The Owasso Redbud Festival Park is a community-oriented project for the City of Owasso with a large, open green space encompassing one city block of 2.25 acres. The goal of the City was to create an urban core that brings people downtown to the heart of the city. Gh2 Architects created a design that has an open stage at one end for concerts and a covered farmers market area at the other, providing for an incredibly adaptive and flexible site for any variety of community events. The space also features a splash pad, fire pit, playground, water feature and native plant landscaping.
Local licensee, Bomanite of Tulsa, Inc. had the pleasure of installing the natural looking Bomanite Decorative Concrete starting with the water feature that stretches the length of the park along with a splash pad that emulates a riverbed of rock using a custom Bomanite Imprint System Pattern Chipped Shale along with Bomanite Cobblestone Gray color for a stylized running stream. Accent borders were placed in the pavilion area using the Bomacron Sandstone Texture in the same Cobblestone Gray color to delineate features of the paved area and support the overall design aesthetic of the park as well as provide containment for an area of white, light gray and dark gray concrete pavers.
With well over 400 distinct patterns and associated textures Bomanite has a commanding selection of imprinting tools to select from with the ability to customize your own design like that of the Owasso Redbud Festival Park landscape elements. Bomanite molds are developed from natural products such as stone or wood as well as unconventional surfaces such as metal or plastic or whatever your imagination may bring to the table. Images, logos, borders and highly custom textures are all part of the Bomanite offering. The selection and quality of Bomanite Imprinting Tools is unsurpassed in the industry as well as the quality of people that do the installations.
Superior craftsmanship has always defined the Bomanite brand and sets a Bomanite installation apart from other imprinting contractors and product manufacturers. All Bomanite Licensees receive the most extensive ongoing technical education program in the industry. And it shows in every installation as a reflection of the long standing Bomanite tradition of innovation, service and expertise. The Owasso Redbud Festival Park was a game-changer for not only the Redbud District, but for the city as a whole, bringing opportunities for the community to come together for movie nights, concerts and holiday celebrations, to name a few, where everyone can make wonderful, long-lasting memories.
Bomanite of Tulsa, Inc. received the 2019 Honorable Mention Bomanite Best Imprint Project Award for their custom and creative work for this community project.
Olathe West High School opened in the fall of 2017, designed using architecturally advanced techniques to create an innovative and futuristic learning environment for their students. The three-story school, spanning 375,000 square feet, focuses on the use of technology, open, modular learning spaces, efficiency and collaboration among students. A centrally-located learning commons provides student gathering and education collaboration spaces that connect to the entire building.
The school is designed with four wings where students attend classes. The building also includes an open concept Library with 60 planting boxes on a growing wall, four mini-libraries overlooking the main first floor library, a Public Safety Academy, Green Tech learning center, media center, performing arts center with retractable seating, gymnasiums with a one-ninth mile track around the top and a 200 square foot rooftop greenhouse.
Bomanite Licensee, Musselman & Hall Contractors, LLC worked with the project designers, Hollis + Miller and Stantec, to provide a sustainable low maintenance topping and polishing technique that is becoming a standard in school construction. Musselman & Hall Contractors, LLC placed 25,000 square-feet of 2”-thick Bomanite Renaissance Deep Grind system as an unbonded topping slab integrating local aggregates and references. Once the slab was cured, it was ground down to expose the coarse aggregates and then polished to a semi-gloss concrete finish.
“Bomanite’s Renaissance Deep Grind is a high-end, readily customized decorative concrete that really bring designs to life,” says Dan Kroesen, a Vice President with Musselman & Hall Contractors. The Bomanite Renaissance Deep Grind polished concrete system represents a custom mix of individually sourced aggregates, sands, and added integral colors that can be installed as a slab on grade or unbonded overlay. Once the concrete sets, it is milled, ground, and finally polished to produce a beautiful, solid surface that looks and wears very similar to terrazzo.
While every type of flooring requires regular maintenance, one of the advantages of the Bomanite Renaissance Deep Grind process is the long-term cost positives. Because the floor is treated with chemical hardeners that reduce porosity, while still allowing it to breath, fully-exposed hard aggregates are the predominate wear surface rather than an applied sealer or coating. Correctly selecting aggregates by size, type, and color allows the floor to wear naturally while supporting superior stain resistance to traditional concrete because no film-forming agents are required to maintain a Bomanite Renaissance floor.
The Bomanite Renaissance system checks a lot of boxes – tremendous design flexibility, first-cost savings, lower cost maintenance, making Bomanite Decorative Concrete the right investment for long lasting beauty and benefit for school construction projects and its communities.
AWARDS: Musselman & Hall Contractors, LLC earned the Best Bomanite Custom Polishing Silver Award 2019 for the high-end, readily customized decorative concrete installation at Olathe West High School.
