2006 Decorative & Durable Designs Concrete Pavement Awards

JUDGES Jonathan Brooke, RLA, ASLA, is affiliated with Douglas Hoerr Landscape Architecture, Inc., a Chicago-based firm that offers site planning, garden

JUDGES

Jonathan Brooke, RLA, ASLA, is affiliated with Douglas Hoerr Landscape Architecture, Inc., a Chicago-based firm that offers site planning, garden design, and maintenance consulting.

Chris Anderson is a superintendent for Bulley & Andrews, LLC, in Chicago. General contractors since 1891, the company today operates three units that provide, in addition to general contracting, building expertise for climate-controlled environments as well as luxury residential projects and historical restoration.

Featured this month are winning entries in the Precast category of the 2006 Concrete Pavement Awards Û Decorative and Durable Designs competition. Like the Cast-in-Place award winners showcased in our January issue, the Precast projects selected for recognition exemplify outstanding achievement in a range of applications excluding highway work. Design, craftsmanship, and site suitability were the criteria used by judges to evaluate entries in commercial, residential, and specialty/interior categories. In addition, a new award this month spotlights Editor’s Choice. The program cosponsors Û Concrete Products, the American Society of Concrete Contractors’ Decorative Concrete Council, and Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute Û congratulate the winners and appreciate the participation of all who entered the competition.

COMMERCIAL – 1ST PLACE

Atlantic Avenue Enhancement
Daytona Beach, Florida

Awarded to:

Hanson Paver Products
Pompano Beach, Florida

Paver supplier:

Hanson Paver Products
Haines City, Florida

An $8.8 million project to revitalize the city’s 1.35-mile beachfront includes 88,000 sq. ft. of interlocking pavers. Installed by local contractor Thad Construction, they form vivid images at 10 vehicular and pedestrian intersections along State Road A1A. For heightened color intensity at competitive cost, Hanson used a facemix process, allowing greater concentrations of pigment in the top 14-in. of pavers. Two shades of blue comprising the backdrop of every intersection depict the ocean and sky, while custom shades of orange, yellow, and buff add brilliance to sun, seashell and fish images. The 60 mm pavers rest on one inch of bedding sand over an 8-in.-thick concrete slab poured on top of five inches of stabilized lime rock.

COMMERCIAL – 2ND PLACE

Marina Inn at Grande Dunes
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Awarded to:

Carolina Paver & Wall Systems, LLC
Pawleys Island, South Carolina

Paver, Segmental Retaining

Wall supplier:

Cemex, Inc.
Holly Hill, South Carolina

Incorporating 50,000 sq. ft. of pavement and 9,000 sq. ft. of segmental retaining walls, the entryway and pool deck design of the four-star Marina Inn at Grande Dunes was perfected through months of collaboration between the project’s paving contractor and architect. At the entrance, a five-color blend of 80-mm tumbled pavers set on sand over poured concrete creates a shadow-box effect. Pavement fronting the facility, which houses a conference center, hotel and waterway condominiums, accommodates mixed-use traffic including cars and buses. A variegated wall unit, fabricated on new machinery purchased by the SRW supplier specifically for this project, adds distinction to the hardscape design.

For the pool deck, time and budget constraints dictated the selection of 60-mm tumbled, white cement-based pavers outlined in units of contrasting color. That solution proved especially fortuitous when other trades failed to install underground work prior to pool deck construction: substantial demolition was avoided in reopening an area to place pipes. Without pavers, the contractor observes, the delay could have consumed days or weeks instead of hours.

