It is an incredible honor to announce that Bomanite has awarded Colorado Hardscapes their 2025 Grand Award for our decorative concrete work at the U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA). This recognition caps over a decade of close collaboration with the Academy. It marks a series of projects that demonstrate dedication to innovation, forethought, and precision.
A Legacy of Craftsmanship at the U.S. Air Force Academy
Our involvement at the Academy began in 2010 with the creation of a 10,000 SF mockup designed to test out various construction details, installation techniques, mix designs, marble stone, and overall aesthetic appeal. The final approved concrete mix became the standard for future ARP (Architectural Rigid Paving) installed throughout the academy. A 7-foot grid common in most USAFA architectural designs was also incorporated into the paving. Thousands of square feet of this concrete paving and marble have been installed over the past 15 years around the cadet parade grounds and buildings.
In 2022, Colorado Hardscapes introduced Bomanite’s Revealed system at the Air Gardens project. The Bomanite system gave a new option to the traditional marble paving. It provided a white cast-in-place product to replicate the look and give consistency across the academy.
Highlights of Our Award-Winning Work
The 2025 Bomanite Grand Award recognizes our culmination of projects from over 15 years at the Air Force Academy. It especially highlights the recently completed Visitor Center (completed 2024), CyberWorx (completed 2024), and Wecker Hall (completed 2024).
Cyberworx: A grid layout in 7’ increments with alternating 21″ marble bands and 26’-3” panels maintained consistency with USAFA’s aesthetic ARP standards. The concrete fields, poured at 8″ thick, incorporated saw cuts with precision for uniformity.
Visitor Center: This was the first project to feature the Bomanite Revealed product for the bands. Transitioning from traditional marble or white cement mixes, this innovation matched the aesthetic achieved at the Air Gardens while reducing costs. The design team followed a 7′ module layout. They placed approximately 18,000 square feet of concrete—13,000 square feet of exposed aggregate fields and 5,000 square feet of white bands.
Wecker Hall: The designer paired a Sandscape textured finish featured in Air Force Brown with 21″ and 42″ white Revealed bands. This was for a cohesive visual appeal similar to other architectural concrete around the academy.
Building with Purpose at the U.S. Air Force Academy
Our relationship with the U.S. Air Force Academy spans over a decade and a half. It began with mockups to test exposed aggregate finishes and evolved into a trusted partnership. Throughout this time, our use of Bomanite products has reinforced USAFA’s design standards. We provided cost-effective, innovative solutions. Multiple projects, such as Vandenberg Hall, Polaris Hall, Air Gardens, HH-3 Memorial, and others, attest to our consistent ability to execute large-scale projects with precision and creativity.
We could not be more honored to contribute to the legacy of this prestigious institution. Winning the Bomanite Grand Award underscores not only the hard work of our team but also our shared values of excellence, integrity, and innovation with the Air Force Academy.
If you’re interested in learning more about our work or exploring how we can assist with your next project, don’t hesitate to contact us.
Email us: [email protected]
Call us: 303-750-8200.