Concrete Arts, Inc was called upon to help create this stunning backyard transformation. The Homeowners previously had a stamped concrete pool deck that weathered the smart winters of Wisconsin and provided summer kid play and family fun gatherings for 12 years. With the kids growing older, the homeowners decided it was time to create and renovate the space to provide a more adult oriented entertaining retreat.
Concrete Arts, Inc. tore out the existing stamped concrete as well as the fencing which was limiting the size and design of the project and was no longer needed per a change in the city ordinance. The homeowner wanted to have several seating areas for entertaining and relaxing so creating shade and expanding the deck was a must. Once the old concrete was removed the footings were installed for the pergola and trellis design. Seventeen 18” x 54” frost footings were drilled and poured. Concrete Arts then started the process of building the imposing structure out of rough-sawn cedar. Simpson decorative fasteners were used to add aesthetics to the structure, and it was stained with Australian Timber Oil.
Once the pergola was built, Concrete Arts was able to begin setting forms for the concrete decking. The existing slide was eliminated and replaced with five water fountains which shoot into the pool for a playful touch. A concrete basin was erected at the side of the deck for the basalt stone fountain water feature providing an artful background with textural variation.
The homeowners had such success with their stamped concrete pool deck they knew they wanted to continue with the same medium. Upon approval of the decorative concrete samples, Concrete Arts working with award winning designer Mark Hauri from MH3 Design Group for layout and design, installed the Bomanite Revealed Exposed Aggregate System in antique white and slate gray colors with a sprinkling of Mirror Glass for that added sparkle. A light etching was given to the concrete surface and then a penetrating silicone sealer to provide an extra layer of protection and water repellent.
Bomanite Revealed is a durable monolithic topping system composed of a unique blend of cements, admixtures, recycled pozzolans, pigment and graded mineral aggregates that uses traditional concrete and advanced application technology. Bomanite Revealed creates a beneficial low life cycle cost that fits applications for pool decks, splash pads, plazas, shopping centers, schools and exterior walkways—anywhere improved wear resistance for light- to moderate-duty traffic with highly decorative appearance and durability is required. These highly durable surfaces are available in a multitude of standard and custom options, including light-reflective formulations that reduce heat island effect, hard to achieve colors for concrete, water resistant formulations for wet areas and other specialty applications, providing a Bomanite Decorative Concrete System that is tailored to your project and a suitable system for this beautiful renovated backyard pool deck.
To finish the distinct decorative detail, concrete tables were created in the matching deck color scheme for two seating areas. LED lights were added and poured in the tables for a dramatic nighttime luminosity. A perfect pergola, modern color scheme and romantic planting palette transformed this backyard into the homeowners retreat that will provide many years of sophisticated fun and relaxing moments. The Bomanite Exposed Aggregate Systems create the elegance needed to match the design in color and type of aggregates available, decorative finishes and designed sawcuts revealing just how brilliant concrete can be.
Bomanite Licensee, Concrete Arts Inc. received the Silver Award for the Best Bomanite Exposed Aggregate Systems under 6,000 Sq. Ft project for their installation of this backyard retreat using Bomanite Revealed Decorative Concrete.
The Residence Condominiums is a full-service hi-rise housing development located in Clayton, Mo that offers a 24-hour doorman, beautiful common spaces, guest suites, heated secure garage for those winter months, a large inviting swimming pool and private party room for some of their amenities. A top selling feature is the location, walkable to downtown that has a collection of boutiques, galleries, hotels and restaurants known throughout the region.
The condominium ownership approached Bomanite Licensee, Musselman & Hall Contractors, LLC about updating and replacing their aging pavement at the front entrance driveway. The object was to source a product that would be low-maintenance and have longevity. After meeting with the Board Members, reviewing sample products and systems a plan of action was decided. A Bomanite Imprinted Concrete Pattern with an Exposed Aggregate Finish was chosen for style and functionality. Musselman & Hall Contractors replaced the vehicular portion with 6” concrete pavement integrally colored with Bomanite Light Copper. The 3,750 square foot area was imprinted with the Bomacron English Sidewalk Slate stamp and given a light exposed Bomanite Sandscape Texture finish to complete the sophisticated parking pavement design. The stamped pattern with exposed aggregate Sandscape finish was chosen due to the nature that a pre-worn finish would not show the wear from traffic nor need constant resealing to look fresh.
Along with the parking area Musselman & Hall Contractors also replaced 1,700 square feet of the entry sidewalk that leads to the main entrance for a chic complementary transition. Bomanite Cafe Au Lait Integral Color was chosen for the concrete bands and Bomanite Franciscan Red Color Hardener for the expanse of the walkway to correspond with the existing brick exterior colors. The Bomacron Slate Texture imprint with hand tooled joints for precision of placement of design were used throughout the space. The main walkway now boasts a sleek updated pathway for guests and homeowners.
