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Choctaw Cultural Center and Museum

The Choctaw Cultural Center in Durant, Oklahoma is dedicated to preserving and perpetuating Choctaw culture and history through exhibitions and programs. The newly finished cultural center is over 100,000 square feet and houses two exhibit halls, a Permanent Exhibit Hall: A four-part story focusing on the history of the Choctaw tribe from ancestral times (circa 1250) to current day in Oklahoma; and a Temporary Exhibit Hall: For traveling exhibits, community curated exhibits and special events throughout the year. Also included is an art gallery, auditorium, Children’s Luksi (turtle) activity center, state-of-the art classrooms, offices, the Champuli Restaurant and Hvshi Gift Store. The surrounding site incorporates a stickball field, living village and a traditional mound.

Bomanite of Tulsa, Inc. had the pleasure of working with the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma as well as architects, JCJ Architecture to bring to life the art and design for the interior entrance flooring of the new facility. The architects crafted textures and patterns with intention and local sourced materials. Following a journey through 14,000 years and over hundreds of miles, immersive exhibits convey each component of the Choctaw story through authentic and historically accurate landscapes, pictures, artwork and artifacts.

Throughout the Choctaw Cultural Center, small design details are placed that reflect the Choctaw culture. For example, the diamond is an important symbol to the Chahta people and often represents the Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake. The diamond pattern is replicated in the decorative concrete pathway that sits between the hardwood and stone flooring. The project was unusual for Bomanite of Tulsa as in working with the designer’s intent the chosen Bomanite Exposed Aggregate System Revealed and Bomanite Sandscape Texture are traditionally exterior applications, however the clients truly desired the exposed look with bright native American colors to go with the additional rustic flooring materials for the interior space. Bomanite Revealed is a sustainable finishing option that incorporates a unique binder and color blending process with specialty aggregates that works for projects requiring a highly decorative and durable finish. The Bomanite Revealed with solid glass aggregates in white, black, red and yellow was selected for the vibrant diamond border as well as the circle surrounding the firepit.

Once the newly poured concrete base slab was readied and hardwood flooring and stone accent flooring were installed, Bomanite of Tulsa had to make sure the Bomanite Exposed Aggregate Systems were level with the existing surfaces. The need was met by building up the area by 1 inch to 1 ½ inches. Providing a technically challenging project, a bonded application for both systems were used. Expansion joints had to run through the borders as well as be incorporated in the diamond pattern, brass divider strips were used to set apart the different colors of glass aggregates. The Bomanite Sandscape Texture in Autumn Brown utilizes specialized concrete mix designs containing select sands and aggregates was the choice for the pathway between the stonework. Matching the Sandscape color to the stone provided for a cohesive design. The natural non-skid properties and abrasion resistant aggregates make both Bomanite Revealed and Bomanite Sandscape Texture the perfect choice for entries, municipal or public works projects, hospitals, educational facilities, museums, pool decks, plazas and more.

The Choctaw Cultural Center offers visitors a truly unique experience with textural variation and distinct decorative detail. With the Bomanite Decorative Concrete Systems a variety of modernized mixes and an unlimited palette of colors, textures and locally sourced aggregate options are available to choose from, providing cost-effective solutions that are more durable than ever for that creative artistic expression.

Bomanite of Tulsa, Inc. Tulsa OK, received the Best Bomanite Exposed Aggregate Systems Project GOLD AWARD for their brilliant work on the Choctaw Cultural Center and Museum. The Choctaw Cultural Center welcomes all visitors to explore the rich history, culture, and experiences of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and its community and now have a rich and beautiful Bomanite Decorative Concrete Interior entry area.

Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum

The Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum is a brand-new, LEED Certified state-of-the-art facility located on two blocks in the historic West End District of Downtown Dallas. Originally founded in 1984 by a group of Dallas area Holocaust Survivors, the museum is dedicated to teaching the history of the Holocaust and advancing human rights to combat prejudice, hatred and indifference. Their now permanent location is comprised of over 55,000 square feet built with rich history, awareness and education and three permanent exhibitions. These include the Holocaust/Shoah Wing, the Human Rights Wing, and the Pivot to America Wing. The museum also encompasses traveling exhibition space, a performing arts auditorium, community lobby, reflection space, education spaces, library archives, administration offices, and a public plaza.

Designer, Dallas-based Omniplan wanted a clean, modern and progressive feel for the flooring surface that would maximize the space and be cohesive with the overall design. The Bomanite VitraFlor Polished Concrete System was selected for its industrial modernity, sustainable design and LEED qualities. Bomanite Licensee, Texas Bomanite provided the Bomanite decorative concrete flooring completing approximately 28,000 square feet on several levels. The VitraFlor system consists of initial grinding of the original concrete slab to standards letting the natural aggregate color to shine. Zero VOC products to chemically harden such as Bomanite Stabilizer Pro, and Bomanite VitraFinish to hone and polish for final protection and stain resist finish the application. Bomanite VitraFlor allows for flexibility in design with different exposure of aggregates. The main lobby and walkways used a Class D large aggregate exposure with a level 3-1500 Grit Polish with some areas using a Polyurea Joint Filler in the color Gauntlet Gray. The Exhibit Hall polished surface was given a slightly different treatment with a Class B salt and pepper aggregate exposure and a level 3-1500 Grit Polish.