COMMERCIAL – HONORABLE MENTION

The Estate Villas of Bella Clancy
Rancho Mirage, California

Awarded to:

Farley Interlocking
Pavingstones
Palm Desert, California

Paver supplier:

Belgard/Oldcastle
Fontana, California

After a summer spent touring Italy’s countryside, the developer of Bella Clancy’s 20 estate villas was determined to re-create the charm of a Tuscan village, combining elements of home and earth to evoke a sense of organic growth by which villas appear as outcroppings of the natural environment. Streets and parking lots comprising 46,500 sq. ft. of Belgard Mega Bergerac (textured, tumbled, four-piece) pavers in a random pattern bordered by a Toscana-tinted random soldier course complement the six authentic, brick or stone, Tuscan village exteriors showcased at The Estate Villas of Bella Clancy. Further accentuating the Tuscan ambience, approximately 3,500 to 6,000 sq. ft. of Belgard Dublin Modular, Bergerac, and tumbled Hollandstone pavers are featured in residential driveway, courtyard, and pool-deck installations.

RESIDENTIAL – 1ST PLACE

Score Residence
Hudson, Wisconsin

Awarded to:

Villa Landscapes
Oakdale, Minnesota

Paver, Retaining Wall Block suppliers:

Willow Creek Paving Stones
Oakdale, Minnesota
and
Versa-Lok Retaining
Wall Systems
Oakdale, Minnesota

An elaborate, three-tier, outdoor landscape reflects the skillful assembly of 2,046 sq. ft. of Versa-Lok Chestnut Blend Standard modular block and the expert installation of 1,932 sq. ft. of Willow Creek three-piece, random pattern Chestnut Blend Cobblestone pavers. Following excavation, retaining walls, landings, and stairs were constructed on six inches of Class 5 base material over undisturbed subsoil; benches, planters, and columns were likewise installed. For paver landings, terraces, and patios, the base consists of Ê-in. clear, granular, select fill. Underlayment fabric was used to separate subsoils from both Class 5 and Ê-in. base materials.

The patio’s surface offers enhanced functionality as well as heightened visual appeal. Subtly distinguishing the dining area is an elevated circular terrace. A contrasting recessed, semicircular, amphitheater-like fire-pit patio accommodates adults and children alike.

RESIDENTIAL – 2ND PLACE

Giles Road Residence
Omaha, Nebraska

Awarded to:

Paver Designs
Omaha, Nebraska

Paver supplier:

Watkins Concrete Co.
Omaha, Nebraska

The entire 2,100-sq.-ft. project Û from design through installation Û was completed by a two-man, father-and-son team in approximately two months. Beyond a single restriction set by the owners, i.e., a low-profile southern edge to preserve the view of deer, turkeys, woodchucks and other wildlife from south-facing windows, a priority in designing the hardscape was safety for children and adults of all ages. No step-downs within the patio ensures obstacle-free navigation, while a planting border between terrace and retaining walls minimizes the risk of tumbling over ledges. A gently sloping paver sidewalk, furthermore, connects the patio to the driveway; and, a large paver landing flush with the patio-door threshold forms a six-inch step to the pavement.

Pavestone brand units were selected in several colors for contrast and accent. After a field of Rivertown Vintage Stone Heritage pavers was installed, flowers and vines were outlined and cut into the patio. All designs as well as the soldier course border were created with Hollandstone pavers in pewter, red and sandstone hues. Flower petals were sketched freehand, and a template was constructed for the leaves. First cut in half for the petals and leaves, pavers were then cut again as needed to form curves. Using pavers sized at two-thirds length for the main vine maintained proper proportions within the overall scheme. Techniseal polymeric sand stabilized joints, and paver enhancer on flowers, vines and leaves added surface protection.

Retaining walls were constructed of 3- and 6-in., limestone-colored Anchor Highland blocks. Set into randomly selected wall units are large, flat river stones cut in half and glued into 1-in.-deep, chiseled pockets. Outlets in the retaining wall facilitate runoff into the yard from six drains camouflaged by river pebbles within the landscaped area around the patio. Adjoining columns are topped by spheres fabricated and painted at the family’s small concrete lawn-ornament shop.

A steeply sloping yard necessitated installation of the raised patio on a base comprising 162 tons of crushed, recycled concrete. At its shallowest points, the base material is 12 inches deep. One inch of paver sand was screeded over the base after final compaction. Fastened to the base with 12-in. galvanized spikes, Pave-Tech edging provides border restraint.

