84 Lumber builds at Nemacolin resort
Maggie Hardy is well-known in the industry as the owner and CEO of 84 Lumber. Less well-known is her other role: Owner and CEO of Nemacolin, the upscale resort nestled in the Laurel Highlands of southwest Pennsylvania.
The two sister companies—the resort and the prodealer —have stepped up their cooperation on a significant development at the resort. It’s called Wisteria, described as one of the nation’s largest communities of its kind, providing housing options for resort employees.
“We remain committed to our Nemacolin family and neighboring communities,” said Maggie Hardy, who has been leading Nemacolin team since 2002. “And as the property continues to grow and expand, it is crucial that our associates have better and easier access to quality resources and an inviting community to call home.”
84 Lumber and the Nemacolin resort partnered with general contractors Martik Brothers, Inc. to debut Wisteria.
“Being situated in rural Pennsylvania, for the type of talent we would like to attract and retain at the resort, we just don’t have something like this in the area, so we built a suburb inside of the resort community itself,” said Trey Matheu, managing director, Nemacolin. “We wanted to bring the same level of luxury at the resort to our associate housing.”
The Wisteria community will feature 33 new patio homes, each with two bedrooms and two bathrooms.
When combined with Nemacolin’s pre-existing options of private apartments, split apartments, and co-living apartments, the resort features housing for approximately 300 associates.
All full-time associates will be eligible to live in Wisteria and have access to exclusive amenities and complimentary transportation to and from work.
“There’s no better partner than 84 Lumber, who have helped bring this project into reality,” said Matheu. “This is a great example of how both Nemacolin and 84 Lumber embody the idea that nothing is impossible. We are going to be able to design and redesign hospitality for our associates and guests well into the future.”
In addition to the multimillion-dollar expansion of the associate neighborhood, Nemacolin also is partnering with 84 Lumber on renovations to guest and common spaces at “The Lodge” and “The Chateau” at the resort.
“This site offered some unusual challenges. It’s a very beautiful setting, but underneath all this beauty is a giant rock.” said Ken Kucera, vice president of installed sales and manufacturing at 84 Lumber. “The timetable on this project, and the mission we got, was extremely aggressive. The rock gave us a bit of headwind, but with the partners we have and our 84 Lumber team, we were able to blast right through it.”
The project included all scopes and site development. 84 Lumber said it used a superior foundation, which allowed the manufacturer to build it first and then transport it on a truck.
“We also used wall panels and roof trusses, which allowed us to throw a shell up quickly. This also allowed us to get right in, get the mechanical trades in very quickly,” added Kucera.
The opening of The Market at Wisteria is also a significant milestone for the community at large, bringing resources and fresh produce to what has otherwise been a food desert, 84 Lumber said.
Providing access to quality food has been an important cause to Nemacolin since its inception 35 years ago as the resort actively supports local, regional, and national charitable organizations such as the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank.
The Market at Wisteria will be open to the public. Offerings will include fresh produce with organic fruits and vegetables, plant-based food options, a soup and salad bar, grab-and-go prepared meals, household staples, and pantry favorites, as well as a coffee and smoothie bar.
Nemacolin features salons, spas, lounges, and fine dining, along with two Pete Dye-designed golf courses. The resort was the site of the 2006 ProDealer Conference, hosted by Home Channel News, the forerunner of HBSDealer.
