Category Archives: Hospitals

Musselman & Hall Modifies Front Walkway at Stowers Institute with Two-Toned Sandscape Texture Paving

Musselman & Hall modified the front walkway at Stowers Institute by installing two-toned Bomanite Sandscape Texture Paving.The Stowers Institute for Medical Research was founded by Jim and Virginia Stowers, who sought to create a highly collaborative, intellectually stimulating environment where scientists could freely share their ideas and create a synergy that would spur great discoveries.

Jim trained as a physician and Virginia had a career as a registered nurse, giving the couple a profound understanding of the medical field and the role that medical research plays in the treatment and prevention of diseases.  They both had personal experiences with cancer as well, which solidified their decision to dedicate their personal fortune toward creating one of the world’s most influential centers for foundational research.  Jim Stowers said “Virginia and I are both cancer survivors and we know firsthand the fear and loneliness that come with the diagnosis of a life-threatening disease.  So, it was natural to think about how we might offer help and hope to others facing cancer and other diseases.”

Durability and Beauty by Design

The entry walkway at the Stowers Institute medical research facility features Bomanite Sandscape Texture decorative concrete.The Stowers Institute research campus officially opened in November 2000 after five years of construction.  Almost 21 years later, the facility grounds needed a few upgrades, one of which was replacing the entry walkways.  Musselman and Hall Contractors worked with local landscape architecture firm Confluence to develop the site improvement plan.  Utilizing samples and mock-up design, Musselman and Hall presented the Stowers Institute with a plan to renovate the entry using Bomanite Exposed Aggregate Systems.  Bomanite Exposed Aggregate Systems provide innovative systems, longer-lasting products, and a variety of mix designs that combine needed durability with desired beauty.

Bomanite Sandscape Texture was the product of choice to create the decorative concrete paving surface at the Stowers Institute.   Sandscape Texture by Bomanite is designed for outdoor applications where an alternate to conventional concrete finishes is desired.  The finished product resembles sand blasted concrete and is used in combination with a variety of color and staining options, creating consistent texture and durability.

The entry walkway at the Stowers Institute medical research facility features Bomanite Sandscape Texture decorative concrete.The Stowers Institute needed to restore the paving under the covered front walkway and the design provided by Musselman and Hall included demolition of the old surface and replacement of the entry sidewalks with a two-toned, integrally colored Sandscape Texture paving pattern.  This 7,400 square foot installation was broken into two phases to accommodate operations at the Stowers Institute.

Additionally, Musselman and Hall commissioned a very detailed sandblast stencil through Floormaps to represent the logo of the Stowers Institute.  The sandblasted logo was an extremely important detail and had to reflect the Stowers logo accurately.  Musselman and Hall provided a mock-up design, and the client was blown away by the detail and accuracy.  This successful execution resulted in a long-lasting tribute to the couple that started it all – Jim and Virginia Stowers.

Lasting Legacies

 

With more than a century of construction heritage dating back to the late 1800’s, Musselman & Hall Contractors is known as one of the mid-west’s longest-standing general contractors.  They have been building the surrounding communities over the last century, while simultaneously building and establishing long-lasting relationships for the past 100 years.

The Stowers founded the Stowers Institute with a vision of providing cutting edge research to help stamp out diseases and their 2-billion-dollar investment in the Institute has allowed it to continue its mission to aid humanity.  Even as the second of the founders passed away recently, their legacy stands firm and their desire and mission to give people hope for a better life is being carried forward.

Award Winning Decorative Concrete

The entry walkway at the Stowers Institute medical research facility features Bomanite Sandscape Texture decorative concrete.

 

 

Musselman and Hall Contractors values long-term customer relationships, creating true connections with their customers and clients.  This attention to detail and personalization of design at the Stowers Institute earned them the 2021 Silver Award for Best Bomanite Exposed Aggregate Systems Project.  Their skillful execution and the stunning sandscape finish complements the surrounding gardens and will provide a long-lasting concrete paving surface as well as an enduring tribute to Jim and Virginia Stowers.

The entry walkway at the Stowers Institute medical research facility features Bomanite Sandscape Texture decorative concrete.

The entry walkway at the Stowers Institute medical research facility features Bomanite Sandscape Texture decorative concrete.

