A Landmark of Their Own
By Tony Illia

Landmark Homes and Development, a 24-year-old Northern Nevada homebuilder, has just finished building its own landmark.

The privately-held firm, which has constructed more than 3,000 single-family detached homes throughout the Truckee Meadows, recently moved into its new Reno headquarters.

Sacramento-based Panattoni Construction Inc. was the design-build general contractor and Blakely Johnson & Ghusn Inc. of Reno the architect-engineer.

"Design-build enables us to custom tailor a project to meet a customer's needs while better managing costs," said Matt Clafton, vice president of construction for Panattoni's Northern Nevada office. "It also allows us to be the driving force in a project, hiring the architect and engineer to work on our time schedule. As a result, everyone is working as a team toward a common goal."

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The $5.6 million undertaking entails the design, engineering and construction of a new three-story, 51,000-sq.-ft. office building. The project is located in the 2,000-acre, 6,000-home DaMonte Ranch master-planned community being developed by Nevada Tri-Partners LLC in southeast Reno.

The concrete tilt-wall structure consists of 33 panels cast onsite with metal decking over concrete floors supported by steel joists. The largest panel measures 54-ft. -tall by 18-ft. -wide and weighs 100,000 lbs. It required a 220-ton lattice-boom rubber- tired crane to erect. Elko-based Perry Crane and Rigging, Inc. was the supplier/operator.

The panels average 16-ft. in width with three window openings measuring 12-ft.- wide by 10-ft -tall. That leaves only 2-ft. from each panel edge to the opening, which meant casting required careful placement of reinforcing steel.

Viper Steel of Sparks was the rebar supplier, and Reno-Sparks Ready Mix Inc. of Reno, provided the concrete. Tedesco Construction Inc. of Reno was the concrete contractor.With no interior sheer walls, the exterior panels bear the building's structural load.

"The windows help to enhance the aesthetic look of the building, giving it an open feel," said Jeff Turnipseed, vice president at Blakely Johnson & Ghusn Inc. "They also serve a practical purpose, bringing natural daylight into the office areas while providing views of the neighboring mountains."

A massive glass curtain wall, measuring 67-ft.-wide by 50-ft.-tall, marks the building's entry. It creates a dramatic sense of arrival while playing a key role in the building's open feel. The curved steel-framed entrance façade uses reflective green-tinted glass.
Meanwhile, the tan-colored panels each have translucent window openings as well as a checker-board pattern etched into concrete during casting. The building also has four circular balconies, with two each on the second and third levels. The balconies are located at the conference room, employee break area and executive offices.

The 3.5-acre site, which is in a mitigated wetlands area, presented some problems.
Roughly 4,000 cu. yards of excavation and imported material were needed to stabilize the site. Paragon Associates Inc. of Carson City, a Landmark subsidiary, was the earthwork/paving contractor.

Landmark's offices will occupy the third floor with Paragon below. The remainder of the professional space is available for lease. The building features the latest in high-tech wiring, and includes a 480-volt back-up generator mounted on the roof to ensure a consistent power supply.

The building is serviced by a roof top air- handling unit and boiler system with variable air volume heating and cooling.

Clafton, Panattoni's vice president, said the 10-month project required 100 tradesmen during the height of construction activity. It entailed a total of 120 tons of reinforcing steel and 1,500-cu. yds. of concrete to finish.

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