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Woodbury Community Development

Woodbury is a neighborhood of Irvine, California, located from Irvine Boulevard to Trabuco Road, between Jeffrey Road and Sand Canyon Avenue.  Several recreational facilities have been developed within the community. The Woodbury Community Park, a public access park contains two baseball diamonds, two basketball courts, a soccer field, a community center building, and a 3,000 sq ft Tot-Lot, which is part of The Commons.

The Commons, in the heart of Woodbury, is a 30 Acre social gathering spot, with an elementary school, and a 9-acre private recreational facility, with four tennis courts, a basketball court, a beach volleyball court, three swimming pools, a water garden, and a great lawn.

The Woodbury Community Development was in need of access points for emergency vehicles. Without compromising the landscape design, the Grasscrete Concealed System was chosen for its aesthetics and durability. Grasscrete was installed along the Jeffrey Trail and adjacent to the trail to allow emergency vehicle access to the rear of residences for a quicker response time.

The Fully Concealed Grasscrete System, part of the Bomanite Pervious Concrete Systems was also employed as medians to provide wider turnaround areas for fire trucks and maintenance vehicles. Additional areas installed around The Commons clubhouse and volleyball court allow greater accessibility in case of an emergency.

By forming a concrete lattice of solid and void, Grasscrete combines the strength and rigidity of a single, structural framework while still providing enough access to soil, water, and sunlight to support sustained vegetation. The result is a vegetated permeable surface that remains drivable when needed, capable of supporting the parked weight of a fully loaded fire truck. Grasscrete offers the ability to provide year-round access for a variety of applications requiring structural paving surfaces without compromising the aesthetics of the exterior landscaping while accommodating a variety of needs for the Woodbury Community Development.

Von Karman Office Complex

The office complexes at 16845 Von Karman Ave, Irvine California received an emergency vehicle access area that uses the Bomanite Grasscrete System. Bomanite Licensed contractor, T.B. Penick & Sons, Inc. worked with Wolcott Architecture to select the sustainable pervious concrete system that would work best with the intended use.

The Partially Concealed Grasscrete System is engineered to provide long-term durability, low maintenance and structural strength. Access around or to buildings for fire trucks or other emergency vehicles are typically concealed with grass and defined with curbs, bollards or landscaping to complement the design of the structures and walkways.

The combination of concrete, steel and aggregate interlock ensures that Grasscrete can bear isolated loads; such as downriggers placed in an emergency situation with no support blocks. The robustness of the system minimizes the potential for failure during critical use.

Grasscrete, pervious concrete, constructed with one time use formers is time proven. Because of its structural integrity and continuous reinforcing, Grasscrete is not subject to the differential settlement that can occur with precast blocks and thin plastic products. The sustainable Grasscrete Molded Pulp Former System, used for the office complex project, has been engineered and field proven to bear the continuous weight of up to 114,000 pound vehicles along with such customized applications as military tank use or light speed rail track access– even when the sub-base becomes saturated making this ideal for this Emergency Access area.

Essex County Estate Driveway

The owners of this grand estate in Essex County, Massachusetts installed several decorative concrete systems throughout their property. The estate contains an indoor swimming pool, BBQ house, several patios and courtyards, a Barn and two garages, plus a full indoor basketball court that doubles as a Hockey Rink.

After working with Premier Concrete Construction, LLC on their garage project and reviewing additional needs, the homeowner acquired their services for a Pervious Concrete System. The homeowner wanted a pervious cobblestone driveway for the tradesmen estate entrance. The driveway needed to reflect the exterior design of the home and be able to handle storm water runoff while supporting the weight and use of delivery vehicles.

Bomanite Grasscrete is the green alternative to standard concrete surfaces providing a variety of landscape solutions while maintaining a sustainable green product design used for emergency access lanes, delivery access routes, overflow parking areas, and for intermittent drainage channels that help prevent erosion.

Grasscrete has been used as an exposed utilitarian product for functional applications and as a concealed system with vegetation such as grass or native ground cover installed over the concrete allowing consumers to mitigate drainage issues while maintaining strong structural integrity for some of the heaviest vehicles to operate unencumbered. The Partially Concealed Grasscrete System provides the differential spacing you see with cobblestones giving the homeowner the look desired.

The Grasscrete single-use molded pulp formers were shaped and laid on the sub grade at approx. 1,300 sq. ft. to create the access for the service vehicles. Concrete was poured and placed over the formers and then voids were opened after the concrete hardened, allowing for grass to be planted.  Grasscrete offers the ability to provide year-round access for a variety of applications requiring structural paving surfaces without compromising the aesthetics of the exterior landscaping.

AWARDS: Best Bomanite Grasscrete Project – Silver Award

Private Residence Artist Studio

The residential backyard space, adjacent to an Artists/Musicians studio located in Massachusetts, required an access area to accommodate large delivery vehicles. More importantly, it required a permanent solution for stormwater management and yet still maintain landscape aesthetics necessary to help nurture the creative minds of the occupants.

