The New American Home Takes Project Management to a New Level

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The 0.26-acre lot in the Sky Terrace subdivision overlooks the L… Read More The 0.26-acre lot in the Sky Terrace subdivision overlooks the Las Vegas strip.

Ground was finally broken on May 15, about four months behind sc… Read More Ground was finally broken on May 15, about four months behind schedule.

A pump truck flows concrete to the back of the house for deepene… Read More A pump truck flows concrete to the back of the house for deepened footings near the pool.

Workers smooth concrete for the foundation.

Boise Cascade framing rises from the site in June.

Crews scramble to frame the house and make up time that had been… Read More Crews scramble to frame the house and make up time that had been lost earlier in the project.

The elevator shaft takes shape above the first level.

The structure is encased in Tyvek housewrap just before rainy we… Read More The structure is encased in Tyvek housewrap just before rainy weather sets in.

A three-coat stucco system was an ideal choice for the home’s … Read More A three-coat stucco system was an ideal choice for the home’s hot, dry location, Anderson says.

The house is ready for its final touch: installation of exterior… Read More The house is ready for its final touch: installation of exterior stone panels.

Environmental Stone Works customized the color of its easy-to-in… Read More Environmental Stone Works customized the color of its easy-to-install Horizon Panel to match the natural stones found on the New American Home site.

USG’s Firecode 30 5/8-inch drywall was easy to install because… Read More USG’s Firecode 30 5/8-inch drywall was easy to install because it’s 30 percent lighter than standard drywall and easy to cut, says builder Josh Anderson.

The builder also really liked USG's Sheetrock Tuff-Hide primer/s… Read More The builder also really liked USG's Sheetrock Tuff-Hide primer/surfacer spray, noting that it saved four weeks' worth of labor. "It’s absolutely amazing,” he says.

He knew that pulling together the multifaceted project of national magnitude, with dozens of product suppliers and sponsors would not be easy. He would be working with a pre-determined project team—including an architect and interior designers he’d never met before—to build a 6,700-square-foot home certified to more than a half-dozen green building programs.

Perhaps the biggest hurdle was the deadline: the house had to be completed in time to welcome thousands of building pros and national and international press coverage at the 2014 International Builders’ Show (IBS), taking place Feb. 4-6 in Las Vegas.

Even knowing all of these factors ahead of time, 35-year-old Anderson, owner of Henderson, Nev.–based Element Building Co., says he couldn’t have imagined what lay ahead when he signed on in fall 2012 to the project, which is co-sponsored by BUILDER and the NAHB.

CHALLENGES BEGIN EARLY
The challenges started early in the design phase, when Anderson reviewed preliminary drawings and was troubled by the siting of the house on its lot in the tony Sky Terrace subdivision. He also balked at the floor plan, which encompassed a traditional design aesthetic and opulent touches such as four master bedrooms and classicly styled columns, which Anderson knew weren’t appropriate for Las Vegas’ contemporary-driven market. He also felt the layout did not take full advantage of the beautiful desert site’s stunning views of the Las Vegas strip. As preparations continued, tragedy struck when the project’s architect, 77-year-old Barry Berkus, passed away in November 2012. Son Jeffrey Berkus, owner of his own bustling architectural firm in Aspen, Colo., took over the project. With construction scheduled to begin and the plans still not to Anderson’s liking, the builder and new architect had a pivotal on-site meeting during the 2013 IBS.

“From a design standpoint at that point in time, I’m saying, ‘I’m not going to build this house, it’s not the right fit for neighborhood, it’s not the right design,’” Anderson recalls telling Berkus.

After viewing the site, Berkus agreed that the design needed to be tweaked. His revised T-shaped plan better embraces the shape of the site and offers unobstructed views from the first-level master bedroom, dining room, and rooftop terrace. Both sets of plans will be on display at the home during IBS.

“I want to credit Josh for pushing us to make a great house that works with its site because he’s the one who had to pay the price because we lost two months in that process,” Berkus recalls. “It stressed the heck out of us and it stressed the heck out of him, but the result is a much more inspired house.”

NO LABOR AND TOO MUCH RAIN
The revised plans were complete and approved by the city in mid-May. As construction finally got underway, Anderson faced his next challenge: a serious labor shortage. The Las Vegas housing market had picked up considerably during the first five months of the year, and many of the area’s most experienced subcontractors already were busy with other projects. It was particularly difficult to find skilled framers—Anderson called seven companies before finding one with availability. He also ended up paying more than he had planned for most of the labor.