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El Paso Zoo Chihuahuan Desert Exhibit

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. 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.

Visitors are greeted with a 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 while maintaining sustainability goals. An essential part of the overall geography and lifelike scene was an implemented 45’ mountain, inspired by 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 simulate 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 sq.ft. 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 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 sq. ft. 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. To visit the zoo and view the animals virtually visit http://www.elpasozoo.org/zoo-cameras

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

Jones Residence Driveway

The Jones family was looking to update their driveway from the standard concrete that was installed throughout the neighborhood. Located in Burlington, Ontario the homeowners contacted local Canadian Bomanite Licensee, Bomanite Toronto Ltd to discuss details, options and colors for their exterior concrete project. Bomanite Toronto had 1,830 square feet to work with for the homeowners. Along with the driveway, the front porch design was to be incorporated for an overall cohesive look.

After visiting Bomanite Toronto’s showroom and reviewing several samples, color combinations, different patterns and textures, the homeowners chose the Bomacron Yorkshire Stone imprint pattern set at a 45 Degree angle for an eye-catching design to enhance their driveway and front patio entrance. Yorkshire Stone is a pattern and texture from the Bomanite Imprint Systems collection that allows for a clean, traditional Ashlar look with a texture similar to English Slate, but with more striation giving an overall Sandstone-like appearance. Yorkshire Stone is appropriate for all applications where consistent depth of tool joints and texture are desired. Yorkshire Stone has a distinct, but light texture that is enough to have a good slip resistance with a light sealer application, that is durable enough and works with the Canadian winters, great for underfoot while taking in the groceries or for kids playing outside. The Yorkshire Stone Pattern is combination of Individual stones available in both a Horizontal and a 45-degree texture in sizes varying from 6” x 24”, 12” x 12”, 12” x 18”, 18” x 18”, 18” x 30”, 24” x 24”, 30” x 30” and 36” x 36” providing a custom pattern and custom fit to any design.

Bomanite Toronto had to work with and around the existing concrete walkway that traveled throughout the residential community in order to install the new driveway entrance. In doing so they collaborated with the homeowners to choose contrasting and complimentary colors that would be cohesive with the existing walk and the house colors. Bomanite Shale Gray Color Hardener and a Gray Release Agent were chosen for the driveway and patio steps. A border was created along the driveway and patio area using Bomanite Brownstone Color Hardener. The patio steps were shaped, textured and colored with the Brownstone Color Hardener giving it a popping edge detail and adding character to the home’s exterior, matching the house nicely.

Bomanite Imprinted Concrete surfaces are the most durable surfaces of their type on the marketplace. Correctly placed and finished concrete combined with Bomanite Color Hardener results in long lasting installations that will incur decades of use. The homeowner’s choice of using Bomanite Decorative Concrete as an innovative design is a smart investment that will outlast the plain concrete installed in their residential community.

Only Bomanite cast-in-place architectural concrete provides the beauty of natural paving with the durability and affordability of concrete. With more than 200 creative patterns and an endless palette of colors, Bomanite offers an unmatched range of innovative design options to turn ordinary concrete into something extraordinary.

AWARDS: Bomanite Toronto won the 2017 Best Bomanite Imprinted Project under 12,000 Sq. Ft – Silver Award for their extraordinary concrete work.

Private Residence Exterior Hardscape – Fresno, CA

What happens when an Interior Designer grabs hold of the great outdoors? A creative free-spirited, bright and relaxing space that’s interchangeable with the seasons and gathering conversations. Lisa Davis, Interior Designer, owner of ESB2, worked with her client to style and design the exterior of their home. The homeowner had a blank canvas for the front and backyard space, making it ideal and at the same time a large task to get everything just right that expressed the homeowner style and family’s activities.

Davis, familiar with hardscapes chose to work with Bomanite Licensee, Heritage Bomanite located in Fresno, California. Viewing several samples of architectural concrete for design and color that would fit into a cozy cobblestone cottage feel, Davis visited Heritage Bomanite’s showroom to help with narrowing down the choices. Working with Davis’ design plan, Heritage Bomanite transformed the front and back yards by not only installing a decorative concrete driveway, back patio and walkways, but also roof structures, a BBQ island and entertainment center, a fire place, a fire pit, artificial grass around the pool and lots of stone veneer columns and seat walls. One of the first elements was to move the garage door from the side of house to the front to allow for caters to fully set up in the garage to create a better flow and function for entertaining their large extended family and friends. From the back of the house it looks like an extension of the original design of the home.

The beautiful imprinted concrete chosen, set the tone for the design with a Bomacron English Sidewalk Slate pattern that has a European flair and old world charm lending to the cobblestone effect desired by the client and made cohesive by Davis’ exterior hardscape plan. The imprinted pattern runs the length of the driveway and front entryway set in a Bomanite Sand Color Hardener and a Bomanite French Gray Release Agent to compliment the clean lines and stone of the exterior of the home. Bomanite Color Hardener provides durability beyond vehicle access, its tough enough to stand up to the wear and tear of inclement weather, kid scooters and catered events, it can handle any kind of traffic. The Bomacron English Sidewalk Slate pattern was continued in the backyard patio, dining and entertaining and play areas providing long-term and multi-functional uses with an overall installation of 4,659 square feet.

