Archives

Powerhouse Plaza

PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS/INFORMATION

Client Need:
Designers were looking for a paving material with the right texture for their vision of this plaza.

Solution:
Bomanite Licensee Colorado Hardscapes showed the designers the exclusive Bomanite Exposed Aggregate System, Sandscape Texture® by Bomanite paving installed nearby on the NCSL building and they were sold. Although the colors and patterns are quite different, the finish lends a nice texture to many design styles.

Results:
This plaza proves how concrete can take any shape. The dramatic lines of the design are enhanced by elegant, crisp Sandscape Texture paving with stained bands. Seat walls along the structure complete the look.

National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL)

PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS/INFORMATION

Client Need:
A distinctive paving was needed for the entry and front patio of the NCSL headquarters in the Lowry Redevelopment. Natural stone carved with state names needed to be integrated into the paving material at the front.

Solution:
Bomanite Licensed Contractor Colorado Hardscapes, Inc.’s integral color concrete with the exclusive Sandscape Texture® by Bomanite finish results in the distinct look. Natural stone is skillfully integrated into the concrete.

Results:
Colorado Hardscapes, Inc. (CHI) created the entrance, a conference patio, drop off zone, outdoor patio break area, and a section under a revolving door for the NCSL buildings. Sandscape Texture® by Bomanite finished concrete, poured 4 inches thick, was used. Sections were integrally colored with a variety of custom shades with standard gray interspersed at the entrance to the building. The sawcuts further distinguish the different colors and flush out the pattern. Forty-eight linear feet of six inch planter curb was used and rounded seat wall surround the rounded sections of concrete and line the grill area on one side of the building.

Tuscany Plaza

The Tuscany Plaza, located in Englewood, Colorado is a commercial building that received an updated hardscape to match its Class A status. When the Lowe Enterprises representative went to the Colorado Hardscapes’ Design Center to check out paving options for the Tuscany Plaza, he thought he was engaging in an effort of futility. How could any concrete product meet Lowes high standards and expectations?

However, after exploring the possibilities Bomanite Licensed Contractor Colorado Hardscapes had to offer, the Lowes representative was ready to recommend concrete as a replacement for tile in the atrium and walkways. The decorative concrete finish that was decided on pushed the limits of what the experts at Colorado Hardscapes had done before. It turned out to be their first project in Denver that used a lighter-than-gray integral color with the Sandscape Texture system, without using white cement. The white Lithocrete bands and the 7’ o.c.e.w. scoring required extensive forming and long straight lines. All of the concrete was installed over waterproof membrane and/ or structural concrete. Both the expansion and v-cut joints required caulking. All requiring the expertise of installation and quality craftsmanship that Colorado Hardscapes provided while meeting the first-class expectations for the paving at Tuscany Plaza.

Williams Village at the University of Colorado

PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS/INFORMATION

Project Description:

This new student housing development on the Univerty of Colorado’s campus, called Williams Village, wanted to feature high end paving at the entry, the walks, and perimeter of the building. The Landscape Architect designed the Bomanite Sandscape paving with decorative sawcuts, V-cuts and embedded Lithocrete glass to create a “stream” leading people through the space. To add accent areas and highlight the Sandscape, the design called for broom finished Integral Colored bands throughout. The free-flowing design and high-end finishes make this a unique and beautiful project. The design compliments the natural surroundings of the City of Boulder and the finishes add subtle elegance to this new development. Colorado Hardscapes worked under Christopher Concrete for this project, when Christopher saw the decorative paving and knew they could not install it per the required standards he called Colorado Hardscapes.

Centennial Center Park

The 11-acre, award winning, Centennial Center Park provides a variety of features and amenities for the community’s use. Designed for year-round family-friendly enjoyment, Centennial Center Park includes a large, covered shelter with gas fireplace and a smaller, more intimate coffee shelter for smaller gatherings.

Children of all ages will find hours of fun on one of three climbing walls, two expansive, age-appropriate play areas and the Nautilus water play area in the center of the Park. Ideally situated on a slight bluff adjacent to Centennial Civic Center, Centennial Center Park also features “butte” and “meadow” nature areas, three decorative water fountains and a two-story covered shelter to overlook the plaza or enjoy a spectacular Centennial sunset.

The Park’s unique design is intended to convey the passage of time, this concept is articulated through the integration of arches, spirals and curves into the park’s structures and many unique features. The Nautilus shape formed by the central playground complex is a prominent example of this theme.

The Park features various historical and educational elements as well. The main plaza showcases the historical timeline of the Cherry Creek Basin, including fun facts and a map of the Cherry Creek Watershed. The amphitheater’s design incorporates elements that represent the four periods of human history: Lithic, Archaic, Formative, and Classic. The “Colorado Statehood Walk” displays interesting facts about Colorado, while the “Viewfinder Walk” is an interactive trivia challenge that takes visitors on a quest throughout the Park– highlighting unique points of interests both inside and outside of the Park. Not just a place to play, but also a place to learn, Centennial Center Park is a treasure-trove of history and trivia.

