Walla Walla, Washington, March 27-30th, 2008 — Cougar Crest Winery has announced the Grand Opening of their new $3.2 million facility. The 13,000 square foot project is the centerpiece of a 2.5 acre development including wine production, tasting room, offices, shipping and receiving, and bocce ball courts. The Grand Opening festivities will include an artist reception for Karen Ehart, a nationally known glass artist who draws from nature and the human form to bring a unique vision to kiln-fired cast, fused, and slumped glass sculpture. Cougar Crest Winery will be hosting her as a resident artist and a permanent feature in the warmly decorated tasting bar complete with gallery style seating, bistro tables and a stone hearth fireplace. Other features will include cheese pairings, chocolate pairing, and prepared hors d’ourves by the Culinary School paired beautifully with Cougar Crest Estate Wines.
The eco-friendly, green facility was built using the completely recycled building material known as Rastra blocks. The Rastra block building material is made from 100% recycled polystyrene from the electronics industry. It is shredded and molded with 15% concrete into building blocks that are laced with 6 inch tubes vertically and horizontally. When filled with rebar and concrete, these 10 inch thick walls have an insulating efficiency rating of R-38. Rastra buildings have a 150 mph wind rating, and a 4 hour fire resistance rating. The material is impervious to water, and will not form mold, mildew or releaseTCA. Stucco can be directly applied to the exterior surfaces saving the use of metal wire usually needed for other building materials. The production building has been constructed without the use of any pressure treated wood. Steel stud framing of interior walls made from 30% or more recycled steel was used to protect the building from any possible TCA build up. Insulation in the ceiling is made from 100% recycled cellulosic material. Concrete material removed from the site was ground up and recycled into new concrete by a local company.
Cougar Crest Estate Winery Grand Opening
March 27-30th, 2008 Walla Walla, Washington