The Bomanite Exposed Aggregate line of products and systems have a built-in long-life span as well as the long standing Bomanite Imprint Systems, both known for their robust durability. Bomanite Sandscape Texture is the product of choice for projects requiring a decorative and durable finish alternative to traditional concrete paving that provides an increased surface and slip resistance benefit. The natural non-skid properties and abrasion resistant aggregates make Bomanite Sandscape Texture the perfect choice for all residential and commercial exterior concrete applications including entries, municipal or public works projects, hospitals, educational facilities, museums, pool decks, plazas and more. Combined with the Bomanite Imprint Systems, the Bomanite Sandscape Texture finish is a robust, sustainable option where low maintenance, slip resistance and a decorative concrete surface is desired; delivering the best of both Bomanite Decorative Concrete products and systems!
Musselman & Hall Contractors, LLC showcased their creativity, quality and craftsmanship with the installation of the Residence Condominiums driveway and entryway earning them the GOLD Award for the Best Bomanite Imprint Systems Project.
St. Louis Union Station is an amazing collective adventure of a giant Ferris Wheel, fire and light shows, delicious dining establishments, an old time carousel, 18-hole mini golf, ropes course and the recently opened grand aquarium that features one-of-a-kind exhibits and marine environments for thousands of aquatic animals from the rivers and oceans of the world that is housed in 1.3 million gallons of water. The St. Louis Aquarium is a 120,000-sq-ft, two-story attraction built inside the footprint of a nearly 500,000-sq-ft 19th century iron umbrella train shed that is designated as a National Historic Landmark.
One of the most high-tech and hands-on built aquariums, Architect and designer PGAV Destinations train themed aquatic environment is the centerpiece of a $187 million St. Louis Union Station family entertainment complex. An immersive, virtual train ride on one of two full-size replica passenger rail cars takes guests inside the aquarium. The ride honors St. Louis Union Station’s railroad past with a multimedia experience that travels through a trip to the rivers and oceans of the world, narrated by actor and St. Louis native John Goodman. When the train doors open, visitors find themselves at the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers where they can see the fish that inhabit America’s great rivers, such as alligator gar, paddlefish, sturgeon, catfish, and many more. Additional exhibits include playful North American River Otters, Shark Canyon and The Deep exhibit that is home to animals that include exotic and endangered Leafy Sea Dragons, jellyfish, a Giant Pacific Octopus and a coral reef. Throughout, hands-on opportunities allow guests interactive play while bringing together state-of-the-art technology, animal care, education, and conservation with the excitement of aquatic creatures.
PGAV Destinations, known for their design work on 50 fantastical aquariums around the world, had been searching for the right finish for the “River Pavement” they desired on the exterior plaza feature of the St. Louis Aquarium that represented the confluence. After discovering their original design of epoxy terrazzo was not recommended for exterior use, the search ended when the designer was attending a lunch and learn presented by Bomanite Licensee, Musselman & Hall Contractors, LLC. Nate Harris, Business Development Manager for Musselman & Hall, shared pictures and samples of the Bomanite Revealed decorative concrete system and, as simple as that, the decision was made. That very afternoon PGAV notified McCarthy Building Companies (GC) to contact Musselman & Hall about installing the River Pavement design. Bomanite Revealed is an architectural exposed concrete with varying exposure depths using decorative aggregates that use advanced application procedures to produce a finished product that showcases the seeded aggregate. Musselman & Hall Contractors worked with PGAV to iron out the details of color and aggregates, samples were made for the final decorative concrete selection and installation of the 372 square foot feature proceeded.
To begin the installation Musselman & Hall first had to set the forms to the designed shape to emulate the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers. Additionally, blockouts had to be made for the “railroad bridges” to be installed later with pavers. A plain concrete base slab held down ½” from the finish elevation needed to be poured first. Once the base placed, the Bomanite Revealed was mixed on site adding the selected blue integral concrete color, a combination of 3 different colors of blue glass aggregates, and clear glass aggregate to the mix. This mixture was applied at a ½” thickness directly over the primed base concrete for a monolithic bond. Engraving of the river names completed the work.
Bomanite Revealed provides 100% exposure of the decorative aggregate with no native sands detracting from the finished appearance. The final product is a unique alternative to other decorative concrete finishes while producing a monolithic concrete slab with a low life cycle cost due to the pre-aged nature of the surface. Bomanite Revealed is suited for exterior applications—anywhere that improved wear resistance for light to moderate-duty vehicular or foot traffic combined with an architectural finish is desired. Although very challenging, the task was completed perfectly, resulting in a beautiful educational representation of the river confluence for the St. Louis hi-tech hands-on Aquarium.
