A K-5 school that enrolls 83% economically disadvantaged students, Chamberlain Elementary in New Britain, CT, has completed a stunning $55 million renovation that has the students exited to go to school every day. It’s not just about the curriculum, nor the quality of the teaching staff, but the overall ambiance and esthetics of a school can create a conducive atmosphere to make young minds more eager to learn. Connecticut Bomanite Systems, as part of the renovation, was contracted by the main contractor, Mather Construction, to build two front entries, three patios, and a stepped seating area, all in decorative concrete.
Planks Lead to Learning
The architect at Kaestle Boos Associates, Inc., had a firm idea of what he wanted as the final outcome. He wanted a “plank” layout, and based on that, Connecticut Bomanite guided him towards Bomanite Exposed Aggregate Systems using Bomanite Sandscape® Texture. To achieve the plank layout, Connecticut Bomanite made the control sawcut layout 10’ by 10’ and the remainder of the sawcuts were decorative. The “planks” were colored with Walnut Bomanite ConColor. The surrounding decorative concrete used Bomanite Integral color Travertine Beige. A consistent and very eye-pleasing look and feel was achieved throughout the entire installation.
Bomanite Sandscape® Solution Satisfies Specs
Where an alternate to a conventional concrete finish is required, Bomanite Sandscape® Texture is designed for outdoor applications. Bomanite Sandscape Texture resembles very evenly sand blasted concrete and can incorporate specialized colored sands and/or aggregates exceeding 3/8” diameter, utilizing specialized mix designs, additives, topical treatments, and advanced application procedures. The finish is an economical alternate to other decorative concrete finishes while producing a monolithic concrete slab at low life-cycle cost due to the pre-aged nature of the surface. Used in combination with a variety of color and staining options, Bomanite Sandscape Texture creates consistent texture and durable hardscapes ideal for plazas, walkways, shopping centers, schools and more—anywhere improved wear resistance for light-to-moderate-duty vehicular or foot traffic is necessary. These highly durable surfaces are available in a multitude of standard and custom options, including light-reflective formulations that reduce heat island effect. The architectural decorative concrete design possibilities are endless, and only limited by your imagination.
Bomanite Sandscape Texture is also available in the “Refined” Series. Similar in design to conventional Sandscape, the Refined Series is based on the exposure of fine quartz aggregates 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.
Award Winning Decorative Concrete
For this project, Connecticut Bomanite Systems received the 2022 Honorable Mention Award for Best Bomanite Exposed Aggregate Systems Project. Stakeholders, community leaders, community families and their children were very pleased with the decorative concrete created by these innovative creative craftsmen. Connecticut Bomanite has long been known for its resolute commitment to quality and mastering the technical aspects of architectural concrete. Chamberlain Elementary School can enjoy the benefits of this project long after this current batch of students graduates and have children of their own.
An air of anticipation filled the room at the Bomanite Annual Awards for 2022 Bomanite Decorative Concrete Projects, held last week in Houston, TX. The Bomanite Licensee concrete craftsmen and artisans gather annually to learn hands on new trade techniques, new Bomanite products, business strategies, and exchange ideas and tips with Bomanite Licensees from everywhere. However, the culmination of all that hard work, camaraderie, and new knowledge is the awards presentations.
With a vast knowledge and years of experience, these Bomanite Concrete Craftsmen define decorative concrete. Strong. Durable. Artistic. Creative. Bomanite Licensees work on anywhere from multimillion-dollar commercial projects to affordable residential housing, new builds, and improvements, and everything in between.
Musselman and Hall Contractors, LLC received the 2022 GRAND AWARD for BestBomanite Exposed Aggregate Systems Project for their exceptionally challenging project at the Omaha Riverfront Revitalization in Omaha, NE. The daunting challenge for this project was the degree of difficulty using our Bomanite Exposed Aggregate Systems and 8,200 SF of Bomanite Revealed bonded overlay over existing walls and stairs to reconstruct three urban parks along the riverfront. Dan Kroesen of Musselman and Hall Contractors said, “This project challenged us to think and work creatively to build a project we take great pride in.”
Musselman and Hall Contractors, LLC also captured the 2022 Gold Award for Best Bomanite Custom Polishing Systems Project for MCPL Green Hills located in Kansas City, MO. They exceed the goal of this project which was to create a seamless design between the interior Cafe and the outdoor patio. That concept ultimately resulted in a cast-in-place bench that is bisected by a glass curtain wall separating the Café from the exterior patio. Using Bomanite Renaissance, with deep grind, they placed and polished 2,200 SF of flooring in the Library Café and installed an 1,800 SF patio outside to match the aesthetics of the interior flooring.
And to top off their trifecta of awards, Musselman and Hall Contractors, LLC received the 2022 Gold Award for Best Bomanite Specialty Project for Rolla University Drive Realignment in Rolla, MO. Using Bomanite Sandscape® Texture they constructed a large 15,000 SF oblong roundabout decorative concrete island. They then created a 15” hexagon template to Sandblast the color hardener from the surface in a very specific pattern. The Sandblasting alone took two weeks and required a high level of detail and workmanship to Sandblast the linear hexagon pattern around an oblong roundabout without misalignment of ending and stopping points.