Bomanite Decorative Concrete Contractors Give Back to the Community

Bomanite Cares across the U.S.A., Bomanite licensed decorative concrete contractors make a difference in their communities

Humanitarian, hero, and three-time heavyweight champion of the world, Mohammed Ali once said, “Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.” Revered for his accomplishments in the ring and beloved the world over for his sharp wit and big heart outside of it, Ali’s legacy is that of The People’s Champion. David Edwards also enjoys a challenge and relishes the chance to give back. As the co-owner of Edwards Concrete Bomanite in Winter Garden, Florida, Edwards has been in the concrete business for more than 40 years. His firm specializes in decorative concrete applications and between the heat and humidity and Florida’s frequently difficult soil conditions, every job his firm does seems to have a few challenges.

“We do stamped concrete, exposed aggregate, polished, colored, and stained concrete,” says Edwards, who has been a Bomanite licensed contractor since 1989. His team of approximately 25 has been devising decorative concrete solutions across central Florida for four decades in service to theme parks, commercial contractors, and public institutions of all sorts and scales. “We don’t shy away from difficult jobs, and while I wear a lot of hats, I enjoy getting into the design side of the work quite a bit.”

When the COVID-19 shattered the world’s sense of normality in early 2020, Edwards was inspired to make a meaningful contribution to his community and quickly harnessed his team’s talents to put a little happiness in the lives of others. “My wife and I grew up in Ocoee, Florida and have lived here our whole lives,” says Edwards. “When the pandemic hit, we wanted to do something for the local health care workers who were putting their lives on the line for people in this community.” Edwards first approached Mayor Rusty Johnson about a charitable giving project he had in mind for the Orlando Health – Central Hospital in Ocoee, Fl. Once the seed was planted, Edwards and his team quickly conceived of a way to enliven the building’s entrance with a decorative token of esteem. In a group effort, Edwards secured material donations from his long-time local suppliers of ready-mix concrete, lumber, and metalwork to assemble the resources required.

The result is a beautiful patio garden next to the building’s staff entrance where health care workers can catch a moment of reprieve from the rigors within. A bold blue heart of Bomanite Exposed Aggregate Concrete in a glass finish is surrounded by blocks of Portland cement seeded with mother of pearl flakes and white chip granite. Strips of artificial turf segment the concrete sections to make the whole patio a refreshing pop of vibrant color that offers a warm welcome and a calm, quiet respite to the hospital’s healthcare workers. “We absolutely appreciate the healthcare workers on the front lines of this pandemic,” says Edwards with genuine satisfaction. “This resting area was meant to help them replenish themselves amid the stress and challenges of their jobs. We were fortunate to be considered an essential service in the early stages of the pandemic and wanted to show our support for the healthcare workers and our community.”

Tyler Balch is a second-generation owner of Texas Bomanite in Dallas. “Since the firm was founded in 1987, one of our core beliefs has been giving back to the community we serve,” says Balch of the firm’s operational foundation. Texas Bomanite employs close to 100 people and completes commercial architectural concrete projects across most of Texas from offices in Dallas and Austin. When the firm was approached about a small but significant polished concrete project for The American Fallen Soldiers Project in Addison, Texas, Balch knew immediately that their cause was worthy of charitable consideration.

A 501c3 non-profit organization, The American Fallen Soldiers Project honors and memorializes American military service members who made the ultimate sacrifice with an original, hand-painted portrait of the fallen that is presented to their family. The brainchild of artist Phil Taylor, each portrait is undertaken to provide Gold Star Families with a small token of comfort and compassion in their time of loss. When the organization leased a new office and gallery space in a suburban office park and inquired about a polished concrete floor, Texas Bomanite decided to do it at a discount. “They wanted a polished concrete floor with a black orchid dye to give the space a very high-end, museum-quality feel,” shares Balch of the scope of work. “Because of the condition of the existing concrete slab, the work involved a lot of patching and grinding to prep the floor to be polished. We felt this was a cause we would be proud to get behind, so we donated time and materials equal to about 28 percent of the total cost. With Bomanite you are getting the best of the best, so making this an affordable option for a very worthy recipient made everyone involved feel fantastic.”

In Aurora, Colorado Bomanite licensed contractor, Colorado Hardscapes, supported a feel-good project of a different sort. Founded in 1947, Colorado Hardscapes has been Front Range Colorado’s premier decorative concrete contractors since the industry’s inception. When they learned of a local effort by the Make-A-Wish Foundation to build a sensory garden and playground for a local 7-year-old boy, Colorado Hardscapes jumped on board.
“The City of Aurora teamed up with the Make a Wish Foundation and a whole host of others to develop a fully-accessible playground with a sensory focus at Red-Tailed Hawk Park near the child’s home. We knew right away this was something we wanted to be a part of,” says Project Manager, Christy Bol. The child’s wish of wishes was simply to go to the park to play and laugh with other children and making that dream come true was a joy and honor for all involved.

