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The design provides cremation niches and crypts for caskets throughout, available both inside the mausoleum and outdoors in the mausoleum’s meditative gardens. The Garden Mausoleum is a 24,500-square-foot, two-level design that includes six crypt rooms, six columbaria rooms, three family crypt rooms, committal room, and support spaces. The rough-textured gray granite and white mosaic marble mausoleum balances stone and light from skylights to display the relationship between the spiritual and the earth. Light and space are carefully poised, providing a quiet environment while honoring the deceased.

The new mausoleum was designed by Joan M. Soranno, FAIA, Design Principal, and John Cook, FAIA, Project Manager, from the Minneapolis office of HGA. At HGA Soranno and Cook specialize in designing cultural institutions, producing designs that are aesthetically driven and technically challenging. Yet, this was the

first time the pair designed a mausoleum. The Lakewood Cemetery Association commissioned the pair to work with the existing cemetery landscape and use only the finest materials of granite, bronze, and glass.

The $30 million project involved working with granite supplier Cold Spring Granite® and installers M.A. Mortenson Construction, CD Tile and Stone, and Grazzini Brothers and Co. Cold Spring Granite was brought on the project by M.A. Mortenson for help with stone selection, due to their amount of stone colors, finishes, technical support, and ability to keep to tough schedules.

When she began working on this project, Soranno wasn’t entirely sold on granite. She considered slate and limestone as well. “We had a lot of different pieces in our office for about a year before we decided,” said Soranno. “We then did mockup walls of three different types of stone, and the selection of Cold Spring Granite’s material was unanimous.”

Selecting the color of the granite was probably the biggest challenge for this job. Cold Spring Granite provided multiple samples of colors and finishes until the final samples were selected. Listening to the effect Soranno wanted and drawing on the results of previous projects, Cold Spring Granite was able to supply multiple options to Soranno until a winner was found. “It was an extensive color and finish process,” said Todd Olson, Regional Sales Representative. “But, that’s why we’re here.”

“Their strongest part was in the pre-design stage,” said Soranno. “We had so many pieces of granite in our office that we could have constructed a building with it.” Cold Spring Granite was responsive to Soranno’s requests and continuously supplied different samples until the perfect combination was found.

The solution was to use a combination of two different granites, one from California and one from Minnesota. Soranno chose a combination of Academy Black® and Charcoal Black® granite for the rough split face veneer. Using the two shades gave the building just the right hint of sparkle. To represent the imperfection of life, Soranno preferred a coarse exterior to the structure. Cold Spring Granite helped Soranno refine the finish by going back several times and refinishing and “roughing up” the surface until the granite met the coarse appearance she desired. “We were encouraging the rougher, the better,” said Soranno.

To continue with the irregular look, the granite was installed with extensive lippage creating an imperfect look. Soranno explained that the sought-after effect produces complex shadows across the granite facades.

To add to the unique appearance, only one-third of the structure is above ground. The grey granite facade—stark, but serene—works in concert with the gentle surrounding landscaping. Soranno buried the other two-thirds of the structure into the south-facing hillside under a green roof. This deep area includes rooms

Lakewood GardenMausoleum

Lakewood’s new Garden Mausoleum and Reception Center is truly a work of art with a contemporary design, peaceful gardens, and gathering areas. The natural light throughout the mausoleum highlights the rich, artistic materials of granite, marble and wood with intricate details such as bronze artwork, mosaics and etched glass. The burial rooms feature onyx flooring in deep hues of pink, green and honey.

Lakewood Garden Mausoleum Brings Eternal Grace with Granite

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with crypts for caskets and niches for cremains. It was important to Soranno that the building design and materials worked intimately with nature, providing a final serenity.

The area is complemented by granite benches, a pool and paved walkways in Cold Spring Granite’s subdued Diamond Pink® granite, invoking a sense of peaceful paths and quiet resting places leading to the mausoleum. Cold Spring Granite worked in conjunction with Soranno and the landscape architect, Halverson Design Partnership, to coordinate the color and finish of the paving, pool and benches. The result is that the color of the granite adds an understated warmness to the landscape, while working in concert with the stark, serene feel of the mausoleum.

With all the different elements of the structure, the granite facade is one of Soranno’s favorite parts of the building. “We’re absolutely ecstatic about the quality and character of the wall,” Soranno said. “In the end, granite far exceeded my expectations.”

The extensive project opened in January 2012 and the result is a stunning modern mausoleum that is a work of unequalled architecture.

“We’re absolutely ecstatic about the quality and character of the wall, in the end, granite far exceeded my expectations.”

Project Materials:

Stone Name: Academy Black® Granite

Charcoal Black ® Granite

Diamond Pink ® Granite

Finish: Split face

Quantity: 70,178 square feet

For more on this project visit our website.

Photos Courtesy Of: ©2012 Paul Crosby Photography

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The Fort Worth business community was initially concerned that a jail downtown would not mix well with the high-rise residential properties and corporate headquarters already there, however locating the jail in its particular location was essential to reduce the risks associated with transporting dangerous inmates. An underground tunnel and a sky bridge connect the new jail to the existing jail and courts in the Tarrant County Corrections Center and Tim Curry Criminal Justice Center, making the transport more secure.

Because of the controversy of constructing a new maximum security jail in a downtown location, the design of the building needed to mask its function. To achieve this, well-grounded masonry was used following the architectural tradition of civic buildings, evoking a sense of longevity and durability. The use of granite, in particular, brings this new building into the context of the downtown built environment.

