensate for the large
drop-off at the edge of the property created by the flatter slope.
VERSA-LOK Weathered Mosaic met the city’s requirement that the walls
match the existing limestone-covered walls on the site. A 970-foot
retaining wall with two monument walls was built on the mall’s east
side, along with smaller monument walls in the landscape beds on the
west side.
VERSA-LOK Weathered Mosaic was supplied by Midwest Block & Brick in
Midwest’s Bethany Ledge color; a total of 17,000 square feet was
used in the project. The monument walls were built using two Mosaic
walls laid back-to-back to achieve the random-pattern Weathered look
on both sides. Engraved stone signage identifying “Ward Parkway
Center” was inset into the face of the monument walls on either side
of the entrance. Black iron fencing was installed between columns
that extend above the top of the wall.
“The VERSA-LOK system proved advantageous for many reasons,” says
Porter. “First, it kept the retaining-wall costs within the budget.
Second, VERSA-LOK allowed curves in the wall—which were desired by
the developer—to be affordable.”
In addition to its cost and design advantages, says Porter, the
mall’s residential neighbors found the random-pattern Mosaic wall
with its vintage Weathered texture to be more aesthetically pleasing
than other alternatives.
“The VERSA-LOK system allowed us to bring the walls into the site as
part of the landscaping,” Porter concluded.
VERSA-LOK PUTS RESIDENCE ON A PEDESTAL
Garry Ferrell’s clients built their grand residence at the top of
hill, but his landscape design featuring VERSA-LOK Weathered Mosaic
pushed it over the top. Situated in the rolling terrain of Ohio’s
Olentangy River Valley, the mansion is virtually wrapped in
VERSA-LOK tiered walls that rise to 11 feet in places and tie a
multitude of elements together in a stunning, cohesive design.
The house features a spacious circular front-entry paver courtyard
defined by freestanding walls and columns. A stately set of stairs
bisects tiered Mosaic walls and gardens punctuated with columns that
sweep across the front of the house and provide a graceful
transition from the doorstep to the street.
But it doesn’t stop there. The backyard is a veritable hardscape
paradise. A cedar deck extends off the back of the house and
connects to expansive paver patios on two levels. The upper patio
steps down to a broad stairway that leads to the pool and spa below.
VERSA-LOK walls flank the stairs on one side. On the other side, a
seat wall curves around a planter and almost magically transforms
into a curved, 11-foot Mosaic wall that retains the entire upper
patio complex.
A large, custom-shaped pool is the centerpiece of the lower paver
patio area, which also features a hot tub, an outdoor kitchen,
numerous raised-bed planters and a unique freestanding gas
fireplace—all fashioned from VERSA-LOK. The entire complex is ringed
with freestanding VERSA-LOK walls, tastefully washed with downward
accent lighting.
“The homeowner required an inviting and impressive landscaped space
for living, recreational and entertaining purposes that would blend
in with its surroundings,” says Ferrell. “The VERSA-LOK product was
chosen because of its ability to fulfill the varied requirements of
this project. Freestanding walls, screen walls, retaining walls,
planters and Mosaic columns were easily integrated through the
versatility and functionality of the VERSA-LOK system.
“The Mosaic wall system was able to complement both the house
exterior and the natural wooded surroundings, successfully blending
indoor and outdoor spaces,” Ferrell concludes.
This is Ferrell’s second first-place VERSA-LOK Landscape Design
Contest award.
The VERSA-LOK product was supplied by Oberfield’s, Inc. in Delaware,
OH, in a Chestnut Blend color.
CONTEST RUNNER-UPS
Runner-up winners in VERSA-LOK’s 2006 Landscape Design Contest were:
- Jason C. Wenzel, project
manager/designer for WDM Architects in Wichita, KS. Wenzel used
VERSA-LOK Weathered Mosaic to create a serpentine 7- to 8-foot
tall wall 112 feet in length as part of the Cargill Learning
Center in Wichita’s Sedgwick County Zoo. The wall was a perfect
match for the existing Kansas limestone veneer on the building
to which it’s attached and features a comfortable inset bench
seat the entire length. VERSA-LOK product was supplied by
Capitol Concrete Products, Topeka, KS.
- Matthew Blood, owner,
Earthtones Landscape & Nursery, Marion, NY. Blood transformed a
steep, overgrown lakeshore hillside with crumbling concrete
stairs into an elaborate series of tiered gardens, walls and
landings traversed by a meandering stairway. The walls were
built with Weathered Mosaic, while the stairs were made with
VERSA-LOK Accent to more closely match the height of the Mosaic
panels. VERSA-LOK product was supplied by Comac Builders Supply,
Rochester, NY.
Details on VERSA-LOK’s 2007
Landscape Design Contest soon will be announced. Visit
www.versa-lok.com for further information.
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