A Sandy Downtown

Typically, when the City of Denver comes to mind, we think of the beautiful views of the mountains, the efficient business network, the vibrant social scene, and a good baseball game or two. Seldom do we think of sand as a noteworthy element on Denver’s land-locked streets. As you drive through downtown Denver, you will discover many exciting projects emerging throughout the city. Design considerations and limited budgets confront every project we see in this ever-grown city. Hence, Colorado Hardscapes’ Sandscape® Texture emerged as the paving of choice for a budget-friendly upgraded concrete finish. We may not be by an ocean, but Sandscape paves the way for an economical, aesthetic, and practical future.

Civic Center Park sits as a hub for Denver and experienced many improvements this summer, including the widening and upgrading of sidewalks throughout the park. 

Colorado Hardscapes installed colored Sandscape Texture along the east end of the park, playing the role as the key specialty flatwork contractor on this project. Mundus Bishop Design appreciated both the quality of work and attention to detail Colorado Hardscapes’ crews demonstrated.

History Colorado nears completion and Sandscape, both the Capitol Hill Sandscape and the Navajo White Sandscape; complements the natural stone on the building and site walls better than imagined.  Tryba Architects and Studio Insite put a lot of thought and effort into getting the right selections. Colorado Hardscapes measured up to Hensel Phelps Construction’s high expectations.

Clyfford Still Museum is also approaching completion and Colorado Hardscapes is honored to work on such a distinctive concrete structure. Colorado Hardscapes work complements the many outstanding formed finishes of the

 walls and ceilings that Saunders Construction installed.  Polishing of the interior concrete floors along with grinding and sandblasting of sidewalks, steps and paving on the outside of the building make this a one-of-a-kind project.  Bruce Fifer, superintendent for Saunders, when asked about the crew from Colorado Hardscapes, commented,  “I love having your guys working on this project.  I don’t have to ‘babysit’ them to get the job done right.”

Other specialty downtown projects where Colorado Hardscapes’ Sandscape adorns the concrete paving include work at Trinity Church, Denver Performing Arts Center, and Denver Financial Center.

We at Colorado Hardscapes are pleased to be part of these special projects and look forward to teaming up on upcoming work in the area as well.

Tanner Fountain

This week, my travels took me to Massachusetts, exploring the sites, visiting with family, and taking in the East Coast beauty. While there, I checked out Tanner Fountain at Harvard University. I've seen the photos in the past and heard the stories of the fountain and construction from Philip di Giacomo, but until you experience it first-hand, you don't fully understand it.

This fountain, designed by Peter Walker, is remarkable. I brought my daughter with me, and she enjoyed sitting on the rocks, hopping to and from and splashing in the water. Children play in it, birds dance in the water, adults and students relax on the rocks, cooled by the mist and the shade trees. This fountain is indescribable in words the impact it has on the community, the school, and the landscape. I am honored that we, as Colorado Hardscapes, can embrace this fountain as one of the original Peter Walker/di Giacomo art pieces. 

Decorative Pervious Concrete

Really?! Decorative porous concrete? Is that even possible? Unless you like the rice krispie looking concrete, you probably think I'm crazy. But... the innovators at Colorado Hardscapes are at it again. Colorado Hardscapes has a NEW pervious concrete system that is decorative! They call it "Hydrascapes". I can't tell you how they do it, but I can tell you that you can take any of your favorite Colorado Harsdcapes' finishes - Sandscape, Bomanite stamped concrete, broom finish, Lithocrete - and apply the Hydrascapes system to it and viola - decorative pervious concrete.

Intrigued? Call Colorado Hardscapes for more information.Call 303-750-8200 or visit www.coloradohardscapes.com (Hydrascapes is so new, that it's not even on the website right now)

Mt Carmel, Denver Zoo, and Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

Well, it has been awhile since I've given any updates, and so much is going on! We have some exciting projects in the works and/or wrapping up. Especially for our Custom Rock division. A beautiful new mining scene at the new Mt Carmel Community Center in Trinidad, CO embraces the entryway and mural painting - bringing a piece of nature, history, and exploration inside.

The Community Center officially opens next weekend, so stay tuned for completed photos.

Colorado Hardscapes is also completing a new exhibit at the Denver Zoo called Northern Shore. This exploration streambed and sandbox gives children a place to explore and play.

And then last, but definitely not least, Colorado Hardscapes is finishing up texturing a painting a new artificial concrete tree at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in the new Elephant Barn - phase 1 of the new Encounter Africa Exhibit. This tree will be an enrichment tree for the elephant, where the elephant will feed out of and guests will have the opportunity to give the elephants treats (apples). Colorado Hardscapes spent a work session yesterday with JE Dunn and Portico Group fine tuning texture and color of this African Tree. Stay tuned for new photos soon!

Happy Earth Day!

Tomorrow is Earth Day! Colorado Hardscapes began its Earth Day rememberance today at Lakewood's Down To Earth Expo at the Lakewood Civic Center Plaza. There we displayed with the CRMCA (Colorado Redi-Mix Concrete Association) showing off our latest in "green" concrete, including Drainscape® Porous Concrete, Drainscape® Slotted Concrete, and Grasscrete®.

Enjoy earth day, the beautiful Colorado weather and continue to build and design with the best interest of society and our planet in mind.

Continuing to be an Award Winning Concrete Company!

On February 23rd, Bomanite announced the annual Bomanite award winners. 


Colorado Hardscapes walked away with another Gold Award for the Best Exposed Aggregate Systems Project for a private residence.

Planning for the landscape and pool project at this Castle Pines residence included early meetings at Colorado Hardscapes’ Design Center with Courtney McRickard, the landscape designer.  Colors, textures, and different applications were discussed, sampled, reviewed all the while keeping the costs of each option in tune with the overall budget.

Final selections included the use of natural stone paving and cast-in-place concrete – both vertical and horizontal.  Landscape walls, pool coping, cast-in-place patio stones, and the fireplace hearth all were placed with a Sandscape Texture™ finish, utilizing a specialty integral color, a light buff color, achieved by utilizing titanium dioxide in the concrete mix.

The fireplace hearth was finished by grinding and polishing the concrete to a glass-like finish, making a very smooth hearth and/or bench.

The patio area with the cast-in-place patio stones of varying sizes was cast on a level plane with a sub-surface drainage system designed to quickly move any water away from the house and its foundation.  Small Mexican beach pebbles filled the gaps between the patio sections.

The colors and textures of the concrete worked well with both the hard and soft surfaces of the overall landscape theme to create an outstanding project.

The landscape architect on this project is Three Sixty Design and the photographer is Michael Peck.

ACE Awards!

Colorado Hardscapes proudly took home an ACE Award and the People's Choice Award from this year's ACE Awards for Mordecai Children's Garden at Denver Botanic. In all the project took home 4 awards! Congratulations GH Phipps, Denver Botanic Gardens, and Mundus Bishop!