The quality of decorative flatwork submitted as entries for the 2008 Concrete Pavement Awards Decorative and Durable Designs program suggests that the
The quality of decorative flatwork submitted as entries for the 2008 Concrete Pavement Awards Û Decorative and Durable Designs program suggests that the cream rises to the top during turbulent economic times. Cosponsored by Concrete Products, Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute, and the American Society for Concrete Contractors’ Decorative Concrete Council, the competition showcases outstanding achievement in a range of applications excluding highway work. To that end, judges weigh each project’s design, craftsmanship, and site suitability to select winners in five categories: Precast and Cast-in-Place for Residential and Commercial projects, plus Specialty. Featured this month are winning and honorable mention cast-in-place projects to be followed by precast category winners in February.
COMMERCIAL – FIRST PLACE
The Fillmore Center San Francisco, California
Awarded to:
Bay Area Concretes, Inc.
Livermore, California
Concrete supplier:
Bode Concrete
San Fransisco, California
Bay Area Concretes, Inc., the second nationally licensed Bomanite installer worldwide, used Aggretex exposed aggregate finish to highlight a 17,000-sq.-ft. plaza renovation. Adding strength to beauty, #4 steel rebar and dowels at all paving intersections reinforce a 4- to 5-in.-thick architectural concrete layer placed over four inches of subbase. Further, project amenities include custom concrete radius seatwalls and a fountain, plus architecturally finished, color-hardened cast-in-place walls to 12 feet high.
The finishing technique incorporated recycled glass aggregates in blue at the fountain area, as well as red and green throughout the plaza, besides custom green Malaysian Ê-in. Aggretex rock blend for contrasting plaza bands. The aggregate granules typically are placed approximately ?-in. thick over freshly poured gray concrete: here, in addition to integral blue, red, and green varieties, Aggretex colored exotic rock and clear recycled glass were applied. The surface was revealed and then sealed to provide 50-plus years of exposed aggregate finish. Bomanite Slate texture skins and cream color hardeners were used to accent perimeter paved areas surrounding the main plaza.
COMMERCIAL SECOND PLACE TIE
Cordera Elementary
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Awarded to:
Colorado Hardscapes, Inc.
Denver, Colorado
Concrete supplier:
Lafarge
Colorado Springs, Colorado
A 2,300-sq.-ft. hardscape installation serves as an in-ground sculpture depicting underwater features and creatures of the San Diego – La Jolla Underwater Park. Using the Lithocrete system to ensure durability, installers incorporated recycled glass of 12 colors to create a scintillating surface and embedded more than 100 bronze, life-sized images of fish and invertebrates, dive flags and icons. Thus, creators of The Map achieved a verisimilitude that provides an opportunity for children and the general public to learn about ocean preservation and conservation.
COMMERCIAL – SECOND PLACE TIE
Kellogg Park
San Diego, California
Awarded to:
T.B. Penick & Sons, Inc.
San Diego, California
Concrete supplier:
Vulcan Materials Co.
San Diego, California
The 45,000-sq.-ft. exterior pavement surrounding a vertical shaft [gnomon] at Chinook Trail Elementary School functions as a sundial, offering valuable education outside the classroom. Colorful paving coordinates the east/west equinox and seasonal hour lines. After installing a 4-in.-thick layer of uncolored Sandscape Textured concrete reinforced with wire mesh, technicians stained the pavement with Honolulu Blue, Sunshine, Ashley Gray, and Soft Chamois Benjamin Moore colors. V-cut joints provide crack control.
Detailing includes black-stained 2-in. hour lines and 24-ft. bands at the solstice lines, plus sandblasted 12-in. numerals. A 24-in. border at the perimeter unifies the entire design, which is covered with a concrete sealer.
COMMERCIAL HONORABLE MENTION
Del Monte Plaza Fountain & Hardscape
Monterrey, California
Awarded to:
Bay Area Concretes, Inc.
