In October, KEPCO+ was awarded the 2007 Pinnacle Award of Merit for its work on the LDS Sacramento Temple.  Completed in July of 2006, the Temple utilizes 52,780 SF of natural stone for its exterior and sitework.  So that the temple would complement its Northern California locale, project architect Nichols Melburg & Rossetto designed the temple to incorporate classical detailing and be clad with a light colored stone, similar to that found in the Sierra Mountains.  The building incorporates spring-line blocks at each of the arched windows, a cornice with a dentil motif, and corners that "step" in or out, creating an elegant finish that unifies the entire design.  While most of the cladding has a honed finish, polished granite was used at the base up to the water table level to help preserve the project's pristine appearance.

When planning the sitework, preserving the native environment was a top priority so existing vegetation was utilized when possible and great care was taken to protect a century-old oak tree located on site.  A radial granite wall, 60' in diameter was constructed around the tree to offer protection and help it blend into the surrounding grounds.  The grounds also boast massive balustrades incorporating 300 solid polished balusters, 2100 linear feet of site walls, a fountain, twelve stone benches, and twelve 13' 6" trellis columns.  One of the most interesting features of the sitework is the rounded arcade incorporating 22 archways (12 double axis arches) which were designed and fabricated with both horizontal and vertical radius, creating a compound curve.  Each radial stone had to be installed in an exact location to achieve a smooth radiused end product.
 
A design-build project, all participants can be proud of the success resulting from thorough collaboration and teamwork!  The temple and surrounding grounds have a rich California flavor and blend beautifully with the native environment.