Memorial Hospital Parking Garage
Submitted by: Charles L. T. Smith & Associates Architects

Memorial Hospital in Colorado Springs is a landlocked, urban site that has a growing patient, visitor and staff population in need of additional parking.

As part of its ongoing campaign to improve relations with its residential neighbors while meeting the ever increasing medical needs of the community, Memorial Hospital committed to the neighborhood that the new garage would not look like the stereotypical and sterile horizontal parking structures seen throughout the country.

In 2001 Charles L.T. Smith & Associates was retained to design the 1,500-car parking garage. The firm developed a unique design featuring a distinctive "vertical feel," with a two-story colonnade to accommodate ambulances and over-the-road trucks.

The innovative look was carried through the project by utilizing brick inserts in the precast concrete panels. The bricks relate to the existing architectural vocabulary of building materials used throughout the rest of the campus, retaining the unifying look of the campus.

In close consultation with structural engineer HCDA, construction manager JE Dunn and precast manufacturer Stresscon Corp., the unique design was accomplished while utilizing all the cost effective aspects of precast concrete.

Because of the nature of a fully occupied, 400-bed critical care hospital, the site was limited in space and time for construction. The $17.3 million, seven-story garage has one-and-a-half stories below grade, penetrating the natural water table. JE Dunn's challenge was to de-water the site, complete excavation and orchestrate a winter construction project, within the footprint of the final building.

Stresscon delivered and erected 2,180 pieces through the coldest months of the Colorado winter. Deck topping slabs and all finish materials were accomplished the following spring in time for the June 2003 grand opening.

PROJECT TEAM
Owner:	Memorial Hospital
Construction Manager:	JE Dunn
Architect:	Charles L. T. Smith & Associates Architects
Structural Engineer:	HCDA
Mechanical Engineer:	AE Associates
Electrical Engineer:	CEI
Civil Engineer:	Leigh Whitehead & Associates
Prime Contractors:	Coggins & Sons RE Monks Construction Co. Stresscon Corp. Baker Concrete Construction Commercial Design Engineering Olson plumbing & Heating Co. Berwick Electric Co.

Silver Hard Hat

Castle Rock Skate Park
Submitted by: American Civil Constructors

The Town of Castle Rock called on American Civil Constructors Inc. to complete the detailed task of forming complex and smooth-surfaced concrete for its new skate park.
The park consists of three separate areas for different levels of ability. The beginner course is a gentle way to learn to skate, with rails, stairs and few ramps. The intermediate "bowl" area is where boarders hone their skills. This area took the most time to construct because it is the biggest, where curves melt into flat areas, demanding attention to detail when the concrete was shaped. The "street" course is perfect for advanced boarders. It has more ramps, rails and complex angles.

ACC's concrete foreman made sure the templates for each ramp were built with the correct diameters and radius as designed. The color and texture of the concrete are unique to a skate park. Crews worked diligently to ensure the concrete was smooth but not slippery for the boarders.

ACC worked with artist Rik Sargent to apply the unique artwork to the concrete. The concrete walls were formed from outside in, rather than inside out, as is typical. ACC first set the outside form, then Sargent applied the artwork "molds" to the form. When the art was in place, rebar was set inside the form and the concrete was poured.
When set, the forms were removed and the recessed areas were hand painted by the artist.

The scope of the work expanded as the project progressed, with the addition of colored concrete, landscaping and a concession stand.

PROJECT TEAM
Owner:	Town of Castle Rock
Architect:	Architerra
General Contractor:	American Civil Constructors
Grind and Hand Rails:	Daveo Steel
Surveying:	Zystra Baker

Bronze Hard Hat

Village of Five Parks
Submitted by: Colorado Hardscapes

The Village and Community Center at Village Homes's Village of Five Parks in Arvada was the collaborative effort of developers, designers and contractors.

The Community Center includes a park, swimming pool, spray park, picnic and terrace areas and a grand staircase leading to an overlook terrace and distinctive "temple" - as well as a community center building identified as "The Depot."

Concrete is the design material used to create the pathways surrounding the Community Center, the pool deck, decorative wall, and The Depot floor that together make the Village and Community Center the unique heart of the area.

Significant time and coordination was invested in creating the high impact Village and Community Center to make it a distinctive focal point for the surrounding community.
Balancing budgets with aesthetics resulted in the use of uncolored concrete for the walls, flatwork and steps.

The use of formliners, flatwork retarders and sandblasting for different textures creates the visual appeal of the hard surfaces. Complementary retaining walls, brick work, railings and landscape round out the project.

The concrete walls include custom-designed and fabricated formliners, a rustication grid pattern and selected areas of sandblasting. Concrete flatwork on sidewalks and the pool deck was highlighted by banding and panels of uncolored but etched concrete. Cantilevered steps were installed at the changes in elevation.

Two focal points also include natural stone paving incorporated into the concrete paving. Interior micro-topping (concrete overlay) and staining of the concrete floor in The Depot maintained the character of a train station of yesteryear.

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