Heritage Bomanite took home the 2022 Gold Award for Best Bomanite Toppings Systems Project for NX Restaurant in Fresno, CA. Utilizing the Bomanite Patène Artectura System, they created very intricate interior flooring consisting of 2,865 SF of custom color and brass terrazzo strips installed with incredible accuracy to make them look like continuous lengths. Polishing was completed once an artist had applied the concrete stain to create the ocean effect of waves lapping onto a sandy beach.
Carolina Bomanite Corporation earned the 2022 Gold Award for Best Bomanite Imprint Systems Project for Wilson Center for Nature at Grandfather Mountain in Linville, NC. This popular tourist destination is located about halfway up Grandfather Mountain and the project doubled the size of the original Nature Museum. The installation began in the early spring and was on a tight schedule for completion before the tourist season beginning in early summer. The crew often encountered fog, sleet, snow, freezing rain and bright sunshine all in the same day. The pattern chosen was Slate Texture and the project also highlights Custom Patterns of Deer, Racoon, Bear, Eagle, and Turkey Prints.
We’d like to thank all the Bomanite licensed contractors who submitted entries for this year’s award contest. The Bomanite Decorative Concrete Annual Project Awards has been a tradition for more than 50 years for Bomanite Licensed Contractors to submit their outstanding projects. Bomanite Licensees compete among the best of the best to be recognized for their hard work and creative talents. The winners are announced at the Bomanite Annual Conference, held in various cities from year to year. This is a taste of artwork and craftsmanship in the decorative concrete market that can only be achieved by the Bomanite Licensee network of decorative concrete craftsmen. Additional awards were given for Silver, Bronze, and Honorable Mention categories.
2022 List of Bomanite Award Winners
Bomanite Imprint Systems
BRONZE: Bomanite of Tulsa, Inc. – TTC Lemley Phase III Entry Package – Oklahoma – Bomacron Pattern: 6” x 6” Granite Setts
SILVER: Concrete Arts – Private Residence – Wisconsin – Bomacron Pattern: Step Faces: Custom Form Liner; Flat Areas: Regular Slate
GOLD: Carolina Bomanite Corporation – Wilson Center for Nature at Grandfather Mountain – North Carolina – Bomacron Pattern: Slate Texture,
Custom – Deer, Racoon, Bear, Eagle, and Turkey Prints
Bomanite Toppings Systems
BRONZE: Jeffco Concrete Contractors, Inc. – Pelham High School – Alabama – Bomanite Toppings Systems – Micro-Top
SILVER: Heritage Bomanite – Private Residence – California – Bomanite Toppings Systems – Micro-Top
GOLD: Heritage Bomanite – NX Restaurant – California – Bomanite Patène Artectura Systems
Bomanite Specialty Project
BRONZE: Heritage Bomanite – Clovis Community Hospital Bedtower Fountain – California – Bomanite Specialty Project – Specialty Walls
SILVER: Stephens & Smith Construction Co., Inc. – Behind Bars – Nebraska– Bomanite Specialty Project – System: Micro-Top
GOLD: Musselman & Hall Contractors – Rolla University Drive Realignment – Missouri – Bomanite Specialty Project – Bomanite Sandscape with Sandblast
Bomanite Custom Polishing Systems
HONORABLE MENTION: Texas Bomanite – The Epic Phase II – Texas – Bomanite Custom Polishing Systems – Patène Teres
BRONZE: Texas Bomanite – Hines at the Stack – Texas – Bomanite Custom Polishing Systems – Patène Teres, VitraFlor
SILVER: Premier Concrete Construction, LLC – 100 Forge – Massachusetts – Bomanite Custom Polishing Systems – Modena TGE
GOLD: Musselman & Hall Contractors – MCPL Green Hills – Missouri – Bomanite Custom Polishing Systems – Renaissance
Bomanite Exposed Aggregate Systems
HONORABLE MENTION: Connecticut Bomanite Systems – Chamberlain Elementary School – Connecticut – Bomanite Exposed Aggregate Systems – Sandscape
BRONZE: Colorado Hardscapes — Lone Rock Retreat – Colorado – Bomanite Exposed Aggregates Systems – Sandscape
SILVER: Colorado Hardscapes – Republic Plaza – Colorado – Bomanite Exposed Aggregate Systems – Sandscape Refined
GRAND AWARD: Musselman & Hall Contractors, LLC – Omaha Riverfront Revitalization – Nebraska – Bomanite Exposed Aggregate Systems – Revealed
The RYE SoBo apartment complex in Denver’s South Broadway Park neighborhood offers relaxed, sophisticated living with distinctive design and uniquely personal features. RYE SoBo is a community of convenience, and a residency here includes modern amenities and contemporary conveniences like a beer garden, resort-inspired pool, athletic training center, electric car charging stations, a rooftop dog park and pet spa, and a co-working venue.