Musselman & Hall Contractors, LLC were recognized for their creative solution and intricate installation of Bomanite Revealed decorative concrete with the GOLD AWARD for the Best Bomanite Exposed Aggregate Systems under 6,000 Sq. Ft project for the St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station.
CoLab is an impressive 7-story podium student housing residential development with 253 apartment units that house 727 individual bedrooms and includes top-notch amenities. The 5-story residential component sits atop a 2-story partially buried parking garage creating a unique above ground level installation for outdoor amenities. Colorado Hardscapes, a Bomanite Decorative Concrete Contractor worked with Landscape Architect, Britina Designsto make the outdoor living space a stylish modern green community. Environmentally conscious, CoLab chose materials and systems to minimize waste and maximize energy.
The CoLab Student Living Housing Community, a USGBC Gold LEED project, brings the outdoors in with smartly styled study spaces, a rooftop deck and several lush outdoor gathering areas for tenants to enjoy; the pool court (Resort-Style Pool), Fire Court (Outdoor Lounge) and Water Court (Table Games) all featuring decorative concrete. During the design stage Britina Designs visited Colorado Hardscapes Showroom viewing several samples of different concrete systems and to determine the final finishes, aggregates and colors.
Bomanite Exposed Aggregate Systems Sandscape Texture was chosen for the general walkways and courtyards with an inviting eye-catching alternating band of color panels of flatwork. The Bomanite Sandscape Texture was also incorporated into the pool coping with a child safety grip and coordinating color. Bomanite Sandscape Texture utilizes specialized concrete mix designs, additives, decorative mineral aggregates, topical treatments and advanced application procedures to produce a finished product that resembles sand blasted concrete through fine “quarried stone”. Bomanite Sandscape Texture typically involves the use of Bomanite Integral Color and may incorporate specialized natural, regionally selected and qualified sands such as slag, granite, quartz or limestone.
The Bomanite Sandscape Refined Series is similar in design to conventional Sandscape, based on the exposure of fine quartz aggregates but bound in Bomanite Color Hardener. The resulting texture is known as “sugar cube finish”; the feel of the concrete mimics the texture of formed sugar cubes. Due to the use of Bomanite Color Hardener, the Bomanite Sandscape Texture Refined Series is available in a multitude of standard and custom options, including cost effective light-reflective formulations that do not require the use of white cement to reduce heat island effect. The Sandscape Refined Architectural Concrete Finish was installed around the firepit lounge area and included amber glass and crushed mirror glass for a natural reflective nighttime sheen.
The Bomanite Toppings Systems Micro-Top ST, a spray applied concrete resurfacing product, has excellent adhesion and weather resistance with the ability to withstand prolonged pedestrian and light duty vehicular traffic. Bomanite Micro-Top ST provides a tough, slip resistant water-retardant coating that substantially reduces water penetration, freeze-thaw scaling and concrete carbonation making it perfect choice for the exterior areas of this Denver Community Housing development. Colorado Hardscapes placed the Micro-Top ST on curbs, steps and walls with a custom color match to complement the surrounding finishes. Once the finish was complete the owners loved the look so much that they requested an additional application to the front foundation.
A popular growing technique, Colorado Hardscapes installed Board-formed Concrete, for the fire pit, water features and outdoor kitchen BBQ. Board-formed Concrete is a process of patterning concrete that leaves a wood grain image on the finished face of the concrete. Because concrete is extremely well-suited as a finished material in modern design, by imprinting the wood grain on the surface, it visually softens and warms concrete’s somewhat cooler appearance while still allowing concrete to express the construction technique giving a modern yet rustic organic vibe to these CoLab outdoor hangouts.
CoLab achieved LEED GOLD certification with the collaboration efforts from the owner/developer, designers, contractors, and consultants that led to points in the following categories: High Efficiency Heating and Cooling Systems; Energy Efficient Appliances; High Efficiency Hot Water Heating; Energy Efficient Lighting; Indoor Environment Quality; Innovation & Design Process; and Material and Resources. Making a LEED Gold certified community, CoLab provides the peace of mind to tenants of knowing their community was built and operates in an environmentally friendly manner with the generated benefits of energy-efficiency and cost-savings. Everyone worked together to transform a great design into reality, a stylish decorative green living community.
Colorado Hardscapes earned the Bomanite Exposed Aggregate Award Over 6,000 sq. ft Bronze Award for their outstanding and contributing decorative concrete work on the CoLab LEED Gold Co-housing Community Development.
