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CoLab CoHousing Community

CoLab is an impressive 7-story podium student housing residential development with 253 apartment units that house 727 individual bedrooms and includes top-notch amenities. The 5-story residential component sits atop a 2-story partially buried parking garage creating a unique above ground level installation for outdoor amenities. Colorado Hardscapes, a Bomanite Decorative Concrete Contractor worked with Landscape Architect, Britina Designs to make the outdoor living space a stylish modern green community. Environmentally conscious, CoLab chose materials and systems to minimize waste and maximize energy.

The CoLab Student Living Housing Community, a USGBC Gold LEED project, brings the outdoors in with smartly styled study spaces, a rooftop deck and several lush outdoor gathering areas for tenants to enjoy; the pool court (Resort-Style Pool), Fire Court (Outdoor Lounge) and Water Court (Table Games) all featuring decorative concrete.  During the design stage Britina Designs visited Colorado Hardscapes Showroom viewing several samples of different concrete systems and to determine the final finishes, aggregates and colors.

Bomanite Exposed Aggregate Systems Sandscape Texture was chosen for the general walkways and courtyards with an inviting eye-catching alternating band of color panels of flatwork. The Bomanite Sandscape Texture was also incorporated into the pool coping with a child safety grip and coordinating color. Bomanite Sandscape Texture utilizes specialized concrete mix designs, additives, decorative mineral aggregates, topical treatments and advanced application procedures to produce a finished product that resembles sand blasted concrete through fine “quarried stone”. Bomanite Sandscape Texture typically involves the use of Bomanite Integral Color and may incorporate specialized natural, regionally selected and qualified sands such as slag, granite, quartz or limestone.

The Bomanite Sandscape Refined Series is similar in design to conventional Sandscape, based on the exposure of fine quartz aggregates but bound in Bomanite Color Hardener. The resulting texture is known as “sugar cube finish”; the feel of the concrete mimics the texture of formed sugar cubes. Due to the use of Bomanite Color Hardener, the Bomanite Sandscape Texture Refined Series is available in a multitude of standard and custom options, including cost effective light-reflective formulations that do not require the use of white cement to reduce heat island effect. The Sandscape Refined Architectural Concrete Finish was installed around the firepit lounge area and included amber glass and crushed mirror glass for a natural reflective nighttime sheen.

The Bomanite Toppings Systems Micro-Top ST, a spray applied concrete resurfacing product, has excellent adhesion and weather resistance with the ability to withstand prolonged pedestrian and light duty vehicular traffic. Bomanite Micro-Top ST provides a tough, slip resistant water-retardant coating that substantially reduces water penetration, freeze-thaw scaling and concrete carbonation making it perfect choice for the exterior areas of this Denver Community Housing development. Colorado Hardscapes placed the Micro-Top ST on curbs, steps and walls with a custom color match to complement the surrounding finishes. Once the finish was complete the owners loved the look so much that they requested an additional application to the front foundation.

A popular growing technique, Colorado Hardscapes installed Board-formed Concrete, for the fire pit, water features and outdoor kitchen BBQ. Board-formed Concrete is a process of patterning concrete that leaves a wood grain image on the finished face of the concrete. Because concrete is extremely well-suited as a finished material in modern design, by imprinting the wood grain on the surface, it visually softens and warms concrete’s somewhat cooler appearance while still allowing concrete to express the construction technique giving a modern yet rustic organic vibe to these CoLab outdoor hangouts.

CoLab achieved LEED GOLD certification with the collaboration efforts from the owner/developer, designers, contractors, and consultants that led to points in the following categories: High Efficiency Heating and Cooling Systems; Energy Efficient Appliances; High Efficiency Hot Water Heating; Energy Efficient Lighting; Indoor Environment Quality; Innovation & Design Process; and Material and Resources. Making a LEED Gold certified community, CoLab provides the peace of mind to tenants of knowing their community was built and operates in an environmentally friendly manner with the generated benefits of energy-efficiency and cost-savings. Everyone worked together to transform a great design into reality, a stylish decorative green living community.

Colorado Hardscapes earned the Bomanite Exposed Aggregate Award Over 6,000 sq. ft Bronze Award for their outstanding and contributing decorative concrete work on the CoLab LEED Gold Co-housing Community Development

DELO – Downtown East Louisville

As the owner, RMCS, planned a new development just to the east of historic downtown Louisville, Colorado, he secured the services of PCS Group who in turned designed walls, plazas, sidewalks and streets with distinctive concrete paving. PCS worked closely with Bomanite Licensee, Colorado Hardscapes to develop the color scheme, texture and finish of each area to be its own unique look, but as an overall development to be outstanding. The seat walls, planter walls and concrete columns received a custom Bomanite Sandscape Refined Exposed Aggregate finish using Cappuccino Color Hardener with flecks of mirror glass and blue glass. The wall sparkle as you walk by reflecting the sun’s light.

