Desert Palisades
Unique Pattern and Color Blend of Dimensions™ 80mm Pavers – Accentuates Natural Desert Landscape for Hillside Development
Every Project Starts with a Purpose
Local ordinance decreed Desert Palisades as the last hillside residential community to be constructed in Palm Springs, California. Situated along the sun-drenched landscape of Chino Canyon, this 110-lot enclave is designed to preserve the natural contours of the land, engage with the boulder-strewn topography, and maximize views from the San Jacinto Mountains to the Salton Sea.
Unlike a typical master-planned development, Desert Palisades upholds the ideals of midcentury and contemporary architecture that define Palm Springs. Residents are encouraged to work with leading architects to customize their homes while following forward-thinking, resource-efficient, and environmentally sensitive community guidelines.
A City of Palm Springs ordinance prohibiting the use of asphalt in the Chino Canyon area led the development team to consider pavers as the preferred alternative. To complement the world-class homes within Desert Palisades, the architectural and development team sought a distinctive solution for the streets, specifically a multi-piece paver pattern that reflected both the beauty of the canyon and the community’s modern architectural vision.
The Solution
Solving for Style, Function, and Durability
“We chose Belgard® for the Desert Palisades project because of the quality, size, pattern and color selections available that would blend with the natural environment,” said Rob Parker, PLA, Design Principal for RGA Landscape Architects. “In addition, we wanted a paver that had a finish consistent with the quality expected in a development of custom homes. Other manufacturers didn’t compare when shown to our clients. In a side-by-side test, the difference was notable.”
The pavers also needed to be sturdy enough to handle heavy-duty equipment during the multi-year construction phase. Belgard Dimensions™ pavers met those needs with design versatility, 3 1/8-inch (80mm) thickness for vehicular traffic, and proven durability. Four sizes were used to create a one-of-a-kind pattern, along with a three-color blend of Elk Mountain, Toscana and Bella chosen to complement the surrounding canyon landscape.
“We have two miles of road, and our blend required three separate colors in four different sizes. So delivering 12 different pallets of pavers, two to three semi-truck loads per day, for eight straight months was a fantastic feat of production. Belgard performed brilliantly for us.”
Charissa Farley of Farley Pavers noted that Belgard’s products offered natural-looking, long-lasting color. “When I use Belgard, I often feel like I’m using local aggregates that accentuate natural colors just as the European masons did when building many of the castles and architectural masterpieces. The colors used for Desert Palisades reflect the beauty of the area and actually change with the light at different times of day.”
While the project had the potential to be exquisite, it also presented significant challenges. “The development featured a unique construction site on a rocky hillside with sensitive construction constraints,” explained Tom Lynch, Construction Manager at MSA Consulting. “Together, Belgard, Farley Pavers and the Desert Palisades team worked hand-in-hand to develop logistics plans that allowed for seamless construction.”
Additional challenges included an aggressive schedule and EPA-mandated construction pauses each month to protect endangered bighorn sheep native to the area. Despite the complexity, Farley Pavers approached the installation as a labor of love, recognizing the importance of the project to the surrounding community.
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The Result
A Lasting Impression:
The Final Transformation
“Our entire team was passionate about this project, and we truly felt like we were creating a work of art,” stated Charissa Farley. “My installers had to pull the proportions off the trucks and arrange each to fit the pattern and lay them by hand. They worked long, hard days to make this happen and meet the deadline. The team from Belgard, my salesmen and my installation team poured their heart and soul into this project, and part of their lives were absorbed into these streets.”
“I must say, I have not been involved in a project that featured a more unique, innovative design,” added Jeff Bal, Belgard Vice President of Sales, California/Nevada. “And the entire project was a model of collaboration between the developer, civil engineer, architect, contractor and installer. The entire group came together utilizing value engineering options that supported the integrity of the design and facilitated an efficient project flow.”
Prior to the delivery of the first paver, Belgard worked with the developer and contractor to create a long-term maintenance plan to be turned over to the Desert Palisades Homeowner’s Association. “The plan covered a variety of areas such as cleaning, maintenance and best practices,” explained Bal. “Not only will it be very useful in future budgeting for the HOA, but it will also help to save millions of dollars over the estimated life cycle of the pavers.”
The project’s significance was underscored when more than 90,000 people attended Modernism Weekend in Palm Springs to celebrate Desert Palisades, which opened in February 2017. As home construction continues, the community is expected to take its place as an iconic desert development.
Paul Sepulveda, Director of Design Services at MSA Consulting, believes the project will influence future development in the Coachella Valley. “Desert Palisades proved that a boulder-laden, alluvial-type project in the Coachella Valley foothills can successfully be graded with minimal impact to the site,” he said. “The site was severely constrained from an environmental standpoint limiting maneuverability, means and methods, and time-allowed for grading operations. Successfully meeting the challenge required a confident developer with a vision working with a creative engineer and a very skillful grading contractor with the right equipment. Sites of this type are extremely limited in the western part of the valley and may never be available again, but as development moves east, the possibilities for similar sites fully exist.”
PLAN + DESIGN
Smarter Planning. Better Design.
Belgard isn’t just here to provide the product—we’re your partner in planning and design. From first ideas to final layout, we make it easy to bring your outdoor vision to life.
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We’ll listen to your needs, help identify the right products and design approach, and guide you toward a tailored solution that brings your outdoor vision to life.