The Bostik Mud-in-a-Bag and cork used for
underlayment preparation and soundproofing, respectively, are all natural green
products.
12-by-20-inch black granite tiles are set on
the floor with Durabond D-60 Medium Set Mortar.
Along with its world-class ski slopes, a host of new condos, and 64,000 square feet of shops, restaurants and nightlife, a key to the project is the new $180 million ski-in/ski-out Viceroy Snowmass Hotel. While the Viceroy Snowmass daily will attract thousands of visitors from all over the world when it opens in winter 2009/2010, completing the construction project on time, on budget - and along five-star standards - has required a major lift from Bostik’s flooring experts and lineup of green tile-setting solutions.
With more than 150,000 square feet of tile slated for the Viceroy Snowmass Hotel’s 225 guest units, spa area, conference space, fitness center, year-round swimming pool, kids club and casual and fine dining restaurants, the project requires intense logical coordination.
“I think the biggest challenge of this project is the location,” says Matt Scarsella, owner of Shelby Township, Mich.-based Tile & Stone Works, which supplied the Bostik adhesives and tile setting materials used in the hotel. “On a dry, sunny day it’s almost a four-hour drive from Denver. At other times, when the weather is harsh, Viceroy Snowmass could be days away.”
“Being able to single source the entire project with Bostik has helped because we are able to ship everything on one truck,” Scarsella adds. “We’re shipping about one truck a month right now. This really helps us coordinate housing, manpower, logistics, shipping and storage.”
Viceroy Snowmass is designed by award-winning architect and designer Jean-Michel Gathy of the Malaysia-based Denniston International. His design integrates the region’s traditional design elements of wood, stone and glass in innovative ways to create sophisticated public and private spaces that are both visually stunning and comforting.
12-by-20-inch black granite tiles are set on
a vanity.
The design makes heavy use of solid black granite through both the guest units and public spaces. Rich Geishart, project manager for Grand Rapids City, Mich.-based Bouma Corporation - the installer on the project - says that 12-by-20 inch black granite tiles are set on the floors and in kitchen areas, vanity tops and other entryways. One-by-one inch mosaics line the shower walls in the guest units. The spa area uses a mixture of stone, wood, raked granite and a waterwall, while the pool area also highlights larger marble features.
“Because this is a five-star project, there are a few layers of designers,” Geishart says. “This project is a signature design of Jean-Michel Gathy, so he’s going to sign off on the final designs, but the owners [Related WestPac] are using Bouma’s expertise in providing shop drawings, specifications and technical expertise to maintain that original intent while staying within budget.”
“Because there is such an emphasis on quality both in the installation phase and beyond, it’s important that we use the most reliable and proven adhesives and setting materials - Bostik’s - to maintain the integrity of the design,” Geishart adds.
Though work will continue steadily until the fall, Scarsella says eight different Bostik products will be used to complete the hotel’s tile infrastructure.
Brian Petrucci, National Accounts Manager for Bostik’s Construction & Distribution Division, says Bostik’s wide range of products made it a match for the Snowmass Viceroy Hotel.
“For a project of this size and complexity, you need a variety of setting solutions that the construction crews and installers are comfortable using,” Petrucci notes. “For every step of the construction process - from the Mud-in-a-Bag underlayment to the DURABOND D-60 mortar used on the floor tiles to the D-70 mortar holding the pool’s tile mosaics - we have the right choice to maintain the quality and luxury expected in a world-class hotel.”
One-by-one-inch mosaics line the shower walls in
the guest units.
For instance, in planning the installation, the versatile D-60 Medium Set Mortar was ideal as it can be used on all tile and stone applications, and employed as a leveling bed for uneven stone thickness and to minimize slippage between large tiles.
“Being able to provide a single source for every application with our wide range of adhesive products and setting solutions makes life easier on everyone, from the distributor down to the installation crews,” Petrucci continues. “From the designs and what we’ve already seen, we’re excited to see the final project.”
With the size, scope and detail of the project, the tile work on the project is slated for 50,000 man-hours.
Alan Eathorne, Senior Project Manager-LEED AP a joint venture between CFC Construction and PCL Construction - the construction manager on the Snowmass project - says he is very pleased with the progress that has already been made.