Bomanite Licensee, Premier Concrete Construction worked with the homeowner in planning out the space for the Bomanite Pervious Concrete Grasscrete System. Grasscrete not only augmented the landscape architecture by handling the stormwater runoff but added benefit of a very long lifespan. Grasscrete has been a Bomanite System for over 40 years with installations throughout North America in all climate types. Grasscrete can handle the harsh New England winters and has zero potential for freeze-thaw or clogging issues. The Bomanite Grasscrete Molded Pulp Former System has been engineered to provide long-term durability, low maintenance and structural strength.

The backyard project incorporated 3,000 square feet of the Grasscrete System. A subbase was prepped to facilitate stormwater management via proper drainage and to create the outer forms of the project. Next, the Molded Pulp Formers were placed with rebar for continual reinforcement. The concrete then poured, leveled, broom finished, and allowed to dry. Voids were created to put the final finishing touches on the entire project. At the time of installation, the owner was contemplating having half of the Grasscrete fully Concealed and the half closer to the building Partially Concealed.

Grasscrete can be used as an exposed utilitarian product for functional applications or as a concealed system with vegetation such as grass or native ground cover installed over the concrete. This system allows you to mitigate drainage issues while maintaining strong structural integrity that allows for some of the heaviest vehicles to operate unencumbered. A perfect solution for this Artist Studio space.

Premier Concrete Construction won the 2018 Bomanite Gold Award for Best Grasscrete Project.

Sprouts Farmers Market Parking Lot

The Sprouts Farmers Market Store located in Denton,Texas incorporated a void structured Grasscrete parking lot into their build and design. The company needed a pervious pavement system that could control storm water drainage, stand up to emergency vehicles as well as offer a standard parking lot with delineated parking stalls.

Working with the local Grasscrete Installer, Texas Bomanite, and the engineer, Winklemann & Associates, Inc.the parking lot was designed and installation of 14,775 square feet began with the layout of the formers to fit the space and requirements. The subbase was prepped prior to the formers being laid. Reinforcing rebar was set and concrete poured next to provide the stability and strength needed. Former tops were then removed and voids filled with stone.

The Grasscrete Stone Filled System was ideal for Sprouts. The Stone filled system is perfect for sustained traffic areas and can be filled with no-fines stone for maximum percolation rates while providing a low maintenance option that is both functional and environmentally friendly. Stone filled systems are capable of draining at rates of up to 480 inches per hour with 100% retention of water possible with correct design.

Sprouts practices “Responsible Retailing” in sourcing, operations and building. All stores are built to LEED Silver specifications. The void structured Grasscrete system contributes to LEED requirements due to the reduction in heat island effect, management of storm water runoff, recycled content used in the application process as well as the concrete and sub-base, the long lifespan and the low maintenance required. Grasscrete Systems are highly sustainable with a very low life-cycle cost and the ability to be completely recycled and used in a future project.

Navajo Elementary

PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS/INFORMATION

This project is an example of a parking lot application requiring a pervious concrete surface that could withstand the New Mexico climate while dealing with exceptional water volume and providing the necessary structural capacity.

The Navajo Elementary School is located on a flood plain just west of the Rio Grande river not far from downtown Albuquerque. The area is subject to periodic flooding due to a combination of its topography, localized heavy rain and poor draining soils. The existing parking lot flooded fairly regularly with up to 6 inches of standing water present for extended periods of time. This posed safety and access issues for parents and teachers utilizing the parking lot daily. The Bomanite Grasscrete System was selected as the product to meet their needs due to the historically poor performance of traditional no fines or pervious concrete in the region.

The utilization of storm water retention chambers under approximately 20,000 square feet of the lot combined with the clear stone bed achieved the necessary capacity to handle the heavy rains. With a conventional stone filled void Grasscrete application capable of storing 3 inches of rain, this revised system was capable of several times this volume. This not only solved the parking lot flooding problem but gained additional capacity to pump water from areas surrounding the school when required.

The school itself, as well as the parking lot, were renovated at the same time while open so construction vehicles such as large delivery trucks, forklifts and waste disposal trucks had to gain access to the parking lot shortly after placement. This was achieved through the use of a concrete mix that had an average compressive strength of 4200 psi at 7 days and an ultimate strength in excess of 6000 psi while still utilizing the desired 26% fly ash replacement of portland cement. This mix in conjunction with the 8” on center #3 bar utilized in the formers allowed the slab to be opened to light vehicles within 36 hours and all vehicles within 72 hours of concrete placement.

While the main surface area is easy to navigate both by vehicle and foot, handicap access was provided using traditional broom finished concrete. This finish ran through the parking area where required with the surface pitched to drain into the Grasscrete System. This type of composite system is both cost effective and practical providing smooth uninterrupted access where necessary but still achieving the required amount of pervious surface.

Hamilton Pool Park Service Road

PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS/INFORMATION

Description:

Bomanite Grasscrete Systems provide a variety of landscape solutions while maintaining a sustainable, “Green” product design. As a cast-in-place, monolithic, pervious concrete pavement that is continuously reinforced to provide superior structural integrity, Grasscrete offers the ability to provide year-round access to a variety of applications without compromising surrounding aesthetics or environment.