Kansas City Zoo – Helzberg Penguin Plaza

The design team at Bowman Bowman Novick approached Bomanite Licensee, Musselman & Hall in 2012 to discuss the concept and determine the reality of executing the vision of the new $15 million state-of-the-art penguin exhibit at the Kansas City Zoo.  Musselman & Hall quickly assured the design team and owner that not only could the plaza be constructed per the concept but Musselman & Hall could help them go beyond that of their expectations.

Bomanite Sandscape Texture was chosen for the 2,500 square foot plaza. The entrance was engraved and stained to replicate the earth from a south pole perspective. Antarctica, Australia, South America, Africa, and the Galapagos Islands were stained into the plaza along with the oceans using several coordinating colors of Bomanite Con-Color. The stain was layered from light to dark tones to create relief and variation in the oceans and land masses. The oceans were stained a light blue near the continents; transitioning to deep, dark blue at the deepest areas of the ocean. Likewise the continents were stained. Vinyl templates/ paint masks were produced, using CAD files, for layout of the continents on the 56’ diameter globe. All longitudinal and latitudinal lines were bevel cut into the plaza. Eighteen species of penguins along with their unique footprints (to scale) were engraved into the plaza. Layout and execution was critical and accuracy was of the utmost importance to the owner and designer.

The work performed by Musselman & Hall earned them top recognition and a Gold Award for the Best Bomanite Exposed Aggregate Project of the year. The Helzberg Penguin Plaza entrance is the just the beginning to inspire people’s interest in becoming stewards of the planet’s wild penguin populations. For more information on the Helzberg Penguin Plaza and LEED Certification: http://kcparks.org/2013/11/helzberg-penguin-plaza-fact-sheet/

Fillmore Center Plaza

PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS/INFORMATION

Description:

Bomanite Licensed Contractor, Bay Area Concretes, Inc. installed 17,000 square feet of new 4” & 5” thick architectural concrete paving over 4” of sub base materials for The Fillmore Center Plaza Hardsape Renovation. Reinforcement with #4 steel rebar and dowels at all paving intersections provided the extra durability for this outdoor plaza located in San Francisco, CA. Architecturally finished cast-in-place color hardened concrete walls were installed up to 12’ high, as well as custom concrete radius seatwalls and a custom Cobalt Blue concrete fountain utilizing laser cut form materials and custom finishing tools to provide a distinctive and lively look for the nearby residents.

Bay Area Concretes employed a special exotic aggregate surface finishing technique involving the use of recycled Glass Aggregates in blue at the fountain area, red and green in the plaza area, and also a large custom green Malaysian rock blend in the highlight bands of the Plaza. The aggregate surface and the Bomanite hardscape paving was designed by AXIS Architecture + Design, in unison with Bay Area Concretes. AXIS developed design guidelines to encourage upscale retailers and food service providers to intensify and enliven the pedestrian experience of this mixed-use residential community occupying 3 city blocks.

Exposed aggregate blended paving types are typically placed over the surface of newly placed full thickness concrete at approximately 1/4”-3/8” thickness – the same day gray concrete is placed. The surface is then revealed and sealed. Bomacron Slate texture and cream color hardeners were used in the perimeter paving areas that surround the main Plaza, as well as city sidewalks in the streets of San Francisco, providing a monolithic, reinforced design and color-hardened surface of structural integrity and surface strength for hotels, theme parks, restaurants, office buildings, retail centers, and single or multi-family homes. Saw cuts were made to form the bands of design and to create a distinguished look of the alternating exposed surfaces and imprinted concrete. This newly renovated Plaza offers outdoor concerts, movies, and weekly Farmers Market to the community.

Specialty Shops on the Park

When first approached regarding this project, the design intent was to modernize one of Charlotte’s most exclusive retail outdoor shopping plazas. The existing slate, set on a concrete base was beginning to come loose, and create a hazard to customers. Several meetings with the designer, and owners were required to not only come up with a color and pattern, but to devise an installation process that would not impede daily pedestrian traffic to 12 high-end retailers. Many color samples were made and the decision was to use white cement in order to lighten the overall look of the paving. A unique imprinting pattern, exclusive only to this client was created. Several adaptations of the Bomacron T-shaped graphics pattern were used in order to provide a pattern that changed, based on the angle of the view. A custom-designed 4’ x 4’ tool was made with exclusive use to this client.

Bomanite Licensed Contractor, Carolina Bomanite was chosen to act as General Contractor for the project, with employees handling demolition, safety, forming and pouring. The owner hired an electrical sub-contractor. The main challenge was the limited working hours, limited access to many of the retail stores and the safety of pedestrians around an active construction site.

