For a new community in Big Sky, Montana, Boulderscape lined a development access road with native rock — sculpting 24,000 square feet of architectural shotcrete into a Montana Granite finish, delivered in 12 days at 38% below traditional construction.
Record Installation Time
Savings Over Alternatives
Wall Square Footage
A new custom home community in Big Sky, Montana required a soil nail wall along its primary entrance road to stabilize the surrounding hillside. The developer wanted the retaining wall to complement the mountain setting while remaining visually unobtrusive. Boulderscape's Montana Granite finish was selected for its ability to replicate the area's native granite formations and blend naturally with the surrounding landscape.
Boulderscape hand sculpted the Montana Granite finish across the entire wall surface, incorporating natural fractures, relief, and rock textures inspired by the local geology. A medium earth stain was applied to create realistic color variation and allow the retaining wall to become a natural extension of the surrounding mountainside, enhancing the entrance to the development without drawing attention to the engineered structure.
The project encompassed 24,320 square feet of wall surface consisting of an 8" thick structural shotcrete section with an average 3" thick architectural relief over a soil nail wall system using a 5,000 PSI mix design. The entire scope was completed in just 12 days, delivering a durable slope stabilization solution that blended seamlessly into the surrounding environment. 38% under traditional cast in place construction. See our sculpted shotcrete process or explore more shotcrete finishes.
Installation of the reinforcement for the structural concrete. Installed an 8” thick structural shotcrete and a 1”- 4” thick architectural shotcrete.
Montana Granite
Medium Earth Blend Finish
Soil Nail Wall
5,000 PSI
8%-10% air was needed to help reduce chances of cracking in winter.
