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Rolla University Drive Realignment

Page 10 – LASN October Digital Magazine

 

The realignment of University Drive was a key project under the Move Rolla Transportation Development District, aimed at addressing long-standing traffic congestion concerns in Rolla, Missouri.  With transportation consistently rated as a top priority for city residents, this project was critical in improving mobility and safety.  The new design also connects major activity hubs like Phelps Health and Missouri University of Science & Technology (Missouri S&T), while enhancing the economic potential of the area.

The project was more than just a functional improvement.  It aimed to establish a sense of place and provide aesthetic enhancements, making Rolla’s primary transportation routes not only more efficient but also more attractive and inviting.

Bomanite Sandscape® Brings Texture and Durability

At the heart of the project’s aesthetic appeal was the construction of a large roundabout featuring 15,000 square feet of decorative median islands. Musselman & Hall installed the decorative concrete elements using Bomanite’s Sandscape® Exposed Aggregate System. This system, known for its durability and distinctive texture, was paired with Bomanite Brownstone Integral Color and Bomanite Color Hardener in Rattan to create a warm, natural look that complements the surrounding environment.

Intricate Hexagon Pattern Highlights Design Precision

One of the most unique features of this project was the intricate hexagonal pattern designed for the roundabout. Musselman & Hall placed integrally colored concrete and broadcast the color hardener, creating a custom 15-inch hexagon template that was used to sandblast the surface. This complex two-tone design, illustrated by the design team, emphasized the pattern and added depth and texture to the median islands.

The sandblasting process alone took two weeks to complete, requiring extreme attention to detail.  Aligning the linear hexagonal pattern around the oblong shape of the roundabout presented a significant challenge, as any misalignment would have been immediately noticeable.  However, Musselman & Hall’s meticulous workmanship ensured a seamless transition, showcasing their skill and precision.

An Award-Winning Decorative Concrete Installation

The Rolla University Drive Realignment project not only met its functional goals of easing traffic congestion and enhancing transportation routes but also delivered stunning decorative concrete features that the community can take pride in.  Musselman & Hall’s hard work was recognized with the 2022 Gold Award for Best Bomanite Specialty Project, a testament to their craftsmanship and dedication.

This project exemplifies how thoughtful design, paired with innovative materials like Bomanite’s Sandscape® Texture, can transform a transportation project into a community landmark.  The new roundabout not only improves safety and mobility but also offers an aesthetic experience that Rolla residents can enjoy for years to come.

Downtown Bellevue Park

The expansion and redesign of Bellevue’s Downtown Park was a long-time vision for civic leaders.  Belarde Company installed a variety of stairs, sidewalks, and plazas throughout the multi-acre site.

A key architectural concrete feature is what appears to be a small wooden bridge at the Children’s Inspiration Park area.  At closer inspection the bridge is made of concrete.  The bridge planks and sides highlight the Bomacron “12” Boardwalk” pattern from the Bomanite Imprint Systems.  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.  The project had 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

Tulsa County Family Center for Juvenile Justice

Local Bomanite Licensee, Bomanite of Tulsa, Inc. installed the exterior decorative concrete walkway and front entry for the newly constructed Tulsa County Family Center for Juvenile Justice. The 150,000-square-foot Family Center has three main components. The Juvenile Court, Juvenile Bureau and the multiple agencies that support them are in a two-story building on the west side of the property. The detention facility, with its gym, classrooms and other components, are on the east side. In between sits a courtyard and recreation area that includes a basketball hoop and sports courts.

The new facility reclaims a dilapidated industrial area of downtown Tulsa. With a large footprint and multiple areas needing a comprehensive design, Selser Schaefer Architects were asked to take on the project. The Juvenile Bureau of the District Court promotes innovative social and rehabilitative services with dignity and respect for children and their families. With this mission in mind, Selser Schaefer Architects created a design that enhances the complex interaction and creates an environment of transparency and hope while incorporating creative applications of economical materials that fit within the existing warehouse context and bridging the gap to the adjacent Tulsa Arts District.

Working with Selser Schaefer Architects, Bomanite of Tulsa, Inc. prepared several samples of finishes and colors that would work with the overall design and budget of the exterior hardscape. Selser Schaefer Architects ultimately decided on the Bomanite Sandscape Texture Exposed Aggregate System with several colors of gray Bomanite Con-Color in alternating squares of Shale Gray, Cobblestone Gray and Nickel Gray for the exterior walkways and entrance to the Family Center. To enhance the design, words of metal letters (Intervention, empowerment, diversion, prevention, family, community) were embedded into the decorative concrete to bring in an industrial modern artsy element and as a reminder of the mission of the Family Center.