RYE SoBo is perfectly located for urban adventure and provides a communal environment where active lifestyles blend together seamlessly – eclectic dives and shops, unique cafes and restaurants, bookstores, live music venues, and much more are at your fingertips. The distinct aesthetic and inspired vibes carry throughout the complex and neighborhood with thoughtful design and modern architectural features.
Bomanite Systems Equate to Installation Success
The RYE SoBo apartment complex incorporates 2,800 SF of decorative flatwork and 8,400 SF of uncolored sidewalks that were installed by Bomanite Licensee Colorado Hardscapes. Included in these installations were Bomanite Exposed Aggregate Systems and Bomanite Toppings Systems. Working with Price Design Group as the general contractor and BrightView as the landscape architect, Colorado Hardscapes integrated a specialty scoring pattern into the Bomanite Sandscape Texture sidewalks around the building and achieved the different colors using Bomanite Con-Color in Cobblestone and French Gray. Bomanite Sandscape Texture decorative concrete was an optimal application for this installation to provide added durability while inserting a decorative element that blends well with the artistic nature of Broadway Park.
Bomanite Micro Top-XT is one of Bomanite’s Toppings System applications and has extraordinary adhesion properties and the ability to withstand prolonged pedestrian and vehicular traffic, while also providing a tough, water-retardant coating that made it perfect for this installation. On the northeast side of the RYE SoBo Apartments, Colorado Hardscapes placed 300 SF of custom colored Bomanite Micro-Top XT in a pattern created by prominent Colorado artist, Clark Richert. Known primarily for his large, geometrically patterned paintings, Richert derived his work through investigation of five-fold symmetry and quasi-crystal patterns found both in nature and theoretical mathematics. With 15 different colors in the design, placing each color was laborious and tedious, but perfectly executed by the Colorado Hardscapes team. Each color is surrounded by a saw cut to accentuate the crisp lines and enhance the dimensionality of the art piece.
You can see this beautiful work of art in person off Alameda in the alleyway between Bannock Street and Cherokee Street in Denver’s South Broadway neighborhood. Richert originally wanted to use embedded mosaic tiles in concrete to create his piece, but once he saw how vivid and solid Bomanite MicroTop-XT could make each section, it was absolute that Colorado Hardscapes would employ this application instead. Projects like this are where Bomanite products really shine, allowing the RYE SoBo apartment complex to showcase Richert’s iconic art while enhancing the iconic energy and inspired vibes of the area.
Award Winning Decorative Concrete
Colored, stamped, etched, or sandblasted, today’s architectural concrete is limited only by the imagination. Colorado Hardscapes is a national leader in decorative concrete innovation, offering premium quality and lifelong durability in their finished products. Their collaboration with late artist, Clark Richert led them to create a work of art for the RYE SoBo apartment complex, earning them the 2021 Best Bomanite Toppings Project Gold Award for their Bomanite Micro-Top XT installation.Superior service, successful execution, and unbeatable results time and time again are what make Colorado Hardscapes the Front Range’s premier decorative concrete contractor.
Maravillosa at Campus Pointe is a luxury senior apartment community in Fresno, California. This breathtaking retirement community is located in the heart of the city with nearby shopping, amazing restaurants, a movie theater, coffee shops, and the local farmer’s market. The pet-friendly apartment community is also close to local parks for both dog and owner to enjoy.
Maravillosa is an active adult community with conveniences that are curated for the residents including a community garden, game room, library, and an outdoor pool area for swimming and lounging. Heritage Bomanite was enlisted to carry out the owner’s vision for the outdoor pool deck and patio and provide a relaxed, elegant space for the residents to enjoy year-round, utilizing Bomanite Exposed Aggregate Systems for the installation.
Safety Features and Stylish Design
Bomanite Exposed Aggregate Systems offer a variety of modernized mixes and an unlimited palette of colors, textures, and aggregate options to choose from. Bomanite Sandscape® Texture decorative concrete was installed to create the pool deck and patio and was specifically picked in place of flagstone pavers to create a consistent paving surface while providing cost savings and a high-quality finish. Sandscape® Texture by Bomanite is designed for outdoor applications, making it the ideal choice for the pool deck area at Maravillosa because it will provide increased surface and slip resistance for pool-side patrons and their guests.
Design Collaboration Equates to Design Success
Heritage Bomanite worked closely with Wallace & Smith General Contractors and project designer Broussard Associates Landscape Architects to create a superior hardscape surface that would be cost-effective while providing extreme durability and safety for the residents. Bomanite Sandscape® Texture is a tried-and-true favorite for both Heritage Bomanite and the project designer and to take the design to the next level, intricate sawcuts were incorporated into the flatwork design. This feature perfectly enhances the stylish, sophisticated aesthetic across the Maravillosa grounds, adding decorative detail and providing another elegant element of design.