The 8,000 SF site features a sensory wall composed of a tactile composition of shapes, textures, and colors, a wavy walk that undulates like a roller coaster, and swings, spinners, and slides of several sorts. A Bomanite Topping Systems – Micro-Top XT was used to make the sensory wall pop with color, while a Bomanite imprint texture mat added a high-touch surface to the rising wall. Bomanite Con-Color was also used to stain the concrete to add swooshes of whimsical flair to flatwork surfaces.“We donated the materials and labor to do  the wavy walk and stained concrete design throughout the park and did the vibrant, textured seat wall at cost,” says Bol. “We were also able to secure a donation from our concrete supplier, Aggregate Industries, for all of the concrete we installed.” Beyond the giving back, Bol shares that the project called upon Colorado Hardscapes’ artistic capacities. “There was only a sketch to start with, so our team got to be creative in conceptualizing the parts and pieces of this one-of-a-kind sensory wall.”

From functional to fantastic, these projects explore the many interesting and innovative possibilities in the world of decorative concrete while illuminating a common bond between Bomanite’s nation-wide network of licensed contractors. “From our perspective, we feel like we have been blessed to be a part of this great community-enhancing project,” finishes Bol. “Charitable giving is a great way to give back and show our commitment to the people and places our projects serve in a long-lasting, meaningful way.”

Written By Sean O’Keefe

Heritage Bomanite’s Excellence in Workmanship Earns Award for Valley Children’s Hospital Exposed Aggregate Landscape Plan

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.

Valley Children’s Healthcare Network implements their Landscaping Master Plan Phase 2 with Bomanite Decorative Exposed Aggregate Revealed and Sandscape Texture Systems installed by Heritage Bomanite located in Fresno, ca creating an artistic yet functional design for fundraising events and vehicle traffic.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.

Valley Children’s Healthcare Network implements their Landscaping Master Plan Phase 2 with Bomanite Decorative Exposed Aggregate Revealed and Sandscape Texture Systems installed by Heritage Bomanite located in Fresno, ca creating an artistic yet functional design for fundraising events and vehicle traffic.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.

Valley Children’s Healthcare Network implements their Landscaping Master Plan Phase 2 with Bomanite Decorative Exposed Aggregate Revealed and Sandscape Texture Systems installed by Heritage Bomanite located in Fresno, ca creating an artistic yet functional design for fundraising events and vehicle traffic.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.

Valley Children’s Healthcare Network implements their Landscaping Master Plan Phase 2 with Bomanite Decorative Exposed Aggregate Revealed and Sandscape Texture Systems installed by Heritage Bomanite located in Fresno, ca creating an artistic yet functional design for fundraising events and vehicle traffic.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.

PROJECT PROFILE DOWNLOAD

Valley Children’s Healthcare Network implements their Landscaping Master Plan Phase 2 with Bomanite Decorative Exposed Aggregate Revealed and Sandscape Texture Systems installed by Heritage Bomanite located in Fresno, ca creating an artistic yet functional design for fundraising events and vehicle traffic.

Heritage Bomanite wins Gold Award for Cancer Institute Fountain

The Clovis Community Medical Center has a newly built Cancer Institute. California’s Central Valley cancer patients no longer need to travel across the state to receive optimal care. The quality of care offered at the $68 million Community Medical Cancer Institute is superior to any other center currently offered in the state of California and rivals prestigious cancer treatment facilities on the East Coast, according to Dr. Kenneth Forster, the Chief of Medical Physics for Community Medical Center.

Clovis Community Medical Center Creates Cancer Institute Healing Garden Water Fountain with Bomanite Coloration Systems Integrally Colored Concrete by Heritage Bomanite

What makes the Clovis Cancer Institute remarkable is it’s high-tech and patient-centric upgrades. State of the art PET/CT machines, rare hi-tech MRI machine which is 1 of 6 in total throughout the United States that caters to the claustrophobic patient, Cyberknife and Varian TrueBeam technology for precise treatment with less side effects can be found at this cutting edge facility.

The Clovis Community Medical Center strived to make the patients treatments as comfortable and convenient as possible. The overall aesthetics of the building inside and out make a difference. On a clear day, patients visiting the infusion center can see the beautiful Sierra Mountains along with a view of the Cancer Institutes desert landscaping on outdoor balconies and the base of the building. Colored decorative concrete walkways, outdoor dining areas, mood lighting, green space and a soothing water feature complete the layout.