Bomanite Sandscape® Texture is a highly durable and cost effective architectural concrete finishing option that utilizes specialized concrete mix designs containing select sands and aggregates. Installed by Bomanite Licensed concrete craftsmen throughout the US and Canada, Bomanite Sandscape Texture is the product of choice for projects requiring a decorative and durable finish alternative to traditional concrete paving. Natural, regionally selected and qualified sands such as granite, quartz or limestone are the common aggregates of choice for installations. The natural non-skid properties and abrasion resistant aggregates make Bomanite Sandscape Texture the perfect choice for all exterior concrete applications including walkways, entrances, municipal or public works projects, hospitals, educational facilities, museums, pool decks, plazas and more.

Bomanite of Tulsa, Inc. earned the 2019 Honorable Mention Bomanite Exposed Aggregate Over 6,000 Sq. Ft Award for their craftsmanship and installation of the artistic Bomanite Decorative Concrete walkways and front entrance that met the Architect’s design intent, creating an inviting and reflective exterior space for the Family Center for Juvenile Justice.

Owasso Redbud Festival Park

The Owasso Redbud Festival Park is a community-oriented project for the City of Owasso with a large, open green space encompassing one city block of 2.25 acres. The goal of the City was to create an urban core that brings people downtown to the heart of the city. Gh2 Architects created a design that has an open stage at one end for concerts and a covered farmers market area at the other, providing for an incredibly adaptive and flexible site for any variety of community events. The space also features a splash pad, fire pit, playground, water feature and native plant landscaping.

Local licensee, Bomanite of Tulsa, Inc. had the pleasure of installing the natural looking Bomanite Decorative Concrete starting with the water feature that stretches the length of the park along with a splash pad that emulates a riverbed of rock using a custom Bomanite Imprint System Pattern Chipped Shale along with Bomanite Cobblestone Gray color for a stylized running stream. Accent borders were placed in the pavilion area using the Bomacron Sandstone Texture in the same Cobblestone Gray color to delineate features of the paved area and support the overall design aesthetic of the park as well as provide containment for an area of white, light gray and dark gray concrete pavers.

With well over 400 distinct patterns and associated textures Bomanite has a commanding selection of imprinting tools to select from with the ability to customize your own design like that of the Owasso Redbud Festival Park landscape elements. Bomanite molds are developed from natural products such as stone or wood as well as unconventional surfaces such as metal or plastic or whatever your imagination may bring to the table. Images, logos, borders and highly custom textures are all part of the Bomanite offering. The selection and quality of Bomanite Imprinting Tools is unsurpassed in the industry as well as the quality of people that do the installations.

Superior craftsmanship has always defined the Bomanite brand and sets a Bomanite installation apart from other imprinting contractors and product manufacturers. All Bomanite Licensees receive the most extensive ongoing technical education program in the industry. And it shows in every installation as a reflection of the long standing Bomanite tradition of innovation, service and expertise. The Owasso Redbud Festival Park was a game-changer for not only the Redbud District, but for the city as a whole, bringing opportunities for the community to come together for movie nights, concerts and holiday celebrations, to name a few, where everyone can make wonderful, long-lasting memories.

Bomanite of Tulsa, Inc. received the 2019 Honorable Mention Bomanite Best Imprint Project Award for their custom and creative work for this community project.

Lenexa Civic Center

Lenexa City has developed and opened a 300,000 plus-square-foot mixed-use campus, that includes a new City Hall, Park University, a Public Market, and a community Rec Center along with public gathering spaces. Bomanite Licensee, Musselman & Hall Contractors, had the opportunity to work with PGAV Architects and Plaid Collaborative on the design of the pedestrian plaza as part of the Civic Center.

PLAID collaborated worked with the City and PGAV to design outdoor spaces to express as they noted a “prairie deconstructed theme, which embodies the spirit and character of the native prairie (landform, geology, and vegetation) and the history of Lenexa in a contemporary, sustainable, and sophisticated motif.” The three primary outdoor spaces created were the Festival Plaza (a large plaza for public gatherings and celebrations), the Vista (a space for activities that support the adjacent community recreation center and farmers market), and the Strata (a collection of intimate spaces for City Hall and public market patrons). The idea was for each space to have different uses, different scale and configuration but a common pallet of materials, furnishings, and details were woven through the design to complement the building architecture, provide visual continuity, and reinforce an overall sense of place.

Lenexa Civic Center Festival Plaza incorporates Bomanite Sandscape Texture Exposed Aggregate System with Bomanite Con-Color Staining Techniques. The Festival plaza incorporated 13,000 square feet of the Bomanite Sandscape Texture Exposed Aggregate System and then was stained with pops of vibrant and subtle colors of Bomanite Con-Color that were cohesive with the overall design. The detailed stain pattern created unique challenges and used four colors: Travertine Beige, Franciscan Red, French Gray, and Gunmetal Gray. Once the color was in place the plaza was sealed with Bomaseal C-18 to help withstand the outside elements of weather and human traffic.