The first phase was to layout and install new cast-in-place planter walls and new fountain bases. Next was the demolition of up to 12” of concrete base plus 3-4” thick slate. New stone base was then brought in, compacted and forms set for the 3-4:00 am pours. This schedule allowed for the concrete to set enough for protective temporary walkways to be placed over the top prior to the 10:00 am opening each day. After several delays and two months of small limited pours, the plaza was awash in a new brighter color and pattern.

Portola Plaza Hotel

Bomanite Licensed Contractor, Heritage Bomanite, provided a beach boardwalk look to the existing exterior walkways using Bomanite Toppings Restoration System, Thin-Set. A custom boardwalk pattern stamp was created to fit within the existing control joints. Each plank is 6.5” wide.

Bomanite Thin-Set is a specially formulated polymer modified topping mix that will bond to any stable, structurally sound substrate. This unique system allows the installation of a thin, imprinted concrete topping when installed at 3/8” thick and can be feathered to a zero edge.

Bomanite Thin-Set is an extremely effective alternative to the demolition of an existing substrate. This product adheres to most adhesives and coatings, has excellent abrasion resistance and can be trafficked quickly. It is especially beneficial on applications where natural materials are not possible to install due to clearance issues. In remodeling applications, Bomanite Thin-Set transforms badly damaged concrete into beautiful concrete surfaces at a fraction of the cost of removal or replacement of the existing surface. From retail centers to theme parks, restaurants to hotels, commercial offices to residential applications, Bomanite Thin-Set provides a durable flooring option where the look of brick, slate, stone or wood can be achieved and will appear like other Bomanite, Bomacron surfaces.

This easy-to-install system offers numerous design options for vertical and horizontal applications, inside or outside. Over 100 Bomanite or Bomacron patterns can be utilized with this product and Bomanite’s Patène Artectura coloration system can also be incorporated with this process. Available in 60 standard colors, Bomanite Thin-Set can also be created in a wide variety of custom colors.

Eastland Community Transit Center

When you think about a public bus stop or local area transportation hub, what comes to mind? I imagine rainbows and butterflies aren’t the first images that pop in your head. Usually not thought of as the most inviting or well-kept areas, community transit stops and centers across the country are starting to change. With the need to provide clean, safe and friendly environments, city leaders and designers are looking for creative ways to enhance these high-traffic areas that are aesthetically pleasing, sustainable and cost-effective. So, what is one of the easiest ways to spruce up a dull area? The answer is just under your feet!

With a variety of innovative techniques and products, the world of concrete has changed. Say good-bye to boring, gray surfaces and hello to imagination, color and creativity. With help from local Bomanite Franchise Partner, Carolina Bomanite Corp., the city of Charlotte, NC did just that by incorporating a variety of colorful decorative concrete elements into the design of their new Eastland Community Transit Center. Carolina Bomanite used Micro-Top XT by Bomanite to bring a local artist’s vision to life by adding creative colors and an intricate curvilinear design to the open-air plaza of the facility that links nearby travel destinations.

Micro-Top XT, part of the Bomanite Toppings Systems collection, is a cementitious topping that tenaciously bonds to virtually any substrate, including concrete, wood, metal, plastic or asphalt. Not confined to the standard color palette or color limitations of chemical stains, Micro-Top XT succeeds where other coloring methods have failed. The use of this paper-thin concrete medium, allows for a total hardscape transformation by taking new, existing, or damaged concrete and turning it into unique works of art. Micro-Top can be installed as flooring, troweled up a wall, or used as accent areas for custom graphics or logos. It provides a cost-effective way to achieve multiple colors and complex designs without elaborate form work or multiple pours, saving both time and money. A flexible, creative and time-saving decorative concrete alternative; what more can you ask for?

Carolina Bomanite worked closely with Bomanite to produce custom color samples for approval by the project designers. Once the custom colors were finalized, the team was then ready to embark on the arduous 2,528 sq. ft. Micro-Top XT installation. “The project was difficult to execute in terms of installation,” says John Fletcher of Carolina Bomanite. “The architect provided a drawing with tangents, however most of the points were outside the work zone and had to be laid out by hand all under the intense 90° + July heat,” he continued. The graphic design took two days to layout by hand on the concrete base, taking great skill and precision by John Fletcher himself. It then took two days to hand-cut with grinders and a few days following to colorize the walkway.

With Carolina Bomanite’s contribution of the colorful and inviting plaza in 2006, the Eastland Community Transit Center is now a welcoming, bustling public hub for travelers and visitors alike. It truly has become a bus stop where rainbows and butterflies come to mind when asked to describe it. The project was awarded “Best Micro-Top Project Worldwide” at the Bomanite International Conference held in Las Vegas, NV in January 2007.