“For a project that has had its share of obstacles to overcome, this part of the installation has been a very smooth process,” Eathorne says. “Though the stone and tile is being furnished by the owner, by working with a single source provider, we were able to get ahead and place our underlayments down, so that when the stone and tile did arrive, we already had a lot of the preliminary work completed.”
Another key consideration in the development of the Viceroy Snowmass was the issue of sustainability. Because while the design calls for a first-class resort experience for guests, the entire Snowmass Base Village project is also a study in environmental stewardship.
As part of a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Neighborhood Development Pilot Program, every building in the $1 billion redevelopment will meet LEED certification standards. The Viceroy Snowmass is designed to reach LEED Silver Certification, a status that has been reached by only a handful of hotels throughout the U.S.
“We are thrilled to be developing one of the first LEED Silver Certified hotels in the nation,” says Patrick N. Smith, president of Related WestPac. “Snowmass has a tremendous legacy built on its breathtaking natural beauty and striving for the ambitious silver certification will play a key role in the creation of the preeminent multi-season resort community and one of the globe’s most environmentally respectful destinations.”
Viceroy SnowMass Hotel, Snowmass, CO.
Through smart water and energy saving design, the Base Village development will save the equivalent of 4,400 barrels of oil, 11.3 million gallons of water and 5,200 metric tons of carbon dioxide annually - the equivalent of providing energy for 240 homes, filling 25 Olympic-sized swimming pools and taking 950 cars off the road. These results will increase exponentially when the full redevelopment is achieved.
To reach LEED silver status, every aspect of construction is inspected for its ecological impact - all the way down to tile installation in an effort to reduce the quantity of indoor air contaminants that otherwise could be odorous, and potentially irritating to the comfort and well-being of both installers and occupants.
“As a member of the U.S. Green Building Council and a proponent of the LEED initiative in the construction materials industry, Bostik offers a comprehensive offering of products that can contribute to LEED certification of a project,” says Scott Banda, a LEED-Accredited Professional and Market Manager – Ceramic Installation Systems for Bostik’s Construction & Distribution Division.
Banda explains that many tile setting materials can have high Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) levels, which contribute to poor indoor air quality. The Bostik DURABOND products used contain no VOCs, and need to be mixed only with water for installation, contributing to good indoor air quality. Furthermore, Hydroment Ultra-Set maintains a low VOC rating. The Mud-in-a-Bag and cork used for underlayment preparation and soundproofing, respectively, are all-natural green products.
Petrucci explains the 1/4-inch rolled cork underlayment provides an outstanding sound barrier for all types of flooring. The all-natural cork barrier does not break down over time, unlike synthetic underlayments that deteriorate after years of heavy use and cause hollow-sounding floors.
“It’s exciting to be a part of a project of this magnitude - one that is not only meeting, but set new standards in environmental responsibility,” Banda adds. “With this project pushing for LEED silver status, it really demonstrates how committed Bostik is to providing solutions for the professional when looking for green solutions.”
Scarsella notes that one challenge of the LEED standards is using local materials whenever possible. Logistically, Bostik had one of the closest factories in the Dallas area, but it’s still a long haul from there.
“Another nice thing about Bostik is that their adhesives are not limited to just ceramic tile installation,” Geishart adds. “They’ve got materials for hardwood, granite, marble, natural stone - you name it, they’ve got it. Since we’re able to ship all of those products in one truck, that’s definitely beneficial, especially considering the location and LEED certification. It’s important to have a single source and Bostik provides us with that.” FCI
Sources:
Matt Scarsella, owner of Shelby Township, Mich.-based Tile & Stone Works, mscarsella@tilenstone.com
Rich Geishart, project manager for Grand Rapids, Mich.-based Bouma Corporation, rgeishart@boumacorp.com
Alan Eathorne, Senior Project Manager for CFC/PCL a joint, ventureaeathorne@pcl.com
Brian Petrucci, National Accounts Manager for Bostik, 614-214-6918
Scott Banda, Market Manager - Ceramic Installation Systems for Bostik’s Construction & Distribution Division, 978-750-7344.
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