Valley Children’s Healthcare began as the vision of five civic-minded women who saw the need for a dedicated pediatric hospital in Central California. For nearly 70 years, Valley Children’s Healthcare has grown from a 42-bed hospital in 1952 to a 358-bed, nationally respected pediatric healthcare network today with more than 640 physicians and 3,500 staff. Valley Children’s delivers high-quality, comprehensive care to more than 1.3 million children in a 12-county service area and has been recognized four years in a row by U.S. News and World Report as one of the “Best Children’s Hospitals” in the nation for various specialties. Valley Children’s is the first children’s hospital west of the Rockies to receive Magnet Nursing designation, the highest nursing benchmark in the world.
As the Valley Children’s Healthcare network continues to grow and expand they recently implemented their landscaping Master Plan Phase 2 at the Valley Children’s Hospital location in Madera, California to accommodate gatherings, family events and fund raising efforts. Taking advantage of the beautiful California weather for more outdoor events, their south side building landscaping needed improvements for vehicle access for caterers, food trucks as well as emergency, freight and maintenance vehicles.
Working with Heritage Bomanite, the California Central Valley Bomanite Decorative Concrete Contractor, a design was put in place to accommodate the vehicle and pedestrian traffic. Dedicated to providing a top-notch installation for a top-rated children’s hospital was a common goal of all trades during the installation. With a strong presence in the Central Valley, the values of Valley Children’s call for a set of shared standards driven by excellence, compassion, heart, care for all, and integrity.
The Bomanite Exposed Aggregate System exterior concrete hardscape stands up to the test of time with a history in strength, durability and adds multiple design aesthetics to collaborate with plantings, shrubs and structures. Bomanite Sandscape Texture and Bomanite Revealed were chosen based on a previous specification in place for Valley Children’s smaller satellite hospitals north and south of the central valley location that were also installed by Heritage Bomanite. With its proven performance and keeping within the color theme, 21,082 Square feet of Seal Gray Bomanite Sandscape Texture and 5,899 Square feet of Bomanite Revealed with Light and Dark Blue Glass, Black Granite Aggregate and Bomanite Seal Gray Integral Color were incorporated into a new sidewalk/accessible driveway and patio entrance along with 5,555 square feet of decorative sawcuts delivering necessary control joints with designer appeal.
Heritage Bomanite installed the Pergola Amphitheater with stadium seating that will host many concerts for the children and their families. Over 13,000 square feet of natural gray broom finished concrete can be found in exterior walkways surrounding the amphitheater and the low-maintenance freshly landscaped planter and flower beds by Landscape Development Inc. Working with an event deadline, the newly finished landscape created a perfect background for the 23rd Annual Harvest Ball, a Signature Event of Valley Children’s. This elegant gala has grown to host more than 900 of the community’s most generous philanthropists each year and celebrates the life-saving mission of Valley Children’s.
Used in combination with a variety of color and staining options, Bomanite Sandscape Texture creates consistent texture and durable hardscapes. Natural stone such as granite, quartz or marble along with unique aggregates such as recycled glass or porcelain are common aggregates of choice for Bomanite Revealed installations. The natural non-skid properties and abrasion resistant aggregates make both Bomanite Revealed and Bomanite Sandscape Texture the perfect choice for entries, municipal or public works projects, hospitals, educational facilities, museums, pool decks, plazas and more. The Bomanite Decorative Concrete Exposed Aggregate Systems offer a variety of modernized mixes and an unlimited palette of colors, textures and aggregate options to choose from, providing cost-effective solutions that are more durable than ever and reveal just how brilliant concrete can be while delivering that little bit of sparkle to any festivity.
Jose Campos, Field Engineer for Quiring General, the GC for this project had this to say about Heritage Bomanite’s workmanship “On behalf of Quiring General, we would like to thank Heritage Bomanite for their outstanding contribution to the Valley Children’s Healthcare Landscape Master Plan Phase II project in Madera, CA. We appreciate your team’s persistence, commitment, and focus to help deliver a high-quality project on schedule and within the client’s budget. Your team’s ability to tackle various design changes without substantial delays was an important factor of delivering this project on schedule. Throughout constructions, the crew exhibited a team-oriented goal of completing the project. We appreciate your crew’s ability to work long hours for the project’s completion.”
Heritage Bomanite exemplified Valley Children’s values of excellence and integrity earning them the Bomanite Exposed Aggregate Project Over 6,000 Sq. ft Silver Award. With their outstanding workmanship they have been asked to continue with Phase III of the Valley Children’s Healthcare Landscape Master Plan, providing additional beautiful Bomanite Decorative Concrete.