Bomanite Licensed Contractor, Bomanite of Austin, installed Grasscrete for a much needed upgraded emergency vehicle access lane for Travis County’s Hamilton Park. Hamilton Park receives 75,000 visitors a year and the service road needs to be accessible during all times of the year. The Hamilton Pool Preserve is a historic swimming hole which was designated a preserve by the Travis County Commissioner’s Court in 1990. Located 3/4 mile upstream from its confluence with the Pedernales River, Hamilton Creek spills out over limestone outcroppings to create a 50 foot waterfall as it plunges into the head of a steep box canyon. The waterfall never completely dries up, but in dry times it does slow to a trickle. However, the pool’s water level stays pretty constant, even during periods of drought. Due to the nature of the the pool trail, it’s 1/4 mile in length and includes a series of rock steps descending into the canyon, there are times when immediate access is needed.

Grasscrete offers the ability to provide year-round access for a variety of applications requiring structural paving surfaces without compromising the aesthetics of the exterior landscaping. Grasscrete is a very sustainable product that can employ a large recycled material content both in the form of aggregate and binder such as fly ash or slag—its lifespan is indefinite and can be recycled itself to form the aggregates for future Grasscrete applications; providing Specifiers with a truly sustainable, eco-friendly system to accommodate a variety of needs.

Bomanite of Austin offers a variety of decorative concrete products and systems, and is dedicated to the highest standards of quality and service. Offering everything from imprinted concrete, exposed aggregate and sustainable Grasscrete Systems, Bomanite of Austin has the architectural concrete solution for you. For more information on this project or other questions, contact Bomanite of Austin at 512-491-0202 .

St. Mikes School

Bomanite Grasscrete Systems provide a variety of landscape solutions while maintaining a sustainable, “Green” product design. As a cast-in-place, monolithic, pervious concrete pavement that is continuously reinforced to provide superior structural integrity, Grasscrete offers the ability to provide year-round access to a variety of applications without compromising surrounding aesthetics or environment.

Bomanite Licensed Contractor, Green Pervious Systems was contacted to provide a solution to an existing entry courtyard that was landscaped with gravel and plants. Due to heavy foot traffic across the landscaped areas it was impossible for the school to maintain the upkeep of the landscaping. Bomanite Grasscrete Systems was selected to replace the gravel courtyard for several reasons, first, it would allow for foot traffic across the courtyard without destroying the planted grass. Second, the courtyard receives storm water runoff from the surrounding buildings and Grasscrete allows the water to be absorbed rapidly in the confined courtyards and provides a porous surface to stockpile snow that is removed from the walks in the winter months.

The Grasscrete System consisted of a lose ¾” gravel aproximately 6” thick for the drain bed which was covered with a filter fabric / weed barrier. The filter fabric then was covered with a 2” sand leveling course for the Molded Pulp Formers. The formers are placed to grade and concrete is placed on the formers and screeded level with the tops. The concrete was given a broom finish and after the concrete had set the tops of the formers are removed and clean topsoil was used to fill the forms. The soil was left approximately ½” low to prevent compaction of the planting material from foot traffic. The forms were then filled with grass seed to complete the system.

Grasscrete offers the ability to provide year-round access for a variety of applications requiring structural paving surfaces without compromising the aesthetics of the exterior landscaping. Grasscrete is a very sustainable product that can employ a large recycled material content both in the form of aggregate and binder such as fly ash or slag—its lifespan is indefinite and can be recycled itself to form the aggregates for future Grasscrete applications; providing Specifiers with a truly sustainable, eco-friendly system to accommodate a variety of needs.

Los Alamos National Bank

Bomanite Grasscrete Systems provide a variety of landscape solutions while maintaining a sustainable, “Green” product design. As a cast-in-place, monolithic, pervious concrete pavement that is continuously reinforced to provide superior structural integrity, Grasscrete offers the ability to provide year-round access to a variety of applications without compromising surrounding aesthetics or environment.

The Bomanite Licensed Contractor, provided a much needed storm water drainage solution to the newly installed parking lot of the Los Alamos National Bank. The Bomanite Grasscrete System was chosen for selected areas and installed around the perimeter to allow for a central drainage channel. The installation consisted of a lose ¾” crushed concrete base approximately 6” thick for the drain bed which was covered with a filter fabric / weed barrier. The filter fabric was then covered with a 2” crusher fines leveling course for the Molded Pulp Formers. The formers were placed to grade and concrete was placed on the formers and screeded level with the tops. The concrete was given a broom finish. After the concrete had set the tops of the formers were opened up and clean ¾’ minus stone was used to fill the forms and allow for drainage of storm water.

Grasscrete offers the ability to provide year-round access for a variety of applications requiring structural paving surfaces without compromising the aesthetics of the exterior landscaping. Grasscrete is a very sustainable product that can employ a large recycled material content both in the form of aggregate and binder such as fly ash or slag—its lifespan is indefinite and can be recycled itself to form the aggregates for future Grasscrete applications; providing Specifiers with a truly sustainable, eco-friendly system to accommodate a variety of needs.