Working with a color palette of warm oranges and bright blues, Davis intertwined pops of the customers favorite colors in pool lounge chairs, furniture cushions and pillows, planters, shade umbrellas and awnings. The color was even incorporated into the concrete painting that hangs on the fireplace, created and given to the customer by Heritage Bomanite for being such a blessing to work with. Davis’ design became a personal journey to make sure her client had the best of the best, even hand painting shutters herself. Inspired by tranquility, simplicity and movability, Davis created an exterior hardscape that provides the client with a home that works for all seasons, intimate settings or large gatherings.

Tower Plaza Hartford, CT

Connecticut Bomanite Licensee worked with Hoffman Architects and the general contractor Downes Construction to install several Bomanite Imprint System Patterns throughout the pavilion of the commercial buildings located in Hartford, CT.

With little over an acre, the Bomanite Basketweave Brick Pattern (no texture) and Bomacron Medium Ashlar Slate pattern were installed with the traditional Bomanite Color Hardener and Releases to provide durablity, excellent wear resistance and fade resistance. Bomanite Color Hardener is the most effective coloring method to achieve your desired results in the installation of Bomanite and Bomacron Imprinted concrete surfaces.

This large project took over 73 concrete pours to complete a total of 46,574 square feet. The plaza and Pedestrian Bridge required replacement of the paving, drains, lighting and waterproofing and modification of the existing guardrail to make it code compliant. Hoffmann Architects were retained to redesign the plaza, addressing structural and functional concerns. Design professionals provided conceptual design development, schematic design, contract documents, and construction administration services for a full plaza and pedestrian bridge reconstruction, from waterproofing and paving to lighting and seating.

Connecticut Bomanite Systemsinstalled the Bomanite decorative concrete with 31,450 square feet of the Bomanite Basketweave Brick pattern with an individual stone size of 4” x 8” that established the majority of the plaza area design. The Bomanite Basketweave Brick pattern has a smooth surface and is a great replacement for worn out paving and masonry units.

6,468 square feet of the Bomacron Medium Ashlar Slate Pattern was incorporated into the overall plaza surface design along with an integrally colored gray band surrounding the Ashlar Slate pattern. The Medium Ashlar Slate pattern was also used within the Pedestrian Bridge and wheelchair access ramps. An additional 8,656 square feet of of saw- cuts were performed as well. Several areas contain the new drainage system that works smartly with the overall design.

Connecticut Bomanite Systems earned the 2018 Bomanite Imprint Systems Bronze Award for their laboring and detailed work for this plaza renovation using Bomanite Decorative Concrete.

Canobie Lake Park – Castaway Island

Canobie Lake Park is New England’s Amusement Park known for its FUN! Realizing the need to create more FUN, Canobie Lake Park’s Castaway Island underwent a large expansion.  The Tiki resort-like atmosphere now features a wave pool, 60-foot water slides, a Tidal River, a Rain Fortress, a kid friendly lagoon, a Caribbean inspired restaurant with tiki bar and private cabana rentals that include a television, refrigerator and lockers.

This 100 year old family operated park has been keeping up with the times with renovations and updates throughout the years. Bomanite licensee, Harrington Bomanite has been a part of those additions for more than 30 years.  Harrington Bomanite has installed so many upgrades and enhancements throughout the park and was presented with its greatest challenge of the “Tidal River Project” an addition to the 45,000 square foot Castaway Island expansion. The overall renovation using the Bomanite Imprint Systems included multiple Bomanite stamped concrete patterns and color hardener and release agent colors installed as the decking, plaza, restrooms and water areas.

The most challenging aspect was to achieve a drainage system in the 2+ acres site, that satisfied state and local environmental concerns, while at the same time maintaining aesthetics demanded by the owner (and designer) Raymond Captell. Pavers were not part of the drainage solution. After months of brainstorming, Captell came up with an 8’ wide “meandering brook” concept of stamped concrete. The 8’ area was designed with a 4′ wide center area of the Bomacron Garden Stone pattern, then a 12″ wide drain grate on each side, which in turn was bordered with a 12″ Bomanite Textured Border. Below this 8′ wide area would be a 4′ deep engineered system of graded aggregates for drainage.

The challenging part for Harrington Bomanite was not just the pouring and stamping, but the forming. Harrington Bomanite accessed the design perimeters and was able to figure the best way to achieve Captell’s winding waterway concept and bring it to life with a custom aqua blue color hardener to give it the final appearance of water in a real-life brook. In the end, the two serpentine drains, totaling 380 linear feet, were able to infiltrate storm water and minimize runoff, while at the same time adding another aesthetic dimension to the overall deck.