Award Winning Decorative Concrete
Heritage Bomanite has developed a reputation for high quality, excellent customer service and superior product design and installation. They strive to provide the very highest level of quality installation, which is beautifully showcased at Maravillosa Senior Living, and earned them the 2021 Honorable Mention Award for Best Bomanite Exposed Aggregate Systems Project. Their top-quality service and support combined with their detailed installation resulted in a stunning pool deck and patio that complements the exterior aesthetic and will provide safety and sophisticated style for the Maravillosa residents.
Every homeowner seeks that special WOW factor that says elegant, opulent, and posh when it comes to curb appeal. These Toronto, CA, homeowners achieved it by contracting Bomanite Licensee, Bomanite Toronto, to complete a full home decorative concrete project which included the front driveway, back patio, pool deck and stairs. The project was a total 2,200 sq. ft. of concrete using Bomanite Exposed Aggregate Systems including two of those systems, Bomanite Sandscape® Texture and Bomanite Sandscape Refined. The front driveway was completed in a natural exposed aggregate using Bomanite Sandscape® Texture which is designed for outdoor applications creating consistent texture and durable hardscapes. Utilizing specialized mix designs, additives, topical treatments and advanced application procedures, Bomanite Sandscape® Texture resembles sand blasted concrete. The final product is a monolithic concrete slab with a low life cycle cost due to the pre-aged nature of the surface and is a unique and beautiful alternate to other decorative concrete finishes.
On the back patio, pool deck and stairs, Bomanite Toronto installed Bomanite Sandscape Refined to emulate Indiana Limestone. The effect is nothing less than stunning! Beyond the aesthetic appeal, this extremely light color creates a light-reflecting surface which helps eliminate the heat island effect of normal concrete and keeps the concrete temperature low and walkable for bare feet. The finished Bomanite Sandscape Refined product resembles fine textured stone or etched limestone block with light sand exposure throughout the surface. The resulting texture is known as “sugar cube finish”, meaning the feel of the concrete mimics the texture of formed sugar cubes. Bomanite Sandscape Refined is an architectural exposed concrete with a very fine exposure depth and longer lasting than paved stone. With the additional desirable attributes of a more durable abrasion-resistant surface that is more cost effective than natural materials, Bomanite Sandscape Refined is the perfect solution for this project.
Expertise Meets Customers’ Needs
Bomanite Toronto Ltd. operates under three guarantees: top quality, unbeatable value, and professional service. They only work with a network of licensed concrete contractors with the specific skills and necessary resources to maintain its high standard of quality and provide the expected caliber of decorative concrete services. This highly skilled network of concrete craftsmen has access to the manufacturing and technical support from Bomanite. Bomanite Toronto prides itself in corporate responsibility and a vast quantity of projects that showcase their abilities to provide spectacular solutions and solve specific project specifications.
A visit to Bomanite Toronto’s extensive showroom stimulates your imagination and allows you to realize the possibilities. Bomanite Toronto is proud of providing customers with outstanding outcomes. Through hard work and quality performance, they have been able to complete beautiful results for over 40 years. They excel at decorative outdoor living spaces. At Bomanite Toronto Ltd. you will find and explore concrete flooring and paving that is innovative enough to capture and complement the beauty of the surrounding environment, yet durable and easy to maintain. It’s a fun experience seeing possibilities in decorative concrete you haven’t even imagined yet.
Only Bomanite Licensed Contractors have access to Bomanite products, systems, technology, training and tools. This is the only way to maintain quality and it’s worked for over sixty years. Experience. Consistency. Training. Service. Support. Quality products installed by quality people. Bomanite architectural concrete products offer the design flexibility and versatility you’ve only dreamed about. Bomanite Sandscape Refined is an architectural exposed concrete with a very fine exposure depth using non-native quartz aggregates bond in Bomanite Color Hardener that is surface seeded on concrete. The Bomanite Sandscape Refined System utilizes specialized concrete mix designs, dry shake color hardener and/or integral color, topical treatments and advanced application procedures to produce a finished product that showcases the fine aggregate. Bomanite Sandscape Refined is intended for both new construction and major renovation projects.
Award Winning Decorative Concrete
Bomanite Toronto earned the 2021 Best Bomanite Exposed Aggregate Systems Project Bronze Award for this project by making Bomanite Sandscape Refined the star of the show. This project is another example of their enduring and established concrete craftsmanship. The homeowners will enjoy the pristine beauty of their backyard and appreciate the low maintenance, walkability, and durability qualities built into the design and choice of their decorative concrete. The finished project is sure to be the eye-catching envy of the neighborhood for many years to come.
Market Station is downtown Denver’s newest development and includes the entire city block bounded by 16th, 17th, Market, and Blake Streets. This revitalization project combined 80,000 SF of retail, 95,000 SF of office space, 225 residences, and below grade parking. To create additional indoor/outdoor space, the Market Station Basecamp was created by activating the alley way area. This paseo features design details that celebrate the outdoor recreation culture of Colorado and offers an active space for the public to enjoy food, drink, art, and interaction.