Bomanite VitraFlor provided a cost effective and low-maintenance polished concrete floor that is ideal for high traffic conditions. With over 80,000 visitors in 2018 in their previous location, the newly built facility will be able to handle even more guests as well as equipment for moving or changing of exhibits. Contributing to additional LEED accrual points for Optimized Energy Performance, Bomanite VitraFlor can reduce maintenance costs by as much as 80% over conventional flooring system such as carpet or VCT. Dramatically improving light reflectivity which reduces the amount of lighting required and therefore energy consumed was an intentional design attribute with the entrance floor to ceiling windows lending to its long-term sustainable features.

The Museum is one of just a few Holocaust-related museums or centers in the United States and the only Holocaust museum serving North Central Texas, as well as the adjacent states of Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana. It has been recognized for its compelling and creative programming, internationally recognized exhibits, and world-class speakers. The new – modern, immersive and interactive technology captivates and educates visitors of all ages. To fully experience the designers plan visit https://www.omniplan.com/tangent/2020/03/behind-the-design-of-the-dallas-holocaust-and-human-rights-museum.html

Texas Bomanite earned the 2019 Best Bomanite Custom Polishing Project Honorable Mention Award for their precise application of the Bomanite VitraFlor System. Along with the floor installation, they also created the outdoor courtyard decorative sculpture base and walls showing their extreme craftsmanship in the Decorative Concrete Industry.

The American Fallen Soldiers Project

The American Fallen Soldiers Project was borne of an idea that professional artist, Phil Taylor, had upon learning that his childhood friend, Capt. Blake Russell, had been killed in Iraq in 2006. Inspired by stories of Blake’s patriotism and courage during the funeral, Phil knew that he wanted to contribute to the Russell family’s healing process, so he painted a portrait of his childhood friend for them.

The family’s reaction to the portrait changed Phil’s life forever and he began the American Fallen Soldiers Project. Since its inception in 2007, hundreds of portraits have been painted and presented to families of fallen soldiers all over the country.

The American Fallen Soldiers Project National Gallery opened its doors in mid-2016, with 5,000 Square feet of gallery and office space. Texas Bomanite polished and dyed 3,040 square feet of concrete in Bomanite’s Black Orchid using the Bomanite Patene Teres system and polished it to a 400 grit. The Polyurea Joint Filler was in the color Gauntlet Grey. To keep costs down for this very special project, Texas Bomanite discounted the retail price as a donation towards the project’s success.

This beautiful gallery and tribute to American’s fallen heroes is located at 4275 Kellway Circle, Suite 132 in Addison each weekday from 10AM-5PM. Texas Bomanite was honored to be a part of this special space. For more information, visit https://americanfallensoldiers.com.

History Colorado Center

PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS/INFORMATION

Project Description:

The new History Colorado Center in downtown Denver was constructed in 2011 to be the new home for Colorado’s History Museum. This LEED project featured high end finishes inside and out. The exterior concrete needed to capture the character of a municipal museum. Tryba selected Navajo White and Capitol Hill Sandscape Texture for the site paving finish in order to compliment the primary finish face of the building: Colorado Granite and Limestone. The correlation of the two finishes created a refined curb appeal for this new Denver landmark. The consistent Sandscape finish performed by Colorado Hardscapes helped tie the entire design of the site and building together in a uniform manner.

Standing Bear Museum

PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS/INFORMATION

Description:

Landplan Consultants Inc. approached Bomanite Licensed Contractor, Bomanite of Tulsa, Inc, for assistance with developing the decorative pavement for Standing Bear Museum/Osage Nation Byway Interpretive Center Improvements in early 2012. An attempt by another concrete contractor had been made, but was unable to keep the project under budget. While working closely with the architect, Bomanite of Tulsa proposed using Sandscape Texture® by Bomanite with accent colors using Con-Color by Bomanite. The riverbed and trail where highlighted using Exposed Revealed by Bomanite glass series.

The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis

PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS/INFORMATION

Description:

Bomanite Licensee, Shepherd’s Construction Company, Inc. had the opportunity to work with the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis to create realistic flooring for Seti l’s Tomb. The Dried Earth Texture was created so as to replicate an old mud or earthen sandstone to be used throughout the passageways and burial chamber of the exhibit. 2,000 square feet of the Bomacron Dried Earth texture was installed along with another 4,500 square feet of the Bomacron Coquina Texture, Bomacron San Ysidro Brick, Bomanite Florspartic 100 and Bomanite Custom Polishing Systems.

The largest children’s museum in the world opened the 7,400 square-foot exhibit – National Geographic Treasures of the Earth – in June 2011. This permanent exhibit features three archaeological discoveries in the world and offers visitors the chance to explore the history and arts of ancient Egypt and China as well as the general science of archaeology.

Teams of museum staff members and National Geographic Society experts explored the tomb of ancient Egyptian pharaoh Seti l with famed Egyptologist Dr. Zahi Hawass and worked with Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities to create a one of a kind real life experience. In the museum’s new Archaeology Lab, visitors use real science to examine
a CT scan of Seti I’s mummy (the only replica of Seti I’s mummy). A sound and light show helps families work together to interpret the tomb’s hieroglyphs, see real artifacts from the time of Seti I, and reassemble a recreation of the pharaoh’s broken sarcophagus lid.

“This exhibit is a learning experience for all visitors,” said Jeffrey H. Patchen, president and CEO of The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis. “From the Captain Kidd shipwreck in the Dominican Republic, to the Terra Cotta Warriors of China, and finally to the ancient Egyptian tomb of Seti I, people will have the opportunity to discover some of the world’s most significant treasures, all with a trip to the Children’s Museum.” For more information about The Children’s Museum, visit www.childrensmuseum.org.

For more information on Bomanite Erosion Series or custom patterns, please visit our website at www.bomanite.com