Stanley Herzog Foundations – Cabins

VIP Guest Lodging at Smithville Nonprofit

Smithville, MO

In December 2022, the Stanley Herzog Foundation cut the ribbon on its new headquarters in Smithville, Missouri.

The nonprofit aims to “catalyze and accelerate the development of quality Christ-centered K-12 education.” Part of that effort includes hosting a variety of speakers, mentors, teachers, and other notable guests at its main campus.

And those VIP guests needed a nice place to stay.

Lodging at its Finest

The foundation worked with Crossland to build several high-end cabins on its property. And these cabins are definitely top-tier.

Crossland built four 1,150 SF cabins, each with two units within each cabin. Each one features a 272 SF entry boardwalk, and each unit has a 100 SF screened-in porch.

Interior finishes on this $4.8 million project included painted white oak veneer cabinets with full-height tile backsplashes, tongue and groove (T&G) rift white oak flooring, T&G Douglas fir ceiling with Douglas fir wood truss with concealed fastener tie rod, tile floor and tile base bathroom with full height tile shower, T&G Douglas fir wood accent wall sleeping/living room, and interior Douglas fir doors.

The exterior features a mechanically seamed roof and board and batten siding with a limestone veneer base around each cabin. Site includes a mix of existing trees that were protected during construction along $290k of new landscaping that included walking trails that circle the property and tie into the Herzog Foundation property via 65’ long pedestrian bridge.

In short … these cabins showcase the rich warmth and natural beauty of nature, seamlessly integrating it into various elements, from floors to ceilings and accent walls – creating a cohesive and inviting aesthetic.

Managing Delays

But the project didn’t come without some challenges.

We encountered several lead time issues due to the pandemic, particularly on the original spec’d windows and exterior doors. Crossland went through eight suppliers for the windows to find a lead time that would work for the project.

An alternative supplier for the doors was not found, so we installed temporary doors until the specified doors arrived.

Also, due to their high-end nature, we encouraged several lead time issues with several other specified products. Each product had to be constantly monitored during the fabrication process to ensure they were delivered on time.

Overcoming Soft Soils

Another challenge was soft soils that caused bearing pressure issues. To overcome this, Crossland had to over-excavate footings by two feet deep and one foot wide. We then replaced the soft soil with structural fill to resolve the bearing pressure issues. We did this for two-thirds of the estimated cost, saving our client money.

Overall, despite this being a fairly difficult project, we were very pleased with the end result and quality of the project we delivered.

Project Facts

Industry Sector: Multi-Family
Cost: $4,461,868
Size: 5,400 SF
Number of Units: 4
Delivery Method: Construction Management
Self-Perform: Earthwork, Concrete
Owner: The Stanley M. Herzog Foundation
Architect: GastingerWalker