Project developer Continuum Partners contracted with landscape architecture firm, Dig Studio, to figure out the hardscape design on the decks, along the streets, and throughout the paseo. Having successfully worked with both firms in addition to Kiewit, the general contractor, Colorado Hardscapes was selected to perform the concrete installations. Colorado Hardscapes worked with Dig Studio to develop the colors, the scoring layout, and construction details, becoming a partner in the process, rather than just an installation contractor.
Form and Function Fulfilled
Multiple Bomanite systems were chosen for this project, including Bomanite Exposed Aggregate Systems and Bomanite Toppings Systems. Dig Studio chose Bomanite Sandscape Texture with alternately stained panels. The initial design called for a more pointed saw cut design that resembled a chevron pattern, but Colorado Hardscapes recommended a reduction in the pattern angle to prevent cracking. Determining the darker color on alternate panels of the Bomanite Sandscape Texture concrete required several rounds of samples, including a 150 SF mockup at the Colorado Hardscapes yard, which led to the use of Bomanite Paténe Artectura featuring Bomanite Ebony Chemical Stain.
The entire scope of work included approximately 18,753 SF of Bomanite Sandscape Texture flatwork. Used in combination with a variety of color and staining options, Bomanite Sandscape Texture creates consistent texture and durability, making it ideal for this application at Market Station. Furthermore, broom finished sidewalks, various walls, benches, trench drains, planter walls, planter curbs, truncated domes, curb and gutter, storm inlets, specialty sawcuts, staining, and Bomanite Micro-Top walls were also completed by Colorado Hardscapes.
Challenges and Achievements
Project challenges included developing a thickness and reinforcement that would qualify the pavement for emergency equipment access. Additionally, due to construction scheduling, the pavement could not be continuously placed, but had to be poured in a manner that allowed it to look as if all concrete was completed in one pour.
These challenges were on top of having to coordinate the snow melt system, which required an extra layer of mesh and proper placement of chairs for all the reinforcement and snowmelt tubing so that the concrete could be sawcut without cutting through the radiant tubing. The layout of the scoring also needed to meet both the crack control concerns as well as the decorative scoring needs. Despite the many technical challenges that came with this project, the uniqueness of the paseo has created a memorable spot for those living in the area or visiting Denver for the first time.
Colorado Hardscapes values the back-and-forth discussion with their clients because it allows for a better understanding of the project, reduces the chances of unexpected outcomes, and better establishes expectations. Colorado Hardscapes was specifically chosen for this project to provide a premier Bomanite Sandscape Texture finish with precise staining and complex, detailed sawcuts and rightfully so as they earned the 2021 Best Bomanite Exposed Aggregate Systems Project Gold Award for their spectacular execution. Their accuracy and expertise in the installation of Bomanite Sandscape Texture decorative concrete at Market Station aided in transforming the heart of LoDo, providing a paseo with a unique, urban aesthetic, and creating an extraordinary alternative destination.
The Stowers Institute for Medical Research was founded by Jim and Virginia Stowers, who sought to create a highly collaborative, intellectually stimulating environment where scientists could freely share their ideas and create a synergy that would spur great discoveries.
Jim trained as a physician and Virginia had a career as a registered nurse, giving the couple a profound understanding of the medical field and the role that medical research plays in the treatment and prevention of diseases. They both had personal experiences with cancer as well, which solidified their decision to dedicate their personal fortune toward creating one of the world’s most influential centers for foundational research. Jim Stowers said “Virginia and I are both cancer survivors and we know firsthand the fear and loneliness that come with the diagnosis of a life-threatening disease. So, it was natural to think about how we might offer help and hope to others facing cancer and other diseases.”
Durability and Beauty by Design
The Stowers Institute research campus officially opened in November 2000 after five years of construction. Almost 21 years later, the facility grounds needed a few upgrades, one of which was replacing the entry walkways. Musselman and Hall Contractors worked with local landscape architecture firm Confluence to develop the site improvement plan. Utilizing samples and mock-up design, Musselman and Hall presented the Stowers Institute with a plan to renovate the entry using Bomanite Exposed Aggregate Systems. Bomanite Exposed Aggregate Systems provide innovative systems, longer-lasting products, and a variety of mix designs that combine needed durability with desired beauty.
Bomanite Sandscape Texture was the product of choice to create the decorative concrete paving surface at the Stowers Institute. Sandscape Texture by Bomanite is designed for outdoor applications where an alternate to conventional concrete finishes is desired. The finished product resembles sand blasted concrete and is used in combination with a variety of color and staining options, creating consistent texture and durability.
The Stowers Institute needed to restore the paving under the covered front walkway and the design provided by Musselman and Hall included demolition of the old surface and replacement of the entry sidewalks with a two-toned, integrally colored Sandscape Texture paving pattern. This 7,400 square foot installation was broken into two phases to accommodate operations at the Stowers Institute.