Flight at Tustin Legacy, previously home to the Naval-Lighter-Than-Air-Station and the Marine Corps Helicopter Base, has been considered a first of a kind office development, that is the next generation of working living playing communities. The City of Tustin and the Lincoln Property Company laid out a massive future plan to keep with the flight history, innovation in design, productivity and entrepreneurship. From vast commercial farming of orange groves in the 1900’s, to the military’s construction by hand of two massive blimp hangars that are the largest wood structures in the world, Flight aims to carry on this legacy of excellence of ingenuity.
This historical site comprising of 18 acres is adjacent to the 26-acre Tustin Legacy Park, providing inspirational design elements and the new office campus clientele with additional outdoor space and walking trails. The project’s first phase was completed with a total of about 470,000 square feet, that includes eight office buildings, four level parking structure, a food hall and an event conference center.
Bomanite Licensee, Bomel Construction has been designing and building parking structures, office buildings, hotels, stadiums, bridges and virtually any kind of concrete structure for over 40 years. Widely regarded as the dean of parking structure construction in the West, Bomel was the design-build general contractor for the 1,169-stall parking structure, self-performing all structural concrete. Bomel also acted as the subcontractor for the structural concrete, formwork, rebar and metal decks for the buildings. Additionally, Bomel’s Architectural and Site Concrete Division completed the exterior tenant access points while working with Rios Clementi Hale Studios, the mulit-disciplinary award-winning global design firm responsible for the urban planning, architecture, interior public spaces, and landscape architecture for this first phase.
Each building is designed with adaptable, tall, uninterrupted and light-filled spaces that offer tenants the ability to customize the building interiors according to their business needs. The larger hangar-like structures feature a unique design idea. Rather than concentrating the lobbies, elevators, stairs and services at the center of the building as most commonly seen in traditional office parks, Rios Clementi Hale Studios positioned them at the perimeter of the spaces to produce more usable interior space while maximizing the indoor/outdoor lifestyle. Sliding and roll-up doors open to balconies and terraces that overlook an array of outdoor rooms, parks, and amenities with exterior stairs that provide direct access to plazas which act as outdoor lobbies and extensions of the workplace. The layout cements the design firm’s approach to creating pedestrian-friendly access throughout the project.
With over 101,750 square feet of decorative concrete, Bomel Construction installed all of the exterior hardscapes along with seatwalls, bleacher, stairs, outdoor kitchen, fire hearths and even an outdoor BBQ with a Polished concrete countertop. The majority of the walking paths, pedestrian sidewalks, courtyards use the Bomanite Revealed Exposed Aggregate System. With a project this vast, Bomanite Revealed is the product of choice for projects requiring a highly decorative and durable finish. Bomanite Revealed is an engineered concrete with sustainable finishing options that incorporate a unique binder and color blending process with specialty aggregates. Natural stone such as granite, quartz or marble along with unique aggregates such as recycled glass or porcelain are common aggregates of choice. A dark gray Bomanite Integral color with natural gray washed finishes and Ivory botticino aggregates were used to transform the open space into active pedestrian landscapes that promote social interaction and alternative spaces for work and collaboration. The overall design uses active landscape strategies including exterior amenities to diversify the outdoor workplace experience.
The natural non-skid properties and abrasion resistant aggregates result in a robust concrete with high-strength performance that has an excellent life cycle with reduced maintenance requirements. The Flight at Tustin Legacy’s installation of Bomanite Revealed for the decorative concrete landscapes is the perfect architectural exterior allocation for the working living playing lifestyle.
AWARDS: Bomel Construction Company received the 2019 Best Bomanite Exposed Aggregate Project Gold Award for their outstanding work on the Flight at Tustin Legacy.
“The El Paso Zoo celebrates the value of animals and natural resources and creates opportunities for people to rediscover their connection to nature.”
Looking for an activity to do for Earth Day, visit the El Paso Zoo and its latest exhibit, the Chihuahuan Desert. The El Paso Zoo is a 35-acre facility that houses animals representing over 220 species, including critically endangered species. Accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA), the El Paso Zoo celebrates the value of animals and natural resources and creates opportunities for people to rediscover their connection to nature.
The Chihuahuan Desert Exhibit showcases North America’s most diverse desert that encompasses the El Paso and Northern Mexico regions. The exhibit tells the story of the Chihuahuan Desert giving visitors the opportunity to experience not only the land, but the animals that surround them every day such as peccaries, wild turkeys, jack rabbits and includes key mammals such as Mexican grey wolves, mountain lions, and jaguars; birds including sand hill cranes, and barn owls; reptiles such as the bolson tortoise and coach whip snake; and arachnids such as scorpions, tarantulas, and black widow spiders.
Illustrating the habitat of an El Paso Texas Backyard, El Paso Zoo director Steve Marshall states “Our central goal with the new Chihuahuan Desert Exhibit is to inspire our visitors to go explore these biomes in our nearby, fantastic National and State Parks and even their own backyards – where they can make a personal, incredible impact on conservation.”