Livermore, California
Concrete supplier:
Las Animas
Marina, California
An elaborate compass design Û depicting the four cardinal points Û began with 4,000 sq. ft. of architectural concrete installed four inches thick over a 4-in. sub-base and reinforced with #4 steel rebar and dowels at paving intersections. Providing a contrasting field that accentuates compass elements is an Aggretex finish of recycled glass aggregates in several shades of blue and green, placed to a thickness of approximately ? in. over freshly poured gray concrete. The pinwheel design thus created complements the inlaid Compass Rose achieved by means of a custom Water Bomanite texture stamp and color hardener. All lines are saw cut.
Brass compass tips and N, S, E, W letters were structurally formed into void locations prior to concrete placement and water jet-finished to meet slip-coefficient standards. Bomanite Slate texture skins and cream color hardeners provided a contrasting finish for perimeter paving surrounding the compass. Additionally, the historical fountain was restored with custom molded concrete replacement sections, as well as Bomanite MicroToppings to replicate the original surface.
COMMERCIALHONORABLE MENTION
North Island Credit Union
San Diego, California
Awarded to:
T.B. Penick & Sons, Inc.
San Diego, California
Concrete supplier:
Hanson
San Diego, California
Accentuating The Island theme of the new, six-story North Island Credit Union headquarters, its front-entry plaza features a 20-ft.-diameter Lithocrete Litho Mosaic. The hardscape imagery, designed by artist Wick Alexander, depicts Pacific Ocean scenes and San Diego landmarks: Coronado Bay Bridge, Santa Fe Rail Station, San Diego Missions, and Hotel Del Coronado. Mosaic tiles from Cuernavaca, Mexico, and regions nationwide were placed into freshly poured concrete to create the in-ground sculpture. Also featured is Lithocrete flatwork incorporating an intricate saw-cut pattern seeded with light-green aggregate of various sizes to resemble breaking surf.
In the building interior, the same aggregates highlight architectural walls and HD Lithocrete flooring in elevators and lobbies on all six levels. Further integrating outer and inner elements, a complex and precise layout of terrazzo strips in circular patterns Û mimicking the exterior saw-cuts Û adorns the 3,000-sq.-ft. main lobby. Polished concrete countertops are featured in restrooms on each floor, as well as the main cafeteria. Project principals are seeking LEED Silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.
RESIDENTIAL – FIRST PLACE
Canyon Stone Residence
Peoria, Arizona
Awarded to:
Progressive Concrete
Works, Inc.
Phoenix, Arizona
Concrete supplier:
Cemex Inc.
Phoenix, Arizona
For their pool deck and patio, the owners aimed to replicate the appearance of Arizona’s distinctive landscape. To that end, they selected Bomanite’s Canyon Stone pattern imprinted on a 4-in.-thick slab treated with a combination of Sand and Harvest Amber color hardeners flashed with Harvest Amber and Rust Brown release agents. The resulting 1,846-sq.-ft. installation showcases natural red and brown hues of the surrounding environs on a structurally sound, semi-slip-resistant surface.
RESIDENTIAL – SECOND PLACE
Looney Residence
Wilmington, North Carolina
Awarded to:
Decorative Concrete
Solutions
Wilmington, North Carolina
Concrete supplier:
S&W Ready Mix Concrete
Castle Hayne, North Carolina
Located in historic downtown Wilmington, N.C., the 1,300-sq.-ft. project was modeled after traditional garden installations featuring natural stone and slate. A small-aggregate mix was placed four inches thick with a 3-in. line pump. Of two pours conducted, the first provided a field of Scofield Prairie Beige integral color stamped in Pebble Stone. Subsequently, individual stones were hand colored using Scofield Lithochrome classic acid stains. The second pour to create dark swirls required Scofield Dark Slate integral color stamped with liquid release and Vegas Stone Seamless texture. As the final step, two coats of Euclid’s Super Diamond Clear sealant were applied.
