The Victory Park at the California Armenian Home and Vineyards is dedicated to honoring military service members and first responders, serving as a reminder of their deep gratitude for their sacrifices in defense of our country. Most residents at the California Armenian Home have military or first responder backgrounds.
Manuel Dichner, a 100-year-old resident and World War II veteran told Your Central Valley reporters that the park is “not only a beautiful addition to the community but also a reminder of the reason he and so many others sacrificed so much.”
Nexgeneral Construction was honored to partner with the California Armenian Home on this project. Designing and building Victory Park was a year-long journey from conception to completion. Here’s a detailed look at how Nexgeneral Construction transformed an empty dirt lot into an inviting space for residents to walk, enjoy their community, and pay tribute to their friends and family who have served in the military.
Initial Concept, Challenges and Design
Victory Park’s location posed a unique challenge from the start. The site was an unbuildable part of the California Armenian Home due to a canal pipe from the Fresno Irrigation District running five feet underneath. This 25-foot easement meant no trees, structures, or pools could be built on top of it. Despite these restrictions, The California Armenian Home and Nexgeneral team saw potential and began brainstorming ideas to transform this space into a space residents creatively could use and enjoy.
Nexgeneral’s initial discussions with Dennis Bacopulos, CEO of the California Armenian Home, were focused on the features he wanted in the park. After multiple site walks and discussions, Nexgeneral developed several sketches to visualize different concepts. Ideas ranged from a bocce ball court to various garden styles, including English and botanical gardens.
The process involved multiple rounds of sketches, planting schemes, and pricing information. Each iteration brought the team closer to a conceptual design that included a central fountain, which became the park’s focal point.
Once the team established conceptual design and budget with the client, Nexgeneral partnered with Landscape Development, Inc. to help bring our vision to life. LDI provided multiple rounds of hardscape and planting design before the final design. The fountain design, however, required meticulous attention to detail and close collaboration with the client. Based on Google images provided by Dennis Bacopoulos, Nexgeneral President, Phil Kliewer conceptualized and provided the client with multiple rounds of the fountain design and pricing information. After the conceptual design was approved, Phil relied upon the additional expertise of his contractor team including WDF Concrete and Crazy Horse Construction to finalize the fountain’s design.
Construction Process
With the design finalized, and the construction contract in place, construction began. The process started with grading the site to ensure proper drainage. Nexgeneral installed all necessary underground utilities, including power, water, and landscape drainage.
With any landscape design, fountains and pools are typically the centerpiece of construction, and everything else is constructed after. Constructing the fountain was a multi-step process. First, the team installed all the underground piping and conduit, then the concrete footing and foundation were poured, followed by the inner layer of CMU block and an outer layer of glass block. This created a cavity for ambient LED lighting, giving the fountain a distinctive glow.
After the masonry work, Nexgeneral installed the pool’s lighting, plaster, tile, and seat wall cap. The final touches included the little details that make a feature like this pop, including programming multicolor lighting schemes and adjusting streamer heights to dramatic effect.
The next area of focus was on the park’s hardscape, including concrete flatwork and hexagonal pavers. Additional pavers were provided for future replacements, allowing for ongoing dedication to those who served. The final phase was the installation of the landscape, adding greenery and ensuring the park’s aesthetic appeal.
Ongoing Adjustments
Throughout the construction process, Nexgeneral maintained regular communication with the owner, allowing for adjustments and refinements. For instance, the owner decided to add a lawn area partway through the project. Additionally, glass blocks and ambient lighting were added to the park monument sign to provide a consistent design theme. These changes were planned for prior to the installation of each element and were seamlessly integrated with minimal costs, demonstrating the importance of flexibility in meeting the owner’s evolving vision.
Small details, such as a fence around the pool equipment area, were also added based on the owner’s feedback. These touches, although minor, contributed significantly to the park’s overall appeal and functionality.
Grand Opening
The grand opening was a heartfelt event, celebrating not only the completion of the park but also the bravery and dedication of those who have served.
Creating Victory Park was a complex yet rewarding project. It required careful planning, creative problem-solving, and continuous collaboration with the owner. Despite the challenges posed by the site’s restrictions, Nexgeneral helped to successfully transform it into a beautiful, functional park that met both the schedule and budget expectations.