PGAV Destinations, a global attraction and exhibit design firm, worked on this mega million-dollar project that encompasses just 2.3 acres. “One of the greatest challenges of El Paso’s new exhibit space is incorporating an expansive set of animals into just over two acres, while ensuring that it is beautiful, tells a rich and cohesive story, and is healthy for the animals,” said John Kemper,vice president PGAV Destinations. “By overcoming that challenge, we intend to instill wonder in guests at the vast biodiversity in their own backyards and inspire them to explore the nearby wilderness and take action in conservation.”
With plans in place and everyone working towards the same design goals, Bomanite Artistic Concrete & Pools worked with PGAV Destinations and the El Paso Zoo on the decorative concrete surfaces that consisted of three different styles of implementation. To achieve the desert landscape with the natural ecosystem of plants and animals, natural stone patterns and aggregates were chosen.
As Visitors enter the exhibit they come through a recreated arroyo (a dry riverbed, which in nature, floods with water during times of heavy rain), The Bomacron Garden Stone pattern with a natural English slate texture consists of varying sizes of stones that range from ½” x 1” up to 15” x 21” providing a realistic approach to replicating the desert rock riverbed landscape of boulders down to small pebbles. A total of 15,000 square feet of imprinted concrete pattern was installed using Bomanite Sand Integral Color for the base along with varying Bomanite Color Hardeners of Autumn Brown and Forrest Brown. A Bomanite Clear Sealer was applied for future protection from the outdoor elements.
Upon entrance, visitors are greeted with a striking new Mexican Grey Wolf sculpture by artist Andy Dufford. The exhibit design was carefully composed to preserve a large number of existing mature trees; which, along with ample new shade structures, make the area comfortable and inviting for visitors while maintaining their sustainability goals. The nearby prairie dog habitat offers an interactive feature for visitors to meet the animals nose-to-nose through pop-up domes and crawl spaces.
An essential part of the overall geography and lifelike scene was an implemented 45’ mountain, inspired by incredible rock features in the nearby Hueco Tanks State Park & Historic Site. To reveal the power and dangers of storms in the nearby deserts, the mountain recirculates 10,000 gallons of water every five minutes to give visitors a simulation of a flash flood. The central habitat of the mountain range is home to jaguars and mountain lions, which allows the zoo to be able to rotate animals through the exhibits and be visible from all sides. A mesh barrier separates the big cats from habitats at the base of the mountain where numerous herbivores graze among native plants, all seemingly inhabiting the same exhibit.
An additional feature of walking paths invite visitors to pass beneath two abandoned bridges that allow jaguars to cross between the mountain and their individual exhibit spaces. The native desert trail of 850 square feet was composed of a Natural Exposed Aggregate Concrete Finish that winds its way in and out of areas and directs visitors also to covered viewing bridge decks. The dilapidated designed bridges provide shade for visitors and viewing areas of many other animals such as the Harris Hawk, Thick-billed Parrot, Ocelot and the White Nose Coati. The Bomacron 6” Random Boardwalk pattern was used with Autumn Brown Color Hardener and a Walnut Brown Bomanite Release Agent. To give it that worn aged look accents in Forest Brown were added and then the 717 square feet of textured and imprinted concrete was given a final seal.
Bomanite Imprint Systems is a cast-in-place concrete that adds a distinctive architectural touch to any project, that also incorporates durability to stand up to the toughest traffic loads and environmental conditions. You can choose from many natural textures including slate, granite, limestone, sandstone, cobblestone, used brick and wood to upgrade plain concrete or asphalt, or alternatively reduce the cost and maintenance of natural paving materials and simulate real world habitats.
“With the opening of the Chihuahuan Desert, we aim to motivate guests and their families to go and explore these stunning and varied environments in our surrounding State and National Parks,” said El Paso Zoo director Joe Montisano. “From the wonders of wildlife in their own backyards to the natural Chihuahuan Desert itself, we hope to facilitate personal connections that inspire real conservation action on the part of our visitors.”
AWARDS: Bomanite Artistic Concrete received the Best Bomanite Imprint Systems 2019 Silver Award for their creative native habitat work on the El Paso Chihuahuan Desert Exhibit
Be Brave. Take a Chance. Change Your Life. These words are the mantra of Nickel & Suede, believing that trying something new can change your life. What started out in a basement and now has become a multimillion-dollar business with a 12,500 square foot facility for their Headquarters, Nickel & Suede just opened their flagship store with many more retail spaces to come.
The Missouri local, Kilee Nickels and her husband Soren tell the story of how the idea and need for a pair of statement earrings became a bigger than life moment.