Additionally, Musselman and Hall commissioned a very detailed sandblast stencil through Floormaps to represent the logo of the Stowers Institute. The sandblasted logo was an extremely important detail and had to reflect the Stowers logo accurately. Musselman and Hall provided a mock-up design, and the client was blown away by the detail and accuracy. This successful execution resulted in a long-lasting tribute to the couple that started it all – Jim and Virginia Stowers.
Lasting Legacies
With more than a century of construction heritage dating back to the late 1800’s, Musselman & Hall Contractors is known as one of the mid-west’s longest-standing general contractors. They have been building the surrounding communities over the last century, while simultaneously building and establishing long-lasting relationships for the past 100 years.
The Stowers founded the Stowers Institute with a vision of providing cutting edge research to help stamp out diseases and their 2-billion-dollar investment in the Institute has allowed it to continue its mission to aid humanity. Even as the second of the founders passed away recently, their legacy stands firm and their desire and mission to give people hope for a better life is being carried forward.
Award Winning Decorative Concrete
Musselman and Hall Contractors values long-term customer relationships, creating true connections with their customers and clients. This attention to detail and personalization of design at the Stowers Institute earned them the 2021 Silver Award for Best Bomanite Exposed Aggregate Systems Project. Their skillful execution and the stunning sandscape finish complements the surrounding gardens and will provide a long-lasting concrete paving surface as well as an enduring tribute to Jim and Virginia Stowers.
McGregor Square is the new 17,000 square foot urban use facility in the heart of Lower Downtown Denver. Bringing the best of Denver to you, McGregor Square spans an entire block adjacent to Coors Field and offers various restaurants, retail outlets, an expansive food-hall, and a stadium-sized LED screen. The center of the square is the outdoor plaza, which was built to provide a pre- and post-game gathering place for Colorado Rockies fans, as well as a year-round destination for concerts, festivals, and movie nights.
Bomanite Licensee Colorado Hardscapes worked with general contractor Hensel Phelps to install several components on the project, including polished concrete benches with a form-finished face, uncolored and colored Sandscape®, gray broomed concrete, custom trench drains, stairs, and a few ADA ramps.
Bomanite Systems Provide Stunning Results
Bomanite Custom Polishing Systems offer a revolutionary approach to designing with architectural concrete, providing long-lasting durability and exceptional abrasion resistance. Bomanite VitraFlor is the standard on which all other Bomanite systems are based, providing cost efficiency, functionality, and superior style and was the product of choice to create the polished concrete benches in the outdoor plaza.
In collaboration with project designer Stantec, Colorado Hardscapes went through three generations of mockup polished benches to provide a shape that was both aesthetically pleasing as well as structurally sound and through this development created exactly what the client was looking for. The biggest challenges on-site were forming the benches and setting the grades in relation to the plaza.
Colorado Hardscapes also utilized Bomanite Exposed Aggregate Systems for this project. Bomanite Sandscape Texture was installed to provide a modernized, long lasting, and durable paving surface over the splashpad area at McGregor Square and was an optimal choice as it is known for the sand texture on its surface and is an appropriate finish for wet areas due to its anti-slip yet walkable nature. The diamond sawcut pattern and alternating integral colored concrete was perfect to add an extra decorative touch, connecting the two sections of polished concrete benches.
Award Winning Decorative Concrete
Colorado Hardscapes takes special pride in being the concrete contractor of choice for many of Colorado’s largest General Contractors. They are dedicated to installing top-quality decorative concrete and incorporating premium products installed by committed craftsmen, which results in long lasting, innovative, and beautifully intricate concrete.
The 2021 Honorable Mention Award for Best Bomanite Exposed Aggregate Systems Project was earned by Colorado Hardscapes for their exceptional quality Sandscape Texture installation at McGregor Square. Par for the course, their superior craftsmanship resulted in durable and distinctive feature pieces that will be well utilized and will stand the test of time. Colorado Hardscapes leads by example, installing exceptional quality work on every job, going above and beyond to meet client needs and exceed expectations on every project.
A resounding round of applause greeted these talented Bomanite decorative concrete craftsmen. Bomanite proudly presents the Annual Decorative Concrete Project Award winners! The Bomanite Annual Conference was held in Snohomish, WA, in March which culminated with the Annual Banquet Dinner where the awards were presented. It was wonderful for everyone involved to meet in person once again, to see maskless smiling faces, and to get jeans and hands covered with concrete. If you want to create phenomenal decorative concrete, you have to create muscle memory by getting your hands involved. The concrete craftsmen gather annually to learn hands on new trade techniques, business strategies and exchange ideas with Bomanite Licensees from around the world.
With a vast knowledge and years of experience, these Bomanite Craftsmen define decorative concrete. Strong. Durable. Artistic. Creative. Bomanite Licensees work on anywhere from multimillion-dollar commercial projects to affordable residential housing, new builds, and improvements, and everything in between.
Texas Bomanite received the Best Bomanite Patène Artectura Project – GRAND AWARD for their stunningly gorgeous work on the Hotel Drover in Fort Worth, TX. Using our Bomanite Coloration Systems Patène Artectura and Bomanite Modena SL with Chemical Stain, Texas Bomanite was able to achieve a consistent and beautiful look throughout the many diverse architectural areas of the hotel. They provided decorative concrete flooring in the hotel lobby, levels 1 & 2 of the offices, levels 2-6, the event barn bar area, outside the event barn restrooms, and stained concrete columns in the event barn.
