Category Archives: Universities

Connecticut Bomanite Systems Sidewalks Modernize Museum

April 29, 2024

Following the Yale Peabody Museum’s sesquicentennial anniversary in 2016, the Museum was delighted to announce a major renovation project, the first renovation of the space since 1925. This initiative aims to reinvent the Peabody for the 21st century and beyond, cementing its status as a center for cutting-edge research, exceptional education, and awe-inspiring exhibitions. From the skeletons of enormous dinosaurs to cultural artifacts spanning the globe, natural history collections are more than mere curiosities—they serve as the bedrock of our understanding of the natural world. The construction and transformation, beginning in 2020, took over four years to complete.

Yale University engaged Turner Construction Inc. as the General Contractor and Centerbrook Architects and Planners Centerbrook as the Project Designer. Because of a long term relationship with the University, Connecticut Bomanite Systems was selected to create additional matching decorative concrete sidewalks connecting the museum building and terraces to the parking lot and to the previous work they did in the Sachem Woods Park. In the beginning, Connecticut Bomanite Systems created more than 20 samples to get one that was finally chosen. The result is a custom yellow/brown aggregate from New England and a custom integral color.

Bomanite Exposed Aggregate Systems Blend Durability with Design

Bomanite Exposed Aggregate Systems are revitalizing the traditional decorative concrete industry with a fresh approach that incorporates cutting-edge systems, more durable products, and diverse mix designs. This method marries the structural resilience needed in many construction applications with the aesthetic appeal that designers and homeowners covet. Originally, exposed aggregate finishes were the understated yet practical choice, known for their unassuming, sometimes irregular appearance and tendency to lose visual appeal over time as the aggregates dislodged from the surface.

However, the landscape of decorative concrete has dramatically changed. Leveraging advancements in technology and creative product development, Bomanite LLC has introduced innovative solutions that reimagine this classic decorative concrete technique. Today, products like Bomanite Alloy, Bomanite Sandscape® Texture, Bomanite Sandscape Refined, and Bomanite Revealed™ offer an array of modernized mixes. These options come with an extensive selection of colors, textures, and aggregate choices, ensuring that each installation is both unique and tailored to meet specific design visions and functional demands. These new systems not only enhance the visual aspect of concrete but also improve its longevity and durability, making the finished product more appealing and reliable than before.

In essence, Bomanite Exposed Aggregate Systems are transforming a once traditional method into a contemporary design staple. With these advancements, Bomanite is positioned at the forefront of the industry, providing cost-effective and robust solutions for a wide range of design needs. The modernized systems deliver on both aesthetic and functional levels, offering designers and architects the tools to unlock the full potential of concrete in any project. Whether for commercial spaces, residential areas, or large-scale urban developments, Bomanite’s solutions exemplify how concrete can be both beautiful and brilliantly functional.

Award Winning Decorative Concrete

For this project Connecticut Bomanite Systems received the 2023 Best Bomanite Exposed Aggregate Systems Project Honorable Mention. Their concrete craftsmen focus on finding creative solutions to technical challenges in every project. They have consistently met and surpassed expectations for all stakeholders, a testament to their enduring relationship with Yale University. This long-standing partnership reflects their commitment to excellence and their ability to adapt and deliver distinguishing results. They played a crucial role in the comprehensive project to reinvent the Peabody for the modern era and future generations, enhancing the experience for students, faculty, and visitors.

Musselman & Hall Provide Grand Winning Bomanite Polished Concrete for Grain Valley High School

June 10, 2020

With school out for the summer that leaves room for designers and contractors to have more readily available access for specified improvements and upgrades. Growing School Districts looking to restyle, update or renovate can trust the Bomanite Modena SL system for low maintenance and cost saving benefits. The Grain Valley High School originally built in the late 1990s finished its phase 4 expansion to accommodate its rapidly growing student body. Expansion brought much needed instructional and collaboration space, a game changer for students. With a large amount of community support, the School took into consideration the need to provide a low maintenance flooring with an element of design to embody the schools colors and team spirit.

Hollis + Miller Architects worked with Bomanite Decorative Concrete Licensee, Musselman & Hall Contractors, LLC on several other past projects and knew that they could come up with a custom winning design. They searched through a number of samples, library binders, created idea boards and pulled together a combination of polished concrete and different aggregates that would give the students academia pride in their newly expanded school.

Phase 4 creates a new main entrance, media center, lecture hall, administration area, and courtyard for student use. The new entrance to the “Eagle Way” promenade is flanked by a huge monolithic concrete wall dressed out in the school colors of royal blue and white. The entrance’s 2,890 sq. ft. hallway contains two shades of vibrant blue glass aggregate and eye-catching pieces of sparkling mirror glass polished to a brilliant luster. After the concrete base slab was poured, it was topped with a two-inch thick Bomanite Modena SL topping slab, aggregates added and after a brief curing period the floor was then polished to the perfect grit and shine.

Additionally, included in the project were 1,945 sq. ft. of a refined “cream polish” surface (Class A aggregate exposure with a Level 3 polish) and 4,335 sq. ft. of a perfect “salt and pepper” finish (Class B aggregate exposure with a Level 3 polish). Musselman & Hall crews also polished three sets of concrete steps with a three-line nose detail engraved into the concrete. The newly created grooves were filled with “Grain Valley Blue” epoxy to bring some school spirit and color into the Bomanite cream polished finish designed surface areas.

