When Joan Kroc died in 2003, she willed $1.5 billion of her estate to the Salvation Army--by some accounts, the single largest charitable gift in history. In conjunction with locally raised donations, this posthumous gift from the widow of McDonald's founder Ray Kroc has enabled the construction of 24 community centers across the nation to provide state-of-the-art recreational, arts, and spiritual facilities for some of the country's most underserved communities, the latest scheduled to open in Phoenix in May.

Visual interest was added to the insulated masonry walls by alternating the same hue of Mesastone and Trendstone to create a textural pattern.

Currently in the final phases of construction on the former site of The Salvation Army Phoenix South Mountain facility built in 1968, the new 137,000 sq. ft. center will increase and enhance existing community programs and services with a chapel/performing arts center, teen activities center, indoor aquatics center, sports training, fitness and recreation facilities, and a rock-climbing wall.

Initially targeting Silver LEED® certification, the facility is actually on track to garner Gold LEED status through a variety of energy efficient initiatives, including double-layer insulated Trenwyth® masonry walls. Both Mesastone® and Trendstone® were used in the construction of the building's façade, as well as in key areas of the interior such as columns and hallways. For the exterior construction, the design included structural block plus a 4" veneer of the Trenwyth units separated by an air gap that was filled with foam insulation for added efficiency.