Designed with energy efficient and green initiatives and to LEED standards, it is anticipated that the jail will be certified LEED Gold, becoming the municipality’s fourth LEED certified building. Tarrant County Facilities Management Director, David Phillips believes it will be the first multi-story maximum security jail to achieve that certification. In addition to the 444 maximum-security cells, the

jail will also provide new medical facilities and a full kitchen that can prepare 16,500 meals a day for inmates at the new jail and the county’s other correctional facilities. The jail cost was $83.2 million, which is less than originally expected.

Jail Design Challenges

One of the greatest tasks for architect of record Bennett Benner Pettit, design architect DMS Architectural Services, and construction manager Gilbane Building Co. was the unique design criteria of the facility which needed to fulfill the maximum security role while also remaining visually appealing in the downtown area.

Additional design challenges stemmed from the desire to not only meet, but exceed, the state jail requirements, particularly in mechanical and electrical systems, while still presenting a facility that does not resemble a jail from the exterior. Extensive coordination between trades was required for all elements of the project in order to accommodate the slender floor-to-floor height dictated by the masonry façade design, which utilized extensive cut stone materials in various finishes and profiles.

Prior to construction, the mechanical sub-contractor utilized Naviworks to create a 3D model of the project, including all above-ceiling items. Although a few ceiling heights required adjustment, clashes with structural elements and other MEP items were virtually eliminated. Extensive stone detailing and conflict resolution analysis were used to coordinate the granite elements, particularly in the area of the heavy rusticated base materials.

On the heels of two other large, successfully completed projects with Cold Spring Granite, Tarrant County was able to bring the supplier in to the design phase for this project immediately. To meet the challenging design requirements, Bennett Benner Pettit, Tarrant County, and Gilbane Building Co. coordinated with Cold Spring Granite from day one with multiple meetings and conference calls to discuss design, colors and finishes.

Cold Spring Granite was preferred because of their expertise in working with unique and custom designs on substantial projects. Cold Spring Granite brought crucial coordination elements to the project through their engineering and

Tarrant CountyJail Downtown Fort Worth is now home to the most ironic

building in Tarrant County. Tabbed as “the prettiest jail in Texas with the cruelest people in it,” the new, 207,700-square-foot, five-floor jail includes 444 maximum-security cells soon to house the county’s “worst of the worst” inmates, yet the building is beautiful – it looks nothing like the high-tech lockup it is.

The Prettiest Jail Glimmers in Granite

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drafting expertise, proficiency in fabricating, assistance with developing project details and finishes, as well as the coordination of color range and marking requirements.

“Because we were working to achieve LEED certification for the project, utilizing regional materials was important to the design,” said Amanda Schulte, AIA, Associate, Bennett Benner Pettit. “Beyond the standard LEED requirements, the Tarrant County Commissioner’s Court requested that we specify materials quarried and manufactured in Texas. Several granite options from throughout the United States had been considered, but none of the other options could compete with Cold Spring Granite in proximity to the project location. Utilizing the granite from Marble Falls enabled the seamless blending of the facility in the downtown context.”

Designing Art Panels

To design and develop “art panels” Cold Spring Granite worked with Bennett Benner Pettit and DMS Architectural Services on a design that could be fabricated, and then developed the tooling to accomplish it.

“The graphic focuses of the art panels are the Texas Longhorn and the keys that outline each panel,” said Jason Frank, Project Manager, Architectural Division, Cold Spring Granite. “Once the architect developed the overall design of the panels, our CNC Technician developed programming, tooling and available finishes that could be used to create the design.”

Story continued on the back cover...

“Cold Spring Granite was preferred because of their expertise in working with unique and custom designs on substantial projects.”

Project Materials:Stone Name: Sunset Beige ® Granite

Finish: Thermal

Polish

Rock Face

Sanded

Truncated Dome

Quantity: 17,459 square feet

For more on this project visit our website.

Photos Courtesy Of: ©2012 Jeff Scroggins Photography

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When the tooling was developed, a small sample was created that represented what the final panel design would look like. The sample was submitted to the design board and they approved Cold Spring Granite’s process.

“The specified granite from Cold Spring Granite set the stage for subsequent material selection,” said Schulte. “To coordinate with the pink tint of the granite, we selected a maroon brick and a pink-beige cast stone. The resulting building is well matched with the color schemes at other Tarrant County buildings downtown, and the wider downtown environment.”

Material Selection

The final design of the art panels used Sunset Beige granite. The project called for a variety of finishes to create a unique texture including polished, thermal, rock pitch, and sanded. A total of 17,459 square feet /12,119 cubic feet of granite was used, equaling 4,511 pieces.

Cold Spring Granite worked with the architect to create the intended design while utilizing the maximum amount of stone. “Everyone worked together to come up with a strategy on where and how we could use all the stone from the quarry. Certain elevations of the building allowed for more movement and variegation, maintaining the most efficient use of a natural resource,” said Frank.

The final result was a well thought out and beautifully designed structure.

Final Results

“From day one, the design team and contractors were concerned about schedule and completing the building on time,” said Frank. “Open communication throughout the process ensured the granite was delivered on time and met the design specs.”

This scheduling and communication between the various companies enabled all to work together and overcome the inherent location challenges, thus ensuring smooth installation of the granite.

“This project required full coordination, both in the design and construction phases,” Schulte continued. “We were fortunate to team with many experienced and well qualified companies and individuals who all helped manage the complex challenges of constructing a jail in a downtown location. At the peak of construction, there were hundreds of tradesmen on the job working together cohesively without getting in each other’s way. Strong relationships and teamwork were vital to the success of the project.” ASLA Convetion

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