Plazas were poured with San Diego Buff Integral Color and uncolored concrete, with the majority of the areas having a Bomanite Sandscape Textured Exposed Aggregate finish, but some accent areas using a broom finish to really set off the textural differences in the concrete. The main drive through the development included black sand added to the San Diego Buff concrete mix to again achieve a unique look yet tying it together with the plazas. Seeded glass and rock was used as accent bands and crosswalks.

Integrating trench drains, truncate domes and tree grates, along with thousands of feet of sawcut joints resulted in an outstanding streetscape that sets DELO apart from many other municipal developments.

Hartford Commons – The Edge Luxury Apartments

Downtown Tulsa’s newest luxury apartments are within walking distance of the historic Brady Arts District, the Blue Dome District and Tulsa Performing Arts Center and offers amenities for an active lifestyle. This high end residential apartment offers everything one would need to live life to the fullest. Residents can enjoy a workout in the 24/7 state-of-the-art exercise facility, relax in the large swimming pool with a tanning ledge, plan social get-togethers or family outings in the outdoor kitchen and BBQ grill area.

The Bomanite Exposed Aggregate Alloy System is a perfect match for the luxury living at The Edge at East Village Apartments. Bomanite Licensee, Bomanite of Tulsa worked with the designers at Alaback Design Associates and after reviewing samples, they chose Bomanite Alloy for its highly architectural reflective properties and surface slip-resistance qualities for the apartment pool deck. The pool coping was placed using Bomanite Alloy as well. Radius saw cuts were incorporated into the design to continue the detail of the pool.

Bomanite Alloy is a unique alternative to other decorative concrete finishes. Its low life cycle cost is a bonus for multi-unit complex developers, providing improved wear resistance for light- to moderate-duty vehicular or foot traffic, assisting in low maintenance for the heavily used patio and pool deck areas of the The Edge Apartments. Due to the use of Bomanite Sand Color Hardener, these highly durable surfaces are available in a wide range of aggregates and permanent light fast colors to help reduce heat island effect. Bomanite Alloy is highly sustainable as well as a suitable choice for architectural luxury designs.

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.

Line 28 at LoHi Apartments

PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS/INFORMATION

Project Description:

A mixed-use building located on Boulder Street, a block from the Highland Bridge, connects downtown Denver to the Highlands. The owner and designer wanted high-end finishes to coordinate with their design for this upscale building as well as providing a  durable finish.

Bomanite Licensee, Colorado Hardscapes worked with Holland Partners and Sprocket to select a decorative concrete product appropriate for the exterior entrance of the leasing office and a high-traffic solution for the interior communal spaces.

Colorado Hardscapes placed colored Sandscape with decorative sawcuts for exterior entrance to the leasing office. Sprocket chose the Bomanite Custom Polishing System for the interior spaces; kitchen, offices, lobby, hallways, and the elevator room. They chose the VitraFlor polished concrete system due to its durability for high traffic areas.

Skillfully polished concrete neutrally colored with rich luminosity and deep undertones to complete the design of the interior space while providing a low maintenance floor which can withstand high traffic conditions. Sandscape concrete complements the exterior entrance and gives a foretaste of the material pallet chosen for the interior.

University Village Apartments Pool Deck

PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS/INFORMATION

Description:

Bomanite Licensee, Jeffco Concrete Contractors, Inc. located in Tuscaloosa, AL worked with the Blakeney Company to install almost 9,000 square feet of Bomacron Imprinted Concrete. The pattern chosen was large Ashlar Slate for the pool decking of the University Village Apartments.

Residents at the University Village Apartments have a choice of 8 pools to swim in, lounge in and even to play pool in. Bomanite Coquina Color Hardener was used with a mixture of Bomanite Release Agent of Sand and White to achieve the cohesive colors and provide the realistic look of slate.

The light colors chosen for the pool decking also contain a higher solar reflectance. Solar Reflectance is the ratio of the amount of solar radiation reflected from a material to the amount shone on the material. The higher the Solar Reflectance the greater the amount of light from both ultraviolet and the visible spectrum is reflected from the substrate. This is also known as Albedo. The Bomanite Color Hardeners and Release Agents in this project would qualify for a LEED rated project.

Nan McKay Public Housing

Nan McKay needed to update its 40 yr old patio for its residence. They decided to tear out and start fresh and enlisted the help from BKV Group, an architectural firm in Minneapolis. BKV and Bomanite Licensee, Concrete Arts, have a great relationship. They contacted Tom Graf and Mike Dougherty to help form ideas in how they can meet the needs of this public housing development.

They wanted to expand the patio area, create a sustainable structure, make appealing for residence to use, and create a pathway to the trash bin. Together the team decided to amp the area up with color and design scores. BKV took a hold of the design of the project. Bomanite Sandscape Texture was chosen for the area for the design elements, low maintenance and sustainability. The concrete was integrally colored with Bomanite Gobi Desert and poured. Once the concrete was set up, Concrete Arts marked out the design of the patios and cut in faux joints/design scores with a hand grinder. The area was then stained with Bomanite Chemical Stain colors Ebony, Caribbean Blue and Rust Red.