Category Archives: Parks

Beyond Concrete Inspirational Sky Column Sculpture Project

August 11, 2022

For over forty years Arlington County, VA, has prided itself in its commitment to public art which is now a distinctive aspect of the visual landscape. Sky Column Sculpture, an integrated work of public art, is a shining example of the county’s success. The sculpture, designed by renowned artist Douglas W. Hollis, was commissioned and approved by the Arlington County Board with a budget of over half-a-million-dollars. Sky Column is situated nearby to the new Long Bridge Aquatics & Fitness Center, and close to Capital Bikeshare. Arlington County Board selected Coakley & Williams Construction as the Main Contractor for the 47 million dollar Aquatics & Fitness Center, and Bomanite licensee Beyond Concrete was chosen to implement the public art in decorative concrete using the vision of Project Designer, Douglas W. Hollis. The initial task for Beyond Concrete, the fabrication of the stainless-steel framework, proved to be one of the most difficult and challenging specs for Beyond Concrete’s portion of the project.

Installed at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Beyond Concrete completed the entire intricate project with a limited crew of 4, on time, and within budget. That alone is a testament to their expertise and resilience. Working with the artist, Bomanite Exposed Aggregate Systems was selected and Bomanite Revealed™ was chosen. The stainless-steel frame was fabricated and mounted over a structural concrete base. Four inches of infilled concrete was placed into the stainless-steel framework. Bomanite high performance epoxy and epoxy sand was installed for the Bomanite Revealed™ ½-inch bonded topping. The Bomanite Revealed™ topping was installed, as designed, with concentric bands of Bomanite Revealed™, starting from almost black in the center and continuing with lighter gray bands in the outer bands. Each Bomanite Revealed™ section had a custom mixture of aggregate that coordinated with the color of the band installed. After the aggregate was exposed all the exposed stainless steel had to be delicately hand ground on both edges to define the Bomanite Revealed™ infill.

Bomanite Revealed™ Creates Captivating Concrete

Bomanite Revealed™ is an architectural exposed concrete designed for outdoor applications with varying exposure depths using decorative aggregates that are bound in a unique binder and applied to primed concrete. The Bomanite Revealed™ System utilizes preblended binders, light fast pigments, specialized admixtures, topical treatments and advanced application procedures to produce a finished product that showcases the seeded aggregate. Unlike most surface seeded installations, Bomanite Revealed™ provides 100% exposure of the decorative aggregate with no native sands detracting from the finished appearance. The final product is unique alternate 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 necessary. Due to the use of the Bomanite Revealed™ binder, these highly durable surfaces are available in a multitude of standard and custom options, including cost effective light-reflective formulations that reduce heat island effect, hard to achieve colors for concrete like white, blues and greens along with water resistant formulations for wet areas and other specialty applications.

Bomanite Licensees Define Decorative Concrete Craftsmanship

As a Bomanite licensee, licensed in all five Bomanite Systems, quality craftsmanship and a commitment to excellence in architectural decorative concrete have defined Beyond Concrete for more than 30 years. Established in 1984, Beyond Concrete serves a diverse range of clients across all of New Jersey, the five boroughs of New York, Long Island, eastern Pennsylvania and down to northern Virginia, Maryland, and Washington D.C. It is a family-owned business now in its second generation of leadership. Owners, architects, landscape architects, interior designers, and general contractors have all come to appreciate Beyond Concrete’s commitment to being a creative solutions provider through in-depth project analysis. All those years of expertise helped Beyond Concrete achieve and exceed the expectations of this project’s stakeholders. Contractor selection is the most important aspect of ensuring the job is done right and choosing Bomanite licensees is the right choice.

Night Winds Make Sky Column Mesmerizing

At night, up-lights at the base of the artwork are programed to brighten and dim in response to real-time variations of the wind. Tapered masts of stainless-steel tubing in the formation of a column project fifty feet high from the ground, appear to become one with the sky, and quiver with the wind. Viewed from a distance, Sky Column acts as a beacon, drawing people to the park while creating a gathering place for visitors to the adjacent aquatic center. It can be seen as a reminder of the fragility and interconnectedness of life and our ability to support and nurture it when we work together as a community, especially when faced with challenges such as a pandemic or climate change.

