Colorado Hardscapes, Inc. | Case Studies | Commercial | Retail

Classic aesthetic meets space age technology in these old-world fountains at the Streets of SouthGlenn shopping center. Water fountains in ancient cities gave the community a central place to visit while collecting the daily household water supply. They were often carved from natural stone, such as limestone or marble, and provided beauty as well as function.

The owners and architects of the Streets at SouthGlenn wanted to duplicate this ambience. Working closely with Colorado Hardscapes, the architects at SEM/CommArts designed extremely large concrete fountain bowls to be cast monolithically to prevent damage from freeze-thaw, chemicals and coins. They developed an edge and pattern for the bowls that would produce the desired water-flow effect and a structural form that could support their weight.

To overcome the challenge of transporting the largest bowl (twenty feet wide), Colorado Hardscape crews built a platform on site and formed the bowl mold in the air around the center support column. The bowl was cast and finished in place by a large and efficient crew working together in hot weather, a small space, and a short time frame. The smaller bowls were cast off-site and then stacked in place by a crane.

The large fountain was the first of its kind to be cast-in-place utilizing GFRC products and methods to form a bowl, place the concrete, and finish it while in position over ten feet in the air. With an Arcustone crushed limestone coating bonded to concrete, the fountains are modern-day marvels that duplicate the timeworn polished stone of ancient fountains. Multi-colored mosaic tiles in patinated greens and browns project the level of artistic detail found in an aged European fountain. This fountain, however, was built around state-of-the-art hydraulics, water treatment, and lighting that only can be found in modern fountains.