Aggregate Industries brings hockey to life at Bruins’ new practice facility

Aggregate Industries US (AIUS), a subsidiary of LafargeHolcim Ltd., designed and developed the decorative concrete that brought landscape architect Carol R. Johnson Associates Inc.’s vision for the Boston Bruins’ new Warrior Ice Arena to life. The architect wanted to bring the imagery of hockey from the interior to the exterior of the complex. The main entrance to the 75,000-sq.-ft. practice facility features a landmark 68-ft.-high hockey stick and giant granite hockey pucks as well as a unique hardscape design.



The Warrior Ice Arena hardscape was presented the Scofield Decorative Concrete Award during the 2017 World of Concrete show in Las Vegas for its creative and sustainable sidewalks and courtyards.

“We’re proud to have played a part of this project which, for Boston, is closely tied to our passion for sports,” said René Marais, Ready Mix sales manager for the Northeast Region of Aggregate Industries US. “The hockey imagery concepts for the arena’s main entrance were very detailed and creative. For example, the curvature lines by the hockey stick reflect the lines a player makes when he cuts hard on the ice, and the additional exposed white stones illustrate ice shavings kicked over by the skating blade.”

To achieve the design goals for the hardscape, AIUS’ Everett, Mass., plant developed Artevia Color and Artevia Exposed samples with white and gray cement. The specialized concrete mix incorporated an integral coloring admixture from L. M. Scofield Company to create vibrant solar-reflective colors that conform to LEED 2009 requirements for reducing the urban heat island effect. This cool pavement technology helps keep concrete temperatures lower and provides a high solar reflective index value that qualifies the Warrior Ice Arena for a credit under the sustainable sites section of LEED.

AIUS also collaborated with Haverhill, Mass.-based Triad Associates, Inc., the project’s concrete contractor/artisan, to produce mockup panels that ensured alignment with the design the customer intended. Due to uniform aesthetics and consistency, the finished decorative hardscape included Artevia Color and Artevia Exposed aggregate concretes, which combined design flexibility and strong visual appeal with low maintenance and durability. The Artevia Color concrete, with onyx black and custom gray alternating strips, was placed at street level, while the Artevia Exposed concrete, with colored stones and glass, was used for the elevated 2,000-sq.-ft. courtyard.

“The vibrant color and textured effects of our Artevia concrete enabled the architects to create visually stimulating and architecturally exceptional hardscape that is built to last,” commented Marais. “All this landscaping creativity helps make the Warrior Ice Arena a unique, desirable and a pleasant place to visit and watch Boston Bruins hockey.”