Musselman and Hall Create Bomanite Con-Color Exposed Aggregate Splash Pad for Historic Foot District

August 4, 2021

Community Park, located in Jefferson City, MO is a 3.5-acre neighborhood park that children and adults alike are enjoying. Jefferson City Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department opened the much-needed renovated park before officially complete so that residents could start exploring the park features for family outings and outdoor getaways. Landworks Studio, LLC provided master planning and construction documentation services as part of a complete renovation to meet the needs of the nearby residents. The master plan showcases the history of the surrounding Historic Foot District and offers design elements to bring a diverse population together to participate in outdoor activities and gatherings.

A Place to Gather and Play

Community Park is unrecognizable from its former life as an empty grass plot, it has now been turned into a modern play area that includes a large climbing feature made of a complex web of ropes with a tall metal tube slide that takes center stage. Along one side runs a pair of zip lines, a unique style of teeter-totter, large net swings, interactive play sculptures, obstacle course-type with climbing bars and platforms, toddler’s play mounds and climbing logs are additional features found within the park. The full park is covered in turf, including a small hill with two built-in slides. The park has two pavilions on either side of the restroom buildings that provide shade for individuals or groups. Continuing with the decorative and fun design some of the tabletops under the shelter were given a checkerboard pattern treatment.

Colorful Splash pad Represents Historic Foot District

Closest to the parking lot is the cooling colorful splash pad with multiple jets of water shooting out of the ground. The water is on a minute-long timer to save water when it’s not being used, but nearby are three buttons on pedestals to turn them right back on when they’re in use. In order to complete the splash pad design and ready it for use, Bomanite Licensee, Musselman & Hall Contractors, LLC were called in to put the finishing touches in place. Landworks Studio had specified a Bomanite exposed aggregate finish with several Bomanite concrete stains, the local winning bid contractor, Sircal Contracting, was unable to fulfill the Bomanite specification portion therefore they formed and installed the gray bands while Musselman & Hall finished up the 995 square foot pour with Bomanite Sandscape® Texture colored with seven different Bomanite Con-Color penetrating stains in Beech, Coal Gray, Mist Green, Paprika, Steel Blue, Travertine Beige and Sienna. Stencils were applied to create the historical representation of the foot district.

Slip Resistant Durable Hardscapes Create Safe Environments

When applied to concrete, Bomanite Con-Color will provide variegated and translucent coloring effects without creating a film or coating that can be worn away. Bomanite Con-Color is a viable alternative to traditional acid-based stains when a larger color palette or ease of installation is required. Preventing free-moisture migration and increased surface abrasion resistance along with no VOC/VOS content were just a few of the benefits that led Landworks Studio to specify the Bomanite product. Used in conjunction with the Bomanite Sandscape Texture Exposed Aggregate System, specifically designed for outdoor applications provided a palette of slip-resistant consistent texture and durable hardscape.

Award Winning Decorative Concrete

Musselman & Hall Contractors, LLC earned the 2020 Best Bomanite Exposed Aggregate Systems Project Silver Award for this $2.5 Million Park Rehabilitation using the Bomanite Sandscape Texture Exposed Aggregate System with Bomanite Con-Color creating a colorful decorative concrete splash pad for everyone to enjoy now and into the future at the Community Park.

Belarde Company Installs Stamped Concrete Bridge for Downtown Bellevue Park Inspiration Playground

December 18, 2020

The expansion and redesign of Bellevue’s Downtown Park was a long-time vision for civic leaders that has finally come to completion. Bomanite Licensee, Belarde Company installed a variety of stairs, sidewalks, and plazas throughout the 21-acre site as well as a key Bomanite architectural concrete feature in the newly designed Inspiration Playground.

The Bellevue Rotary Club was instrumental in helping to expand the original playground in the Downtown Park to include an innovative play space where kids of all ages and abilities can play and explore at their own pace. With the Design of Carol Henry from Design Concepts, the park is dedicated to fun, imagination and learning, and presents a universally accessible play experience that creates an overall truly Inspiration(al) Playground. The new playground offers interactive features that engage the senses, create inclusiveness and accommodate children of all abilities and their caregivers.

Belarde Company’s expertise lends to a creative small wooden bridge made of stamped concrete. The bridge planks and sides highlight the Bomacron “12” Boardwalk” pattern from the Bomanite Imprint Systems collection. The installation of a horizontal concrete imprinted surface by itself is fairly straightforward. However, constructing all the surfaces to replicate wooden planks required special attention to detail. Constructing the bridge required a monolithic horizontal and vertical concrete pour, strip color, imprint and finish process. Even the ends of the ‘planks’ utilized the Bomanite system. In addition, the bridge was embedded in the banks of an artificial stream water “Splash Pad” play area. Belarde Company constructed the stream bed using a hand-seeded multi-colored glass and aggregates system on its surface.

