CANTON, OHIO—November 17, 2016—With pavers and hardscape materials at their fingertips, designers cast their choice for Whitacre Greer’s beautiful clay pavers, which won awards in both residential and commercial hardscape categories recently during the 10th annual Hardscape North America Trade Show held in Louisville, Kentucky.
Designers from Nature’s Perspective Landscaping, located in Evanston, Illinois, developed the winning residential plans and had the ability to choose the vendors and products used for the projects.
“We chose Whitacre Greer as the manufacturer of the clay pavers as they have a timeless look and quality aesthetic. We added multiple artistic paver medallions made from Unilock’s Brussel block in the driveway to add a unique flair to the overall design,” said Tim Benz, designer for Nature’s Perspective Landscaping.
The residential project had a unique challenge due to a shared driveway, which was originally constructed from asphalt. The properties are located in a federal historic district, and the goal was to develop a cohesive and integrated plan that would be functional and aesthetically pleasing while complying with zone codes.
“We decided the pavers in the driveway needed to integrate with the clay face brick of the two properties. So we developed a customized channel drain, implemented other drainage solutions along with LED lighting fixtures and installed a large fountain in the center of the driveway turnaround. The client was pleased to have a beautiful driveway that will last a lifetime,” Benz added.
The Barbara Cox Center for Sustainable Horticulture at Cox Arboretum MetroPark in Dayton, Ohio, won the clay brick permeable commercial category.
The renovation, conceptualized by Human Nature, Inc., a Cincinnati-based landscape architecture firm, added beauty, functionality and longevity to the Five River MetroParks sustainability initiative.
The challenge included renovation and reuse of an existing 40-year-old greenhouse complex in order to demonstrate how old and outdated structures can be transformed into state-of-the-art facilities without new development. The area was not available to the nearly 250,000 annual visitors, nor was it ADA accessible prior to the renovation.
Nearly 10,000 square feet of Whitacre Greer clay brick permeable pavers replaced asphalt and gravel, which resulted in a visually stunning gathering space for people to learn about native plant species. The paver layout and patterns direct visitors and help guide the interpretive process, while the permeable pavers provide ADA accessibility and help keep maintenance low. The winning design also included the addition of raised seat walls, which enhance visitor space.
“The advantage of using the pavers is they do not require closure of pathways during maintenance, unlike asphalt or concrete, so visitor impact is greatly reduced. We are proud and happy to be involved with this public education project and support environmentally friendly development,” said landscape architect and Five Rivers MetroParks planning manager, Eric Sauer.
For more information, visit HardscapeNA.com.
Whitacre Greer is a premier North American supplier of dry-pressed clay pavers based in Alliance, Ohio. The Whitacre Greer Company was founded in 1916 by J.J. Whitacre, a former member of the United States House of Representatives. This year marks the company’s centennial celebration. Today Whitacre Greer is owned and operated by the Whitacre family, and employs 90 people. The company’s president and CEO Janet Kaboth is a fourth-generation Whitacre who leads the company along with her siblings, John Whitacre, Jr. and Lynn Cart. Her sons Christopher and Stephen Kaboth also hold management positions with the company. For more information about the Whitacre Greer Company, visit https://www.wgpaver.com or follow us on social media channels, Facebook and Twitter.