Carolina Bomanite Corporation, Mt. Holly, NC, received the Best Bomanite Imprint Systems Project GOLD AWARD for their pretty and professional craftsmanship at Courtyard Marriott, Greenville, SC. Using the Bomanite Imprint Systems Bomanite Bomacron Patterns Running Bond Belgian Block, 10” Boardwalk, and Slate Texture, Carolina Bomanite created decorative concrete for multiple amenity and entry areas. This project was underway prior to COVID and was delayed during construction for approximately one year. The diversity, yet cohesion, of the installation of the patterns is literally enchanting and breathtaking.
Bomanite Licensee Colorado Hardscapes received the Best Bomanite Exposed Aggregate Systems Project GOLD AWARD for their distinctive decorative concrete work at the Market Station, Denver, CO. Using Bomanite Exposed Aggregate Systems with Bomanite Sandscape® Texture, Colorado Hardscapes achieved an unforgettable eye-catching decorative concrete pattern on the paseo that draws the eye directly to the chevron pattern. The paseo is located where one would normally find the alley. There were innumerable technical challenges that came with this project including having to coordinate the snow melt system so that decorative sawcuts didn’t cut through the tubing that ran beneath.
Colorado Hardscapes also captured the Best Bomanite Toppings Systems Project GOLD AWARD for their unbelievable achievement at RYE SoBo Apartments, Denver, CO, of creating the Clark Richert Abstract Art in decorative concrete titled: Four Color Intertwine – 2021. Using Bomanite Toppings Systems with Bomanite Micro-Top XT, the art piece was brought to life with fifteen different colors, and each color is surrounded by a saw cut to add to the crisp lines and enhance the dimensional look. Richert originally wanted to use embedded mosaic tiles in concrete to create his piece, but once he saw how vivid and solid Micro-Top XT could make each section, it was absolute that Colorado Hardscapes utilize that product instead.
Bomanite Licensee Premier Concrete Construction took home the Best Bomanite Custom Polishing Systems GOLD AWARD for their dazzling decorative concrete work at Colonial Theater Keene, Keene, NH. Using Bomanite Custom Polishing Systems with Bomanite Modena TG Epoxy Terrazzo they were able to achieve stunning results on the flooring, pre-cast cove base, and pre-cast stairs and risers. All included two colors and a diamond strip pattern. Supply chain issues that would have delayed the project for five months after the scheduled to begin forced Premier Concrete Construction to set up their own shop to pre-cast 300LF of cove base and the full set of stairs and risers per spec.
We’d like to thank all the Bomanite licensed contractors who submitted entries for this year’s award contest. The Bomanite Decorative Concrete Annual Project Awards has been a tradition for more than 50 years for Bomanite Licensed Contractors to submit their outstanding projects. Bomanite Licensees compete among the best of the best to be recognized for their hard work and creative talents. The winners are announced at the Bomanite Annual Conference, held in various cities from year to year. This is a taste of artwork and craftsmanship in the decorative concrete market that can be achieved by the Bomanite network of decorative concrete craftsmen. Additional awards were given for Silver, Bronze, and Honorable Mention categories. Please take a look at the award-winning projects.
2021 List of Bomanite Award Winners
Bomanite Imprint Systems
HONORABLE MENTION: Carolina Bomanite Corporation – The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery – Charlotte, NC – Bomacron Pattern: Running Bond Belgian Block
HONORABLE MENTON: Connecticut Bomanite Systems – Branford Route 1 and 2 Roundabout – Branford, CT – Bomacron Pattern: Ashlar Slate and Herringbone Brick
BRONZE: Connecticut Bomanite Systems – Downtown Danbury Transit Oriented Development – Danbury, CT – Bomacron Pattern: Medium Ashlar Slate, Soldier Course Belgian Block
SILVER: Beyond Concrete – Dennis Collins Park – Bayonne, NJ – Bomacron Pattern: Circular Cobblestone/Granite Texture, 11-inch/6-inch Boardwalk
HONORABLE MENTION: Colorado Hardscapes – McGregor Square – Denver, CO – Bomanite Sandscape® Texture Exposed Aggregate System
HONORABLE MENTION: Heritage Bomanite — Maravillosa Senior Living – Fresno, CA – Bomanite Sandscape® Texture Exposed Aggregate System
BRONZE: Bomanite Toronto – Sunset Drive Private Residence – Toronto, Ontario, Canada – Bomanite Sandscape® Texture Exposed Aggregate System and Bomanite Sandscape Refined Exposed Aggregate System
SILVER: Musselman & Hall Contractors, LLC – Stowers Institute for Medical Research – Kansas City, MO – Bomanite Sandscape® Texture Exposed Aggregate System
GOLD: Colorado Hardscapes – Market Station – Denver, CO – Bomanite Sandscape® Texture Exposed Aggregate System
Bomanite Toppings Systems
GOLD: Colorado Hardscapes – RYE SoBo Apartments – Clark Richert Abstract Art – Denver, CO – Bomanite Toppings System Micro-Top XT
Bomanite Specialty Project