Clovis Community Medical Center Creates Cancer Institute Healing Garden Water Fountain with Bomanite Coloration Systems Integrally Colored Concrete by Heritage Bomanite

Heritage Bomanite had the pleasure of being involved in creating elements of the landscape designed by Terry Broussard & Associates. Working with Vineyard Pools, Heritage Bomanite built the water fountain by forming all the walls, sourcing the hard to locate epoxy coated rebar and poured the Bomanite integrally colored concrete. Bomanite Integral Colors consist of colored admixtures and are developed for use in ready-mixed concrete or cementitious toppings. Color added into the mix (white or gray-based cement) is uniform throughout the depth of the concrete, producing durability and longevity of color as the concrete wears the color remains. The product is made of the highest quality pigments, as well as other ingredients designed to enhance the color and improve the pigment dispersion, workability and finishing performance of the concrete. Bomanite Integral Colors can be used with the installation of Bomanite and Bomacron cast-in-place colored, textured and imprinted concrete paving and flooring or utilized for other colored concrete flatwork applications (trowel finishes, salt finishes, broom finishes, rotary finishes), as well as vertical surfaces and other types of architectural concrete. The Bomanite Coloration Systems finish for the fountain was smooth troweled. The brass letters surrounding the top of the fountain remind everyone that Every Moment Matters.

AWARDS: Heritage Bomanite was awarded the 2018 Best Bomanite Specialty Project Gold Award for their purposeful work on the Clovis Cancer Institute Water Fountain.

Clovis Community Medical Center Creates Cancer Institute Healing Garden Water Fountain with Bomanite Coloration Systems Integrally Colored Concrete by Heritage Bomanite

CMC Mercy Hospital Designs Serene Healing Garden with Bomanite Textured Concrete

The Dr. Sanford and Lois Benjamin Healing Garden is a welcome haven enhanced and architecturally engineered using Bomanite Imprint Systems with Bomacron decorative concrete patterns installed by licensee, Carolina Bomanite. What used to be a plain gray concrete pad adjacent to the emergency room waiting area at Carolina Medical Center-Mercy in Charlotte, NC, is now a beautiful 4,000 square foot garden where loved ones and hospital staff can relax and heal. The serene area has a courtyard, sitting areas, walkways and plenty of landscaping.

CMC Mercy Hospital Heals with a Bomanite Imprinted Concrete Serene Garden with Walkways, Courtyards, Vegetative Vertical Wall, Scultpures and Soothing Nighttime Lighting

Carolina Bomanite worked carefully with the Landscape Architect, Bloc Designto turn the space into a tranquil garden, designed with intentional and specific elements that aid in therapeutic benefits to all cognitive aspects of a person including emotional, physical, and spiritual. The 1,500 square feet of Bomanite imprinted concrete has multiple textures, colors, and patterns including Bomacron Regular Slate and Bomacron Small Sandstone. Pebbles and stones were strategically placed and included into the walkways to provide a tranquil, but easy to navigate setting. The text in the decorative concrete circle was “etched” into the concrete and Bomanite Con-Color was used to highlight the thought provoking words.

CMC Mercy Hospital Heals with a Bomanite Imprinted Concrete Serene Garden with Walkways, Courtyards, Vegetative Vertical Wall, Scultpures and Soothing Nighttime Lighting

A donor wall recognizes the people who supported the donor funded project. Prominent in the garden is an outdoor pergola, a vegetated vertical wall (called a Living Wall), focal point sculpture, lush vegetation, and seating.  As stated in this Charlotte Observer article, “The garden is meant to be a healing space where staff and caregivers can take a break and where patients and family members can come to get out of the hospital atmosphere and heal. Patients who are waiting for test results or recovering from surgery may find the garden to be a peaceful environment during stressful times.”

During construction, the location and access to this small area directly outside of a busy hospital emergency entrance created a difficult work environment for the crew. Most days their trucks had to park two blocks away in a small back lot behind the hospital. From seemingly chaotic stressful challenges of the construction site emerged a truly beautiful healing garden that features gorgeous decorative concrete for this busy uptown hospital. The Bomanite Imprinted Concrete System is not only pleasing to the eye, it obviously also helps in the healing of body and spirit for patients, visitors and staff.

CMC Mercy Hospital Heals with a Bomanite Imprinted Concrete Serene Garden with Walkways, Courtyards, Vegetative Vertical Wall, Scultpures and Soothing Nighttime Lighting