I don't think it would be a stretch that the work concrete contractors do could be considered, in essence, the foundation of civilization as we know it. Often, the level of artwork and innovative ideas rise to the surface In recognition of such work, the American Society of Concrete Contractors (ASCC) Decorative Concrete Council (DCC) celebrates this through its Decorative Concrete Project Awards.
The DCC annually recognizes outstanding decorative concrete projects around the world. Entries are judged by a panel of industry professionals on aesthetics, craftsmanship, functionality, creativity, and safety. The WOW! Award is given to the project deemed by the judges to be the best of the best.
Close to 100 submittals were sent in. Entries were judged by Jeff Herschberger of Deco-Crete Supply, Karen Keys of The Art of Concrete, Rock Lobdell of Concrete Mystique Engraving, and Pablo Aviles of Bomanite of Mexico.
The WOW! Award
The annual WOW! Award is given to the project the judges deemed as the overall winner of all awards submitted. This year's WOW! Awards went to Bomanite of Southeast Asia, out of Manila, Philippines for their work on the Manila Zoo GFRC Project in Manila, Philippines.
All panels were created offsite and then transported and colored onsite. Fabrication work done was accomplished inside the zoo complex. The contractor used silicon molds to create a natural bamboo effect on the panels. The resulting GFRC precast installation made a durable, natural-looking finish facade installation that covered most of the animal enclosures, fences, gates, and pedestrian areas.
The 2023 Decorative Concrete Project Award Winners
All entries were organized by category with many recognizing projects for over and under a 5,000 sq.ft. limit. The categories were Architectural Cast-in-Place Concrete Structures; Cast-in-Place Special Finishes; Cast-in-Place Stamped Finishes; Cementitious Overlays; Concrete Artistry; Countertops/Furniture& Firepits; Decorative Resinous Coatings; Multiple Applications; Polished Concrete & Overlays; Project Video; Stained & Dyes; and Vertical/Facades.
Presented below with contractor name, name of project, and location of project. Not all categories had first- and second-place winners.
Architectural Cast-in-Place Concrete Structures (Projects Over 5,000 sq. ft.)
First Place: T.B. Penick and Sons for the Presidio Tunnel Tops, San Francisco, California
Second Place: Largo Concrete for 345 South Fourth St., San Francisco, California
Cast-in-Place Special Finishes (Projects Over 5,000 sq. ft.)
First Place: Universal Creative for Transformers Metrobase at Universal Bejing Resort, Bejing, China
Second Place: Bomanite of Malaysia for 3 Residence, Penang, Malaysia
Cast-in-Place Special Finishes (Projects Under 5,000 sq.ft.)
First Place: Colorado Hardscapes for the Republic Plaza, Denver, Colorado
Second Place: T.B. Penick & Sons for Colene Hoose Elementary School, Normal, Illinois
Cast-in-Place Stamped Finishes (Projects Over 5,000 sq.ft.)
First Place: Universal Creative for the Jurassic World Isla Nublar at Universal Bejing Resort, Bejing, China
Second Place: Universal California for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Bejing Resort, Bejing, China
Cast-in-Place Stamped Finishes (Projects Under 5,000 sq.ft.)
First Place: Captivating Concrete for the Harras Project, Aus Gres, Michigan
Second Place: Carolina Bomonite Group for the Wilson Center for Nature at Grandfather Mountain, Linville, North Carolina
Cementitious Overlays (Projects Over 5,000 sq.ft.)
First Place: Universal Creative for the Kung Fu Panda Land of Awesomeness at Universal Bejing Resort, Bejing, China
Second Place: Sundek of Washington for the CSX Complex, Washington D.C.
Cementitious Overlays (Projects Under 5,000 sq.ft.)
First Place: Sundeck National Accounts for the Specialty Shops at Southpark, Charlotte, North Carolina
Second Place: Sundek of San Antonio for the Koontz Residence, San Antonio, Texas
Concrete Artistry (Projects Over 5,000 sq.ft.)
First Place: Orangestone Construction Technology for The Shanghai Road Underpass Art Concrete Paving Project, Dalian City, China
Second Place: Aqua-Environs Construction for the South East Asia Jungle Track, Roseville, California
Concrete Artistry (Projects Under 5,000 sq.ft.)
First Place: T.B. Penick & Sons for the Colone Hoose Elementary School, Normal, Illinois
Second Place: FST Design Build Concrete for the Google Midpoint Graphic, San Jose, California
Countertops, Furniture & Firepits
First Place: T.B. Penick & Sons for Webster 11, Normal, Illinois
Decorative Resinous Coatings (Projects Over 5,000 sq. ft.)
First Place: Performance Concrete Solutions for the Kidron Fire Station, Kidron, Ohio
Second Place: Jeffco Concrete Contractor for the Hillcrest High School Fieldhouse, Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Decorative Resinous Coatings (Projects Under 5,000 sq. ft.)
First Place: Decorative Concrete of Virginia for the Calvary Chapel of Lynchburg, Lynchburg, Virginia
Multiple Applications (Projects Over 5,000 sq.ft.)
First Place: Orcutt / Wilson Architecture for the Middle Tennessee State University School of Concrete and Construction Management, Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Second Place: T.B. Penick & Sons for the Presidio Tunnel Tops, San Francisco, California
Multiple Applications (Projects Under 5,000 sq.ft.)
First Place: Wicked Kolors for the Never Alone Clubhouse, Douglasville, Georgia
Second Place: Heritage Bomanite for the NX Restaurant, Fresno, California
Polished Concrete & Overlays (Projects Over 5,000 sq. ft.)
First Place: Ryerson Concrete LLC for The New American Home 2023, Las Vegas, Nevada
Second Place: Texas Bomanite for the Hines at the Stack, Dallas, Texas
Polished Concrete & Overlays (Projects Under 5,000 sq. ft.)
First Place: Musselman & Hall for the Mid-Continent Public Library Green Hills, Kansas City, Missouri
Second Place: Boulder Polishing LLC for the H & M Saloon, Assaria, Kansas
Project Video
First Place: Trademark Concrete Systems for The Grand LA, Camarillo, California
Second Place: Sundek of Washington for the Buckroe Beach Boardwalk, Hampton, Virginia
Stains & Dyes (Projects Over 5,000 sq.ft.)
First Place: FST Design Build Concrete Inc. for the New Google World Headquarters, Mountain View, California
Second Place: FST Design Build Concrete Inc. for the Google Big Table Cafe, Mountain View, California
Stains & Dyes (Projects Under 5,000 sq.ft.)
First Place: Captivating Concrete, The Broken Window House, Michigan (city unknown)
Vertical/Facades (Projects Over 5,000 sq.ft.)
First Place: Trademark Concrete Systems for the 10 West Walnut & AMU Old Pasadena, Pasadena, California
Second Place: Aqua-Environs Construction for the South East Asian Jungle Track, Roseville, California
Vertical/Facades (Projects Under 5,000 sq.ft.)
First Place: Bomanite of Southeast Asia for the Manilla Zoo GFRC, Manilla, Philippines
Congratulations to all of the winning contractors of the 2023 DCC Awards!
The DCC is composed of contractors, manufacturers, and suppliers of decorative concrete products, and is dedicated to improving the technical and business expertise of the contractors who pursue this specialty market.