The project presented several challenges beyond the multiple surfaces of the bridge that included a very aggressive schedule. The owner, the City of Bellevue, was adamant that the project had to be completed before their annual Fourth of July Celebration which had been held at the Downtown Bellevue Park for over 30 years. Adding to the schedule constraints and to the inherent difficulties of installing various architectural concrete systems, Bellevue recorded its wettest winter ever! The Belarde Company team built a temporary tent structure over the bridge’s work area to adapt to the rain ensuring that a high-quality project would be delivered on time. By working closely with the City of Bellevue and Design Concepts, Belarde Company’s experience, attention to detail, and ability to coordinate, ensured the satisfaction of all parties and more importantly, a unique playground that the children visiting this unique interactive play area in Bellevue can enjoy for years to come.

To learn more about the Bellevue Park: https://bellevuewa.gov/city-government/departments/parks/parks-and-trails/parks/bellevue-downtown-park

Watch the inspiration behind the design: https://youtu.be/KEP-FtwFLOo

Premier Concrete Services Provides Educational Element for Centennial Center Park with Bomanite Decorative Concrete Systems

October 21, 2020

Centennial Center Park is an 11-acre City owned All-Weather Park that is located adjacent to the Centennial Civic Center and continues to be a destination for visitors throughout the state of Colorado. Along with traditional park structures, Center Park features various historical and educational elements. The park’s theme is “100 Years of History, 10,000 years of Human Habitation”. The family-friendly park includes amenities such as a large green amphitheater, educational and unique play areas, three simulated-stone climbing walls, a large picnic shelter building with a fireplace, a coffee house, and areas that have information peppered throughout about the state in the form of educational boulders and decorative concrete hardscapes that include sandblasted text and graphics about Colorado history.

Bomanite Licensee, Premier Concrete Services had the privilege to be able to showcase their decorative concrete craftsmanship in this beautiful unique park. Working with Turner Construction to make the Landscape Architect’s, Design Concepts, plans come to fruition for the city of Centennial, several Bomanite Systems were chosen for the hardscape. Intricate areas of the park incorporate a mix of Bomanite Imprinted Slate Texture pattern that surrounds bands of Bomanite Sandscape Texture and Bomanite Revealed Glass Exposed Aggregate Systems. The Bomanite Imprinted Texture was also incorporated into seat walls for relaxing with family and learning about history.

The main plaza showcases the historical timeline of the Cherry Creek Basin, including fun facts and a map of the Cherry Creek Watershed. The Bomanite Revealed Exposed Aggregate System uses 4 different colors of glass creating a concrete river running through the park. Bomanite Revealed™ is a sustainable finishing option that incorporates a unique binder and color blending process with specialty aggregates that works for projects requiring a highly decorative and durable finish.

The amphitheater’s design incorporates elements that represent the four periods of human history: Lithic, Archaic, Formative, and Classic. The “Colorado Statehood Walk” displays interesting facts about Colorado, while the “Viewfinder Walk” is an interactive trivia challenge that takes visitors on a quest throughout the Park– highlighting unique points of interests both inside and outside of the Park. Bomanite Sandscape Texture Exposed Aggregate an architectural concrete finishing option that utilizes specialized concrete mix designs containing select sands and aggregates was the choice for the sandblasted graphics and text in corresponding colors that provided the informational content.

Offering creative designs and coloring options, Bomanite Sandscape Texture produces consistent texture and durable hardscapes that were desirable for the Center Park design. Natural stone such as granite, quartz or marble along with unique aggregates such as recycled glass (used for the concrete river and accents throughout the park) 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.

Not just a place to play, but also a place to learn, Centennial Center Park is a treasure-trove of history and trivia earning them several awards with Premier Concrete Services receiving the 2019 Bronze Award – Best Bomanite Exposed Aggregate Project Under 6,000 Sq Ft. The scope of work included over 1,700 sf of Bomanite Imprinted concrete and over 3,400 sf of Bomanite Exposed Aggregate Systems.

The Bomanite Decorative Concrete 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 for your creative artistic expression!