Orem Temple Plaza
At the Utah Orem Temple in Orem, Utah, the team set out to create pedestrian entrance plazas that felt timeless and refined, matching the significance of the site while still staying grounded in real-world construction constraints. Completed in 2023, the project called for a premium “old-world” aesthetic, delivered with modern materials and an install approach suited to North American crews.
PRODUCT SELECTION
To achieve the look, performance, and schedule requirements, the plaza assembly was built as a complete ROMEX system:
- ROMEX TRASS BED (1.5” to 2”) as the bedding layer
- ROMEX ADHESION ELUTRIANT to bond the pavers into the bedding system
- ROMEX DRAIN jointing grout to lock in durability even with wider joints
- ROMEX FUGENSAND and ROMEX D7000 used where specified for finishing and surface performance
This system was installed over a concrete rat slab with drain holes, supporting permeability throughout the build-up.
PROJECT LOCATION
PROJECT NEEDS
The vision was clear: an elegant European cobblestone fan pattern. The problem was that true granite cobblestone would have pushed the budget too far and would have required specialty mortar-setting methods that are not commonly used for large installs in North America.
So the team pursued a smart compromise: a circle pattern concrete paver that could create the look with minimal cutting and waste. But that choice introduced new pressures:
- The pattern created joints up to ¾” wide in places, which is outside the comfort zone of typical sand-only approaches.
- The owner’s maintenance plan included regular, even weekly pressure washing, meaning conventional jointing materials would be at constant risk of washout and recurring repairs.
- Installation had to happen through winter months to meet the project schedule, with weather becoming a real factor on sequencing and quality control.
PROJECT SOLUTION
ROMEX made it possible to keep the pattern, protect the schedule, and avoid a long-term maintenance headache. By using ROMEX TRASS BED with ROMEX ADHESION ELUTRIANT, the pavers could be set with the spacing the pattern demanded, without depending on traditional interlock for stability. That meant far less cutting, far less waste, and a cleaner path to the intended design.
Then, ROMEX DRAIN jointing grout was used to confidently handle the wider joints. Because the jointing grout maintains strength and durability even as joint widths increase, it addressed the core risk of washout under frequent pressure washing.
Finally, the permeable pavement assembly helped the project perform through freeze and thaw cycles with reduced concern about degradation, while also lowering de-icing needs and related slip-and-fall liability concerns. To stay on schedule during an exceptionally harsh Utah winter, the work areas were tented and heated, and the fan-pattern sequencing allowed crews to work around storms without stalling the entire install.
Result: The owner received the cobblestone-inspired look they wanted, costs stayed controlled, the timeline held, and the plazas have required no ongoing maintenance beyond the recommended pressure washing for cleanliness and performance.
Timeless plaza aesthetic with a modernistic install approach
Orem, Utah, US
2023
Commercial