Lenexa Civic Center outdoor spaces were designed with Bomanite Alloy to add a sparkle to the history nodeThe center piece of the project was the 700 square feet History Node. The Bomanite Alloy Exposed Aggregate System in Natural Gray was chosen for this portion of the plaza, installed, and then engraved with 23 significant names, dates, and events unique to the history of Lenexa. The text was of varying scale from 4” to 9” tall. Layout and execution was critical, and accuracy was of the utmost importance.

The project conception was citizen-led and has helped Lenexa visualize their dream of starting a new downtown. This is a beautiful project and exhibits the potential and beauty of quality Bomanite Decorative Concrete.

NREL Central Arroyo Detention Pond

Approximately 10,000 square feet of Grasscrete was installed in NREL’s Central Arroyo Detention Pond by Bomanite Licensee, Colorado Hardscapes. NREL (Natioanl Renewable Energy Labatory) has had great success with the application of on-site pervious pavement systems to reduce site runoff and maintain predevelopment hydrologic conditions.

Over 59,000 square feet of pervious paving materials have been implemented on the STM campus in support of their living laboratory environment. Grasscrete allows the native planting in the pond to grow, protecting the root systems within the voids, and provides easy cleaning and scraping of the pond as needed without disrupting the pond’s shape and root system. The concrete was integrally colored an earthy brown tone to blend in with the natural surroundings. Grasscrete provided an excellent, continuously reinforced, cast-in-place pervious concrete solution for NREL.

Fresno Police Department – Regional Training Center

The Fresno Police Department Regional Training Center is a 96-acre state-of-the-art training facility that will serve the City of Fresno for years to come. A 20,000 sq. ft. range house anchors one end of the site. This structure includes a warehouse, administration, gun repository, classrooms, simulators and toilet rooms. Nine rifle ranges are included on the site: seven 50-yard, one 100-yard and one 200-yard range with sniper towers. Located adjacent to the ranges is a 3,000 sq. ft. SIMS tower. The facility has numerous vehicle training areas, including a driver awareness pad, skid pad, urban chase and pursuit courses and a tactical village. On the opposite end of the site are a gym, administration building, additional classrooms and vehicle storage and maintenance structure. This project was designed to meet the current “Fresno Green” requirements for new construction.

Bomanite Licensee, Heritage Bomanite brought to life SIM Architects angular floor design with extensive sawcutting and color combinations. Heritage Bomanite used two colors in the field areas and left some areas uncolored natural gray with the complete floor being polished with the Bomanite Custom Polishing System. The Fresno Police Department logo area used Bomanite Concrete Dye – Black Orchid then a 6’ diameter stencil was placed over the dyed polished concrete and the logo was etched using gelled acid. Bomanite Custom Polishing Systems offer many environmentally friendly features, visit the website at www.bomanite.com/polishing to learn more about LEED point elements and Green Benefits.

Fort Hamilton NY PX

PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS/INFORMATION

Project Description:

Bomanite Licensee, Premier Concrete Construction installed the Bomanite Custom Polishing System Patene Teres at the Fort Hamilton New York Post Exchange. The project was completed in 2011 and contained a combination of 21,000 sq.ft. of dyed and polished concrete flooring surfaces. Bomanite Concrete Dye, Bomanite Stabilizer Pro and Bomanite Vitrafinish were used to acheive this low-maintenance flooring system.

Throughout the PX, there was a variety of surfaces that contained some new slabs, new 2 1/2” topping slab and existing 25 year old slab, Premier Concrete Construction used their skills and craftsmenship to provide a stunning end result.

Hanscom AFB MA PX

PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS/INFORMATION

Project Description:

Bomanite Licensee, Premier Concrete Construction installed the Bomanite Custom Polishing System Patene Teres at the Hanscome AFB MA Post Exchange. The project was completed in 2010 and contained 24,000 sq.ft. of dyed and polished concrete flooring surfaces. Bomanite Concrete Dye, Bomanite Stabilizer Pro and Bomanite Vitrafinish were used to acheive this low-maintenance flooring system.

The Patène Teres by Bomanite System incorporates Bomanite stains and dyes to color fully cured concrete. Once cured the concrete is ground to expose the desired type and amount of aggregate. Color is then incorporated into the surface followed by polishing to the required gloss level and treated with a Bomanite stain resist. The primary benefit of Bomanite Patène Teres is the ability to add topical color in a wide range of colors and looks using conventionally placed and finished, un-colored concrete.