Preparing for the winters is a must in Black Hawk Colorado. In wanting to make a safe transition area from the outdoor environment to the indoors is what Monarch Casino Resort & Spa was thinking when it came time for their renovation. After 5 years of construction, the Monarch Casino, opened to the public in November 2020. With the build out managed by PCL Construction, the casino doubled its size to provide expanded amenities to their customers including new luxury hotel space, new restaurants and a world class spa and pool facility. To help welcome their guests, the casino also built a new parking garage with an attached high-end Porte Cochere.
First impressions are everything
What better way to welcome people to the luxury casino than to provide a luxury drop off area. Bomanite Licensee, Colorado Hardscapes was contacted in mid-2018 by PCL Construction to install over 14,000 sq. ft. of decorative concrete in the new Porte Cochere area. Designed by MBA Architecture (One Studio D+A) Bomanite stamped and stained concrete systems were a part of the specification from day one. Working closely with the project’s designer, including providing multiple rounds of concrete sampling and a visit to Colorado Hardscapes’ design center, the architect honed in on two different coordinating colors for the Bomanite Imprinted Concrete System and two colors chosen for an added textural finish of Bomanite Exposed Aggregate System Sandscape Texture. The mix of colors and textures provided specific visual paths to keep cars in specific lanes and to designate curbs and pedestrian friendly areas.
The selected colors and texture of the Bomacron English Sidewalk Slate were picked to enhance the stone veneer and copper covered columns in the area. V cut joints were used throughout all the concrete for the control and decorative joints. A radiant heat system in the concrete keeps the entire area warm and free of snow during the winter months. The Bomanite Sandscape Texture Exposed Aggregate System adds an additional slip resistant benefit.
Every project has its challenges
In this case, the challenge was the snowmelt system. Coordination with the other sub-contractors, specifically the snowmelt subcontractor was a full-time job for the Colorado Hardscapes team. Claiming workspace for decent size daily pours while maintaining slopes and jointing layout took a lot of preplanning and quality control. Pouring 4 different concrete types through the radiant heat system was a forming challenge. In the end with their expertise and craftsmanship Colorado Hardscapes was able to provide a consistent looking concrete installation across the entire area.
Hardscape Satisfaction
After a year of fulfilling the punch list requirements, Colorado Hardscapes was very proud of the final outcome of the Bomanite Decorative Concrete products they installed for the Monarch Casino. The Bomanite Company awarded Colorado Hardscapes the 2020 Best Bomanite Imprint Systems Project Silver Award for creating a comfortable environment for customers with timeless architecture that provides highly detailed precise decorative concrete work for the Monarch Casino Resort & Spa.