Perched on a private 5-acre ridge above the red-rock canyons of Southern Utah, Oasis at Santa Clara is designed for multi-generational vacation living. The home prioritizes durability in a high-desert climate while maintaining the flexibility needed for gatherings of 40+ guests.
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Below is a record of how this project took shape — including key decisions, tradeoffs, and lessons along the way.
Key milestones and decisions as this project progressed.
Started wood framing on the basement level. Exterior walls going up and Zip System sheathing being properly installed with taped seams for a continuous air and water barrier. Interior partition layout marked and first walls standing.
Framing transforms the concrete shell into recognizable spaces. Zip System combines structural sheathing with a built-in weather-resistant barrier, eliminating the need for house wrap and reducing air infiltration.
Zip System was chosen for its integrated WRB and superior air sealing. The basement level sets the pace for the rest of the build.
Erected structural steel columns and beams for the basement level. Steel moment frames at large openings provide lateral support. All connections welded and inspected per structural engineer specifications.
The open floor plan requires steel to span distances that wood can't handle efficiently. These moment frames also resist seismic and wind loads.
Coordinated steel delivery with crane availability to minimize idle time. Steel erection completed in two days with proper staging.
Completed continuous footings and basement slab pour. Underslab plumbing and electrical conduits installed and tested before concrete. Waterproofing membrane applied to exterior foundation walls.
The basement houses the game room, sauna and cold plunge, gym, and mechanical equipment. Getting the underslab utilities right is critical—there's no going back once the concrete is in.
Used Stego Wrap vapor barrier over compacted road base for underslab moisture control. Stego Wrap is a true below-slab vapor barrier (not just a retarder) that blocks moisture migration. The road base provides a stable, well-draining substrate that won't puncture the membrane and allows the slab to cure evenly.
Poured the post-tension slab for the pickleball court before starting the main house foundation. This separate structure required its own engineering for the flat, crack-free surface needed for court play.
Building the court first allowed the concrete to cure and cables to be tensioned while we focused on the main house. A pickleball court has zero tolerance for cracks or unevenness.
Sequencing the court pour first was driven by site logistics—we needed that area clear to get equipment access for pouring the basement slab and constructing the 12-foot retaining walls. Pouring it early also gave the surface time to cure properly.
Broke ground with mass excavation beginning. Over-excavated building pad area to remove unsuitable soils per geotechnical recommendations. Imported structural fill and compacted in lifts.
The ridge site has variable soil conditions. Removing expansive clays and replacing with engineered fill prevents foundation movement down the road.
Added extra 15' of excavation depth to the main house based on soil tests. Better to address soil issues now than deal with settlement later.
Final architectural plans approved by the City of Santa Clara. Building permit issued within 3 weeks—remarkable turnaround for a build of this size. Coordinated with civil engineer on grading plan and utility connections.
This 5-acre hillside lot required careful attention to setbacks, drainage, and fire access. The 3-week permit approval was exceptional for an 11,795 sf custom home.
Early investment in a detailed site survey and preliminary meetings with the city paid off. Complete, well-organized submittals led to the fast approval.
This level of documentation and decision-making rigor is standard on every William & Wall custom home.