Microvellum Corporation


Grand Design Garners Grand Results


Article By: Design Solutions Magazine

AWI Manufacturing Member: Montbleau & Associates, Inc.
Location: San Diego, California
Founded: 1979
Services: Architectural woodworking, corporate furniture, casework, and manufacturing of large hospitality projects.

"We strive to provide the best value through quality of our workmanship, on time completion, and competitive pricing. We can work from design-build custom production. All of our managers and planners are craftsmen with many years of hands-on experience." - Jamal Farhoud, Project Manager

Rich decorative arts of Italy, Morocco, Portugal and Spain, complemented by meticulous details including over 30 types of marble and stone, vibrant Portuguese tile, Venetian plastered walls, more than 25,000 square feet of handcrafted wood flooring and intricate hand-stenciled ceilings contribute to the five stars earned by the resort.
Lush landscaping completes the beautiful setting, with over 10,000 mature trees - including towering Italian cypresses, more than a dozen dramatic water features, including a breathtaking 75-foot-long, 22-nozzle fountain lined with gold, royal blue and white marble tiles - extending from the lobby towards the golf course.

The Grand Plan

Following two years of careful planning and painstaking construction, the $270 million Mediterranean-style resort was built by more then 800 workers and craftsmen.
The architectural firm for the project was Altevers Associates of San Diego. Fabricating and installing the gorgeous architectural woodwork in the three-story building was Montbleau and Associates, Inc., an AWI member firm also located in San Diego.
Design began in 2003. Construction started in the summer of 2005 and was completed in the fall of 2007. Construction cost was approximately $172 million.
"The primary design consideration and objective was to create an atmosphere of perfect balance between opulence and natural beauty," says Altevers' Project Manager, Stephen Frazier.
Montbleau and Associates fabricated and installed the reception desk, coffered ceilings, wood paneling, door castings, as well as the base and crown mouldings for the resort.

Varied Woods

According to Ana Rothman of Montbleau and Associates, woods used throughout the resort included Olive Ash Burl, quartered, figured Sycamore, Pearwood, Maple, Mahogany, Cedar and Alder. "The veneers were configured in pinwheel, checkerboard and diamond patterns to achieve a unique formation," Rothman explains.
"These woods were used because they are classy and elegant," adds Frazier. "The woods help set the desired mood of the old-world Mediterranean estate."
Of the wood elements within the facility, the coffered ceilings are the most notable. Out of 20 different ceiling layouts, no two were alike.
The formal dining room ceilings consisted of applied moulding in a honeycomb pattern, adding an even stronger level of refinement to the space. The ballroom featured large crown mouldings with build-in light coves to achieve ambient light. Gold leaf was added to various sections of the crown moulding, providing extra dimension and elegance to the overall composition.

Five Star Work

"Our engineers worked hand in hand with the design team to achieve the high end result that was expected of a five-star hotel," says Jamal Farhoud, Montbleau project manager.
"It was almost entirely a design-build job. We helped set the flow and sequence of the job from early on until the grand opening.
Farhoud adds that the woodworking team had a great relationship with the design team. "We had weekly meetings to finalize drawings, samples and finishes to give the client an excellent product. We provided roughly 24 samples and 200 schemes of stains/ finishes for consideration."
The woodworking firm provided a great deal of assistance to our firm, says Frazier. "They provided drawings as our drawings were concept only. The relationship was excellent."
Accommodating so much building within the 40-foot height limit imposed by the city was a great design challenge, continues Frazier. "Everything was a very tight fit, and yet the spaces had to feel luxurious and grand. To successfully meet a very aggressive construction schedule, a tremendous level of cooperation was developed among owners, contractors and the design team."
So in the end, a grand design, a grand relationship and grand craftsmanship led to the beauty, comfort and elegance that is the Grand Del Mar Resort.

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