HONORABLE MENTION: Bomanite Artistic Concrete – WestStar Tower at Hunt Plaza – El Paso, TX – Bomanite Specialty Project – Specialty Walls
Bomanite Custom Polishing Systems
BRONZE: Premier Concrete Construction – Laflamme Residence – Etna, NH – Bomanite Belcolore Custom Polishing System and Bomanite Modena SL Custom Polishing System
SILVER: Musselman & Hall Contractors, LLC – Westview Elementary – Excelsior Springs, MO – Bomanite VitraFlor Custom Polishing System
GOLD: Premier Concrete Construction – Colonial Theater Keene – Keene, NH – Bomanite Modena TG Epoxy Terrazzo Custom Polishing System
Bomanite Patène Artectura Project – GRAND AWARD
GRAND AWARD: Texas Bomanite – Hotel Drover – Fort Worth, TX – Bomanite Coloration Systems Patène Artectura with Bomanite Modena SL with Chemical Stain
Perpetual maintenance of an existing asphalt driveway finally became too much for this homeowner. The asphalt detracted from the curb appeal of the residence. The driveway looked old and outdated. The freezing and snowy Concord, NH, winters meant that maintenance had become a headache and the driveway was not durable. The homeowner reached out to Bomanite Licensee Premier Concrete Construction LLC for recommendations and guidance. Premier Concrete Construction recommended Bomanite Exposed Aggregate Systems using Bomanite Sandscape® Texture, and Bomanite Imprint Systems using Concrete Graphics with a Celtic Braid border and decorative sawcuts. The homeowner also wanted some “sparkle” in the mix of aggregates, so mirror was used to create that effect. Premier Concrete Construction worked closely with the homeowner and aided them with their color selection.
Bomanite Systems Mean Choices
Bomanite Exposed Aggregate Systems, with its variety of mix designs, offers unlimited palette colors, textures, and aggregate options to chose from. Durability and cost-effective solutions are the hallmark of the Bomanite Exposed Aggregate System. Bomanite Sandscape® Texture, using topical treatments and advanced application procedures, resembles sand blasted concrete and is an economical and durable hardscape. The aggregates used in this installation, including the mirror, gave this driveway some pop to draw the eye in and created a perfect canvas for additional decorative concrete techniques.
Bomanite Imprint Systems using Bomanite Concrete Graphics with a Celtic Braid border and decorative sawcuts give this driveway just the right curb appeal. Bomanite Concrete Graphics provides unlimited combinations of geometric patterns and colors. Your imagination is the only boundary to the creative freedom of design. In this installation the Celtic Braid border and decorative sawcuts make the driveway look wider. This is a design statement that is modern and appealing.
From Heavy Maintenance Asphalt to Pride of Ownership
Bomanite Exposed Aggregate Systems and Bomanite Imprint Systems are installed by a network of highly skilled, specially trained Licensees. Premier Concrete Construction prides themselves in meeting the installation specifications and exceeding expectations of the client for every installation. For years into the future, it will be the low maintenance part of their property they longed for. This driveway has reignited the pride of ownership for this homeowner.
A K-5 school that enrolls 83% economically disadvantaged students, Chamberlain Elementary in New Britain, CT, has completed a stunning $55 million renovation that has the students exited to go to school every day. It’s not just about the curriculum, nor the quality of the teaching staff, but the overall ambiance and esthetics of a school can create a conducive atmosphere to make young minds more eager to learn. Connecticut Bomanite Systems, as part of the renovation, was contracted by the main contractor, Mather Construction, to build two front entries, three patios, and a stepped seating area, all in decorative concrete.
The architect at Kaestle Boos Associates, Inc., had a firm idea of what he wanted as the final outcome. He wanted a “plank” layout, and based on that, Connecticut Bomanite guided him towards Bomanite Exposed Aggregate Systems using Bomanite Sandscape® Texture. To achieve the plank layout, Connecticut Bomanite made the control sawcut layout 10’ by 10’ and the remainder of the sawcuts were decorative. The “planks” were colored with Walnut Bomanite ConColor. The surrounding decorative concrete used Bomanite Integral color Travertine Beige. A consistent and very eye-pleasing look and feel was achieved throughout the entire installation.
For this project, Connecticut Bomanite Systems received the 2022 Honorable Mention Award for Best Bomanite Exposed Aggregate Systems Project. Stakeholders, community leaders, community families and their children were very pleased with the decorative concrete created by these innovative creative craftsmen. Connecticut Bomanite has long been known for its resolute commitment to quality and mastering the technical aspects of architectural concrete. Chamberlain Elementary School can enjoy the benefits of this project long after this current batch of students graduates and have children of their own.