RESIDENTIAL – HONORABLE MENTION

Waal Residence
Alamo, California

Awarded to:

paviours + scapes
San Ramon, California

Paver supplier:

Brickyard Building Materials
Concord, California

Inspired by Michelangelo’s Piazza di Campodoglio in Rome, the 1,800-sq.-ft. front courtyard of the Italian-style villa features patterns formed by the contrasting colors and textures of granite porphyry and concrete pavers. To assemble the design, 4-in. granite cubes had to be individually cut to match the 60-mm thickness of Calstone Quarry pavers in Tuscan Gold. The units were installed on a 1-in. bed of sand. Length of construction for the entire installation was two months.

RESIDENTIAL – HONORABLE MENTION

Rondeau Residence
Port Perry, Ontario

Awarded to:

Brooklin Concrete
Brooklin, Ontario

Paver supplier:

Brooklin Concrete
Brooklin, Ontario

Spanning over 3,000 sq. ft., the patio and pool deck project was recognized by judges for its understated elegance and the exquisite craftsmanship by which even blemishes were skillfully introduced to simulate natural surroundings. The pavers’ color, texture and configuration blend seamlessly with landscaped features, as curvilinear borders add further grace and a sense of ease to the setting. Construction was completed in approximately one month.

SPECIALTY/INTERIOR – HONORABLE MENTION

Private Residence
Southern California

Awarded to:

Farley Interlocking
Pavingstones
Palm Desert, California

Paver supplier:

Olsen Paving Stones
San Juan Capistrano, California

After traveling extensively and living in France, the homeowner sought to mimic the rustic appearance of hand-cut stone floors, sans mortar, typical of ancient French castles. To that end, a recessed subslab was poured before pavers were placed over a sand bed. Techniseal polymeric sand was then applied to stabilize joints.

Beautifully textured, hand-selected pavers suit a variety of areas in the house. For the great room, storage area, powder room, foyer, and patios, Kingdom Cobble 9_9 pavers in Telaga Blend (a mix of tan brown and neutral limestone colors) were installed in running bond with a broken joint. Also in Telaga Blend, 60-mm Kingdom Cobble (tumbled three-stone combo) pavers were placed in a random pattern for the office/den and casita floor, including closets and bath. The garage floor features 60-mm Country Cobble (tumbled 6_9) pavers in a grey/brown/limestone Adobe Blend set in a herringbone pattern.

French craftsmen were enlisted to fine tune the pavement coloration with stains and lacquer sealers. Aromatic French waxes applied to the floors exude an appealing fragrance and provide limited protection against stains and spills, which the homeowner attests will only add to the surface patina.

EDITOR’S CHOICE

Thomas Hunter Lowe
House of Delegates Building
Annapolis, Maryland

Awarded to:

Interlock Paving, Inc.
Baltimore, Maryland

Paver supplier:

Hanover Architectural Products
Hanover, Pennsylvania

Incorporating the Maryland state flag in the pavement design was an obvious choice, since the plaza fronts the capitol where state legislators convene. The building is a new three-story office addition with two levels of underground parking for Maryland House and Senate members.

To replicate the pattern Û one of the most intricate among all the country’s state flags Û Hanover 11Ê- _ 11Ê- _ 2-in. pavers in four custom colors (M2400 yellow, M1428 black, M1822 red, and M2564 white) were set on a Ê-in. asphalt bed with a neoprene tack coat over a 4-in.-thick concrete slab. A finish 13 completes the Maryland flag design.

Despite its elaborate scheme, the 260-sq.-ft. installation was completed in two days. Delineating a grid pattern on the asphalt setting bed facilitated paver placement, and a template was used to mark cuts on the units after they were dry laid. All cuts were performed with a hand-held or table saw; no water-jet cutting was used during the course of the project.