The custom blue colors were also used in several tones and shades to mimic the ocean in the water reservoir and bathroom areas. Restroom concrete floors were textured with the Bomacron Sandstone Texture imprint and the bottom of the Tidal river with the Bomacron Light Slate Texture imprint. The beach areas were simulated with the Bomacron Regular Slate Texture and Light brown tones of Color Hardener and Release Agent to get that perfect sandy beach vibe. One final touch in creating that Tiki-resort design is the Bomacron 11.5” Boardwalk pattern running throughout the resort including the Lifeguard walk, thus making it the perfect Island getaway.

Harrington Bomanite won the Outstanding Bomanite Project Grand Award and the Best Bomanite Imprint Systems Gold Award for their craftsmenship of the Canobie Lake Park Castaway Island Water Ride.

To start planning your island destination getaway visit: www.canobiepark.com

Zuber Residence Remodel – Pool Deck and Cabana

The Homeowner wanted an entertainment space that would work for friends, family and client gatherings. He visited the local Bomanite showroom to review samples, colors, systems that would bring his vision to life. In wanting to create a backyard oasis, he chose several different systems in complimenting colors that provided an enticing atmosphere.

The backyard pool deck and patio of 2,200 square feet were cast-in-place and stamped with the Bomacron Slate Texture for the majority of the space. Bomanite Sand Color Hardener with a Light Brown Release Agent were used to provide a natural look for the Slate pattern.

The Bomanite Exposed Aggregate Antico Process System was incorporated and used to separate the gathering areas, creating cozy niches. An outdoor firepit and seat walls with steps were given the decorative concrete treatment as well.

The Cabana houses a hi-end Chef’s kitchen with a polished concrete countertop, built in fireplace, four TV’s and areas for dining, visiting and entertaining top-notch guests. The flooring was designed using the Antico Process in a Light Brown color with Sawcuts to provide that element of separation and design.

The homeowner’s remodel also incorporated a pool waterfall, a Bocce Ball court and outdoor restroom to complete the look.

Mesquite Rotary Club – Grove of Honor

Together with the Mesquite Rotary Club, Bomanite Licensee, Texas Bomanite completed an area of reflection to honor exemplary members of the Rotary Club featuring three natural stone vertical elements with bronze commemorative plaques, park benches and a large “Rotary International” logo in the center of Debusk Park. Debusk Park is a 42.5-acre park featuring a 1.44-mile walking/running trail, 2 playgrounds, a baseball field, 2 large pavilions with 18 picnic tables, and ample open space.

The sidewalks that lead into the Rotary Club Grove of Honor are made of stamped and stained concrete using the Bomacron Running Bond Used Brick pattern and Bomanite Desert Tan Stain. These sidewalks lead visitors to the benches. The next finish completed was an Exposed Aggregate Sandscape Refined System in a Sand color and light exposure. It runs underneath the 3 stone vertical elements and a quarter of the way around the large “Rotary International” logo in the middle of the project. The remaining ¾ of the area directly bordering the logo is Sandscape Refined with Painted Desert color. Finally, the large “Rotary International” logo was created by sandblasting and staining in black the Rotary symbol, set against a Sandscape Refined background with a Brass color hardener. The entire area is surrounded by a 6” border in a Sand color hardener with a broom finish.

Rotary International, a worldwide organization of business and professional leaders, was established in 1905. The clubs in the organization provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations and help build goodwill and peace.

Marriott Courtyard Hotel

The Marriott Courtyard Asheville Airport Hotels entryway and guests terrace received a much needed beautiful makeover.  Bomanite Licensee, Carolina Bomanite, was called in by the general contractor, Pro Construction, on advice from the owner. The owner, Touchstone Hospitality, was having a workmanship issue with the first pour of stamped concrete by a local contractor. Lack of skilled labor, lack of multiple tools led to a very poorly poured terrace off the meeting area. The client had used Carolina Bomanite before on a Hampton Inn Hotel project and was familiar with the workmanship and asked if they could remedy the issues.

Carolina Bomanite was able to review the project and recommend corrections that were in need for standard regulation pours and stamped concrete work. All of the curb and gutter at the porte-cochere was 11” to low and the area leading to the front door exceeded 5% slope. In addition, a small smoking patio sidewalk had to be reworked with a twist in order to get enough length to keep the slope under 3%. All of these items were noticed by the Carolina Bomanite team. Carolina Bomanite first took control of the grades, and then made some adjustments to the pattern and the project turned out great. The Bomacron English Sidewalk Slate Pattern and Bomacron Slate Texture were used for the porte-cochere area with Bomanite Caramel Color Hardener and Bomanite Forest Brown Release colors. For the circular terrace area, the Bomacron Running Bond Used Brick pattern was installed with a Bomanite Brick Red Color Hardener.

Touchstone Hospitality was very pleased with the work done. Guests are now welcomed with a properly installed, safe, stylish stamped concrete entrance and inviting relaxing stamped concrete terrace.

8N Lofts Student Living Community

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.