The Bomanite Modena SL Custom Polishing System is an engineered interior cementitious topping that is blended with selected aggregates and then ground and polished to the desired gloss level. The Modena system transforms existing or worn surfaces into beautiful walkways, school hallways, showrooms, restaurants and lobbies and is available in a range of colors and patterns using decorative sawcuts. Additional topically applied stains and a variety of aggregates, such as recycled glass or porcelain along with regionally sourced materials, are all options in creating a beautifully designed, environmentally friendly and functional floor. The Modena system is a low-cost alternative for renovation projects and provides the durability and strength for this exceptionally long lifespan system. With the industry’s lowest lifecycle costs, low to zero VOC and minimal maintenance requirements, Modena by Bomanite Polished Concrete was the optimal choice for Grain Valley’s expansion and renovations.

Musselman & Hall Contractors, LLC received several awards for their exceptional work at Grain Valley High School. They were awarded the Bomanite Outstanding Grand Award as well as the Bomanite Custom Polishing Systems Gold Award. More than a century of construction heritage dating back to the late 1800’s distinguishes Musselman & Hall Contractors, LLC as one of the mid-west’s longest-standing general contractors. From railroads to roadways, through two world wars and building our nation’s infrastructure, Musselman & Hall Contractors, LLC has been a leader in horizontal construction of every scale. With offices in Kansas City, St. Louis and Wichita, today Musselman & Hall Contractors, LLC is perhaps best known for their work in architectural concrete where they apply Bomanite systems and products to help architects and contractors realize exceptional decorative flat work on high-profile projects such as the Sprint Center, Kauffman Stadium and The Legends at West Village.

Musselman & Hall Contractors, LLC maintains a comprehensive Bomanite systems showroom at their Kansas City and St. Louis offices, which allows owners, designers and builders to see and feel each product first hand during design. A legacy of valuing long-term relationships over short-term profits has earned Musselman & Hall Contractors, LLC the trust and admiration of countless clients as the regional leader in exceptional construction.

Bomanite Color Hardener Durable Enough for Courtyard Spaces

June 15, 2017

8N Lofts, is a service-driven student living community located near the city’s Historic Haymarket District on 8th and N Streets. The lofts include a sky deck with a jumbo LED TV, fitness facility, outdoor climbing wall with firepit and seating areas, private courtyards and grilling stations to name a few amenities all along with a 4,200 square foot all-inclusive clubhouse.

Bomanite Licensee, Stephens and Smith Worked with CSO Architects and Hausmann Construction, on creating an outdoor entertaining space that was a perfect fit for the defined areas for using Bomanite decorative concrete for the defined areas. Two separate courtyards were created with fields of different colors and textures. The courtyards serve as bike storage with a pergola and have multiple areas like sitting area around the fire pit, ping pong table, rock climbing, outdoor kitchen and a wood deck to enjoy the fresh air.

The Bomacron Herringbone Used Brick and Bomacron Running Bond Used Brick patterns were used with a circular design in the shape of the number eight. Bomanite Color Hardeners in Coquina and Natural Gray with Bomanite Release Agents in Mexican Tile and French Gray complement the building colors and outside décor.

Bomanite Color Hardener provides increased durability, wear resistance and fade resistance, just what is needed for an outdoor entertainment space, student living complex.

JayHawks Shine with Bomanite Integral Colored Polished Concrete

April 18, 2017

The Kansas University School of Business Capitol Federal Hall serves as a destination point for students who are determined to move business forward. From state-of-the-art technology to research labs, this will be a hub for collaboration and innovation.

Bomanite Licensee, Musselman and Hall Contractors worked closely with the local architecture firm, Gastinger Walker, during the design development phase of the project allowing the project specifications and samples to be fine-tuned, making sure this 166,500 square foot four story facility was at the top of its class. The work completed earned Musselman and Hall the Gold Award for the Best Bomanite Custom Polishing Project at the 2017 Bomanite Conference. The Kansas University School of Business Capitol Federal Hall has 20 classrooms, a 350 set auditorium and nearly two dozen collaborative spaces.

The atrium lobby, common area, and gathering space was completed with the Bomanite Custom Polishing Renaissance system. The large common area in the atrium lobby was designed to be a living room-like “entrepreneurship incubator” with 15,800 square feet of 4” thick integrally colored topping slab. The slab was integrally colored with Bomanite’s Coal Gray. The slab was ground to a “salt & pepper” aggregate exposure and polished to a semi-gloss finish. The placement of the topping slab included multiple sets of cast-in-place steps as well as an ADA accessible ramp.

The centerpiece of the project, and building as a whole, is the 24’ diameter Jayhawk symbol at the west entry of the atrium lobby. The Jayhawk involved the installation of an intricate zinc inlay with a polishable overlay. To learn more about the KU School of Business and see the development of the facility visit: http://capfedhall.ku.edu/

The Smart Choice for School Cafeterias is Bomanite Polished Concrete Floors

December 14, 2016

The design team for Upper Iowa University wanted a flooring option for their student center which achieved the same look as coated acid stained floor without the maintenance the coating requires. When approached by the construction management firm with the clients wants and needs, Bomanite Licensee, Concrete Arts located in Hudson, WI proposed Bomanite polished and dyed concrete floors for the answer.

Together it was decided that the Bomanite Patène Teres level two polished concrete system would be used. A custom blend of Bomanite Warm Honey and Bomanite Malt Brown Concrete Dyes were used to create a stained patina look, with Turquoise accents. The polished concrete floors deliver low maintenance and durability for thousands of students that walk the floors throughout the year.

Upper Iowa University was so thrilled with the look of the floor it decided to utilize it in the new Student Book Store and Liberal Arts Center. The book store incorporated a similar polished floor look and had polished concrete counter tops for the bar in the Student Center installed. The Liberal Arts building utilized precast stair treads with an open-riser look as well to create even more continuity from space to space.