Steps away from the boardwalk on South Carolina’s Grand Strand is Ocean 22, one of the most luxurious new resorts on Myrtle Beach. With spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean, modern amenities, and all the comforts and conveniences of home, the 230-unit Hilton Grand Vacations provides a stylish setting to savor sand, surf, and southern charm. Standing 22 stories high with its clean lines and contemporary urban beach-inspired design, the building is clad with more than 100,000 square feet of channeled adhesive design EIFS. Mark Timbes, design architect of the Garvin Design Group, selected the system for a number of reasons.

Aesthetics

The first was to provide the owner, Strand Capitol Group, and their partner Hilton Grand Vacations Co., with the aesthetics they desired.

“When working with the global leader in hospitality, there are high expectations on the design of the building envelope,” says Timbes. “With a number of small moves, we were able to create a polished, sophisticated aesthetic.”

Visitors to the resort are greeted by finished elevations that replicate the darker and lighter shades of the surrounding beach’s sand. At the West elevation, those earth tones are contrasted with a rich, blue vertical highlight created by incorporating BASF’s high performance Chroma finish. Timbes worked with local approved applicator Danny Bonnell of Commercial Systems Plus and Jack Cox from Senergy’s distributor Circle Supply of North Carolina on this project.

“The vivid blue accent can be seen from miles away and provides a recognizable landmark for this Hilton project,” says Cox. “Additionally, it ties together the remainder of the campus, which includes a parking garage and sales center; each has their own Chroma blue accent.”

In reviewing the project plans, Danny Bonnell offered recommendations to improve the constructability of the EIFS. Commercial Systems Plus then worked with BASF Wall Systems’ technical support and the Garvin Design Group to develop a revised set of details. The result was a Senergy Channeled Adhesive Design system that incorporated drainage reveals at designed intervals to eliminate unsightly metal flashing. 

A key concept for the project was to celebrate the guest experience. Since first impressions are important, guests arriving at the resort enter through a warm, inviting, modern day porte-cochère. A porte-cochère (or carriage porch) has been used throughout history to provide dignitaries, the affluent and other notables the cover of a protected entrance to a building. This thoughtful, sophisticated gesture heightens the sense of arrival for the visitor. The juxtaposition of lacy white steel trellises and an elegantly lit ceiling create a stately, opulent feeling that does not disappoint. The custom ceiling is composed of circular coves, rich lighting, and the Alumina Finish.

The finish incorporates 17,000 square feet of factory-mixed, colored aggregate and large mica flakes in a 100 percent acrylic transparent binder to produce the luxurious appearance of a shell laced sandy shoreline. “This provides an elegant solution and direct reference to the Grand Strand’s greatest asset,” says Timbes. The result is a refined, polished environment that sets the stage for what’s to come.

Energy Efficiency and Building Codes

The second reason for selecting EIFS was to meet the South Carolina energy code. South Carolina recently adopted the 2012 International Energy Conservation Code, which requires improved energy efficiency. Energy cost savings for South Carolina resulting from adopting the 2012 IECC are projected to be nearly $250 million annually by 2030.

Since exterior walls are one of the greatest areas of heat and air conditioning loss, efficient insulation is needed. Mark and his team decided that EIFS provided the perfect solution for the performance they needed at a cost that was within budget.

Design Flexibility

The rich granite motif at the porte-cochère and covered pool area, the earthy contextual tones on the elevations and the brightly colored blue moments of BASF Chroma demonstrate the versatility of EIFS. 

On this project, Landmark Builders (a value-driven, dependable builder who has been constructing projects for over 40 years) needed only two exterior trades. One was for the glass curtain wall, the other for EIFS. The natural choice was to select their long standing and trusted partner, Commercial Systems Plus. Danny Bonnell and his team have a distinguished reputation for their commitment to quality and excellence. “By minimizing transitions between trades and systems, you are able to create a more reliable result for the client,” says Timbes.

Not only do EIFS come in limitless color choices and a wide variety of textures but they can also be articulated into virtually any shape or design. Using EIFS-approved applicators can create exterior architectural detailing that is often cost-prohibitive using conventional construction. “Cornices, keystones, special moldings, and decorative accents are a few examples of what skillful applicators are able to create,” says Bonnell. Applicators can add a distinctive appearance to any building with some small gestures.

“Ocean 22 became a springboard to explore EIFS with more accents and reveals,” says Timbes. “The sister project at Hilton Head incorporated some of the detailing ideas seen at the Myrtle Beach project but modified to be contextual to the low country vernacular.”

For the Garvin Design Group, EIFS has proven to be a versatile cladding with a wide range of system benefits, including superior energy efficiency, unlimited aesthetic flexibility and proven performance. “The previous Myrtle Beach and Hilton Head projects demonstrated a great model to carry forward,” says Timbes. “We plan to build on the subtle intricacies in future projects.”

The proof is in the results. The owner is delighted with the outcome. As a result, the team plans on incorporating EIFS wall systems and products on an upcoming third version to begin construction at Myrtle Beach in 2017.