Kilee’s simple teardrop design made from a leather purchase inspired by her family’s previous belt business was an immediate success and she set about making earrings for others. Kilee and her husband, Soren Nickels founded Nickel & Suede in 2014 and have grown the company to thirty employees while keeping their product made in the United States. The Kansas City couple creates lightweight, statement earrings made of leather and high-quality materials such as 14 karat gold. They started their company in the basement of their home but quickly outgrew the space and knew they needed to expand. They reached out to Kansas City based Hufft Design, recognized as one of the top 50 design firms by Architect Magazine, to help them create a plan for growth. Hufft designed their retail store in their new 12,500 square-foot headquarters in Liberty, Missouri. The facility is a master’s course in retail design, providing a refined shopping experience that evokes the quality of the Nickel & Suede products. Hufft designed the Nickel & Suede floor system with a honey-colored wood island inset into a Bomanite Custom Polished concrete floor.
Bomanite Licensee, Musselman & Hall Contractors, LLC had previously worked with Hufft on their award-winning designs for the Tuft & Needle store in Overland Park, Kansas. The contractor and designers had worked together to choose a polishable overlay for the Tuft & Needle shopfront that would allow minimal issues with transitions, but still create a durable and attractive floor. That first installation ended up being just the ticket, so Hufft decided to utilize the same high performance self-leveling concrete polish overlay, Bomanite Modena SL in the Nickel & Suede flagship shop. The overlay was to be installed at only ⅜” thick, so preparation was key. The Musselman & Hall foreman, Johnathon Eggert, and his crew used large abrasive diamond grinders to profile the entire interior floor as preparation for the overlay. A five-man crew was able to place the entire floor in just one day using small onsite mixers. The new flooring overlay only needed 24 hours to cure before it could be finished. Diamond tooling was used to polish the floor to a satin finish. A Bomanite penetrating sealer was applied to provide resistance against stains while still keeping a low maintenance surface. The warm gray floors show no perceptible aggregate and are an integral part of the overall design aesthetic.
Soren Nickels had this to say about his experience, “We wanted to build up the concrete floor to the level of our decorative inset, while going for a refined concrete look. We were introduced to Musselman & Hall with the understanding that their creative work in concrete concepts would give us some trustworthy options. This definitely proved to be the case. We wanted to avoid any surprises, so we let our trust in their experience lead the way. We felt that the product they recommended would match what we were looking for-even with all the particulars we asked for. The team that showed up to do the work definitely proved to be careful masters of their craft. In our minds it was fine-finish work and they delivered. We even made a few last-minute adjustments that were handled with ease, flexibility and speed. ”
The finished retail interior floor is a simple, but elegant representation of the design flexibility of decorative architectural concrete and Bomanite’s diverse sustainable offering of flooring and paving systems. As Nickel & Suede continue to inspire individuals to be brave and try new things. We encourage you to imagine the possibilities and let Bomanite Decorative Concrete make those dreams a reality.
Awards & Press:
Bomanite Decorative Concrete Awards March 2020: Bomanite Custom Polishing System Bronze Award
Kansas City Business Journal Capstone Award March 2020
Local licensee, Bomanite of Tulsa, Inc. had the pleasure of installing the natural looking Bomanite Decorative Concrete starting with the water feature that stretches the length of the park along with a splash pad that emulates a riverbed of rock using a custom Bomanite Imprint System Pattern Chipped Shale along with Bomanite Cobblestone Gray color for a stylized running stream. Accent borders were placed in the pavilion area using the Bomacron Sandstone Texture in the same Cobblestone Gray color to delineate features of the paved area and support the overall design aesthetic of the park as well as provide containment for an area of white, light gray and dark gray concrete pavers.
With well over 400 distinct patterns and associated textures Bomanite has a commanding selection of imprinting tools to select from with the ability to customize your own design like that of the Owasso Redbud Festival Park landscape elements. Bomanite molds are developed from natural products such as stone or wood as well as unconventional surfaces such as metal or plastic or whatever your imagination may bring to the table. Images, logos, borders and highly custom textures are all part of the Bomanite offering. The selection and quality of Bomanite Imprinting Tools is unsurpassed in the industry as well as the quality of people that do the installations.
Superior craftsmanship has always defined the Bomanite brand and sets a Bomanite installation apart from other imprinting contractors and product manufacturers. All Bomanite Licensees receive the most extensive ongoing technical education program in the industry. And it shows in every installation as a reflection of the long standing Bomanite tradition of innovation, service and expertise. The Owasso Redbud Festival Park was a game-changer for not only the Redbud District, but for the city as a whole, bringing opportunities for the community to come together for movie nights, concerts and holiday celebrations, to name a few, where everyone can make wonderful, long-lasting memories.