RESIDENTIAL – HONORABLE MENTION
Tacey Residence
Bay City, Michigan
Awarded to:
Maday Construction
Saginaw, Michigan
Concrete supplier:
R&R Ready Mix
Saginaw, Michigan
Subtle detailing that provides a finishing touch to the 565-sq.-ft. backyard patio includes a hand-tooled brick border, decorative facing to match the rest of the hardscape, and 8-ft.-square saw cuts to simulate individual slate units. A 4-in.-thick, integrally colored Sun Buff slab was stamped with Increte Slateskin and Brickform Medium Gray release. Ratwalls around the perimeter raise the elegant installation a step above the average patio.
SPECIALTY – FIRST PLACE
North Cote Farms
Forest, Virginia
Awarded to:
Lloyd Concrete Services, Inc.
Forest, Virginia
Concrete supplier:
Lynchburg Ready Mix
Lynchburg, Virginia
In anticipation of an event scheduled for November, the customer requested an acid stain in early October, after the floor had been poured in March 2008 for a building designed to accommodate black tie parties and gatherings of CEOs and senators. When polishing failed to remove stains Û a protective coat had not been applied by the owner Û micro-topping proved the best option. Accordingly, two weeks were devoted to applying a ∫-in. topping over the 4,800-sq.-ft. slab (four inches of concrete over a 6-in. subbase). Diamond shapes and borders were defined by means of decorative cuts throughout the surface and a color palette including Honey Wheat, Fern Green, and Kona Brown.
SPECIALTY HONORABLE MENTION
Craig Hospital
Englewood, Colorado
Awarded to:
Colorado Hardscapes, Inc.
Denver, Colorado
Concrete supplier:
Lafarge
Denver, Colorado
At Craig Hospital’s Mike Utley Terrain Park Û named after a former Detroit Lions football player and graduate of Craig’s rehabilitation center, whose foundation donated generously to the project Û multiple pavements within a relatively small area were designed to help patients learn to maneuver on a variety of paving surfaces. Funds for the 880-sq.-ft. installation were bolstered by the contributions of nearly 200 people who purchased engraved bricks for a section of the park. Within budgetary constraints, value also was optimized by the selection of appropriate concrete finishes, including a ramp of Bomanite 4-in. _ 6-in. imprinted River Rock and two integrally colored light broom finishes for steps, curbs, an agility slab, and other obstacles. Cocoa and Omaha Tan Davis Colors throughout the park differentiate areas and provide an overall pleasing appearance.
SPECIALTY HONORABLE MENTION
Glendale Park & Ride
Glendale, Arizona
Awarded to:
Progressive Concrete Works, Inc.
Phoenix, Arizona
Concrete supplier:
Cemex Inc.
Phoenix, Arizona
To reduce the size of retention ponds used for stormwater runoff and return to the arid Arizona landscape a precious commodity, Drainscape pervious concrete was selected for the 140,229-sq.-ft. park and ride project. Accordingly, six inches of pervious mix were placed over six inches of crushed #57 rock. A nonwoven geotextile separates the rock and dirt subgrade.
The Drainscape’s void structure allows three to eight gallons of water per square foot per minute to pass through and replenish groundwater aquifers. Due to 22 percent and 40 percent void contents of the pervious concrete mix and #57 rock, respectively, the installation can store up to 3_ inches of stormwater in the pavement cross section. Moreover, Drainscape’s first flush prevents pollutants such as oil, antifreeze, and other automobile fluids from running directly into streams, rivers, and water systems during the first rainfall. Additionally, the hardscape’s lighter color and decreased thermal mass reduce its Urban Heat Island effect.
Economic as well as ecological considerations favored the use of a pervious mix. In the interest of maximizing the project’s cost-effectiveness, longevity and maintenance, city engineers analyzed life-cycle costs over 20 years for pervious concrete versus conventional asphalt pavements: Drainscape was found to be the less expensive option over a two-decade span.
JUDGES
Mike Shereck is site engineer for contractor Rose Paving Co., whose corporate office is located in Bridgeview, Ill.
site design group, ltd. principal Ernest Wong, ASLA, APA, provides architecture, urban design, and landscape architecture services in the Chicago area.
Adam White, ASLA, is an associate at Chicago-based Jacobs/Ryan Associates Landscape Architects.