Award-Winning Retaining Wall: Garden of the Empty Tomb

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Outcropping Wall

For over a century, Alto-Reste Park burial estate has provided a place of peace and remembrance, and owner Geoff Behrens is committed to ensuring that legacy continues for generations to come with park expansion efforts.

With the choice of cremation increasing in popularity, he recognized the need for a dedicated space where families could honor their loved ones. Acknowledging the need for a large-scale, commercial retaining wall for this new space, Behrens selected Rosetta Hardscapes’ Outcropping Wall system to achieve the perfect balance of strength, efficiency, and aesthetics for what is now known as The Garden of the Empty Tomb. The wall was recently recognized by the Hardscape North America (HNA) Awards as its Best Commercial Retaining Wall of 2024.

THE CHALLENGE

The hillside location of the new garden posed a significant challenge, as the existing grade would be unstable without proper retention. The initial plan was to install the first set of columbariums (structures designed to hold cremation urns) and gradually add more in future phases as demand increased. This plan relied on temporary retaining walls, which would need to be repeatedly removed and reinstalled over the next 15 to 20 years to accommodate expansion. However, recognizing the impracticality of temporary walls, it became clear that a durable and adaptable commercial retaining wall system was essential.

Geoff Behrens, Owner, Alto-Reste Park Burial Estate

THE SOLUTION

Designed to reflect the biblical story of the empty tomb – a symbol of faithfulness through uncertainty and a reminder that death is a transition to eternal life – the completed landscape needed a retaining wall as enduring as its impactful message. The wall design needed to provide:

• Natural Stone Aesthetics to support an authentic, deeply textured, and timeless stone-age look worthy of biblical times, with the modern efficiencies of precast concrete
• Structural Big Block Strength to support Alto-Reste’s long-term expansion goals and ensure wall integrity for generations to come
• Faster Machine-Set Installation compared to alternative concrete wall systems to keep project timelines on track
• The Power of Wetcast Concrete to resist weathering and limit overall wall maintenance

For the project’s owner, the selection of Rosetta’s Outcropping Wall “Had the feel of what we were looking for and the stability we needed.”

Approximately 2,100 sq ft (195 sq m) of Outcropping Wall was constructed, requiring the excavation of over 15 ft (4.5 m) of bordering hillside. The finished 325-ft (99 m) retaining wall features 12 monoliths representing the 12 tribes of Israel and includes columbariums (structures hosting funeral urns) designed as final resting places. The initial phase, covering one acre, provides over 500 legacy spaces, with the foundation already in place for the next phase, which would add 300 more.

With Kerr Landscaping leading the wall installation, the wall was completed in a fraction of the time compared to cast-in-place or alternative retaining wall systems.

THE OUTCOME

At completion, The Garden of the Empty Tomb offered approximately 2,500 legacy spaces, with plans for an additional retaining wall in future expansion phases. Behrens was impressed with the final wall, stating, “It looks unbelievable; there’s nothing like that in the state.”

In fact, nothing like it had been constructed in the nation. Not only did the completed project impress Behrens, but it was also honored with the Hardscape North America Award for Best Commercial Retaining Wall of 2024.

With Kerr Landscaping receiving this honor, Rosetta Hardscapes producer R.I. Lampus also received high marks for providing the outcropping blocks used to build the finished retaining wall.

Richard Kerr, Owner, Kerr Landscaping

R.I. Lampus was pivotal in orchestrating the project, overseeing every phase from initial product selection and pricing to final installation. Understanding that an outcropping wall provided a more cost-effective alternative to a cast-in-place design, the R.I. Lampus team introduced this solution to Kerr Landscaping early in the process. Their involvement, however, extended far beyond product introduction. With 30-year team member Tasha Thomas at the forefront, R.I. Lampus became a trusted partner to Kerr Landscaping, offering ongoing expertise and support throughout the project.

Tasha Thomas, Sales Representative, R.I. Lampus

With a strong vision and commitment to excellence, The Garden of the Empty Tomb now stands as a lasting sanctuary that meets today's needs and preserves Alto-Reste's legacy for the future. By choosing Rosetta’s Outcropping Wall, Geoff Behrens and his team ensured lasting beauty and strength for their garden expansion, transforming a challenging hillside into a legacy of peace for future generations.