Hardscape North America (HNA) was co-located with GIE+EXPO again this year and last week’s mammoth trade show included the selection of HNA’s Hardscape Project Award winners for 2016. The competition includes both residential and commercial hardscaping projects.
The 114 entries varied from walkways to patios, commercial plazas to streets. The 15 winners and 15 honorable mentions were announced on Thursday. In its ninth year, the awards program is sponsored by the Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute (ICPI), the Brick Industry Association (BIA) and National Concrete Masonry Association (NCMA).
Judges looked at the project intent, design, quality of construction and craftsmanship, compatibility with related construction materials, construction innovation, detailing and overall design excellence.
For residential projects less than 4,000 square feet, Landmark Pavers won for their makeover of a rear yard in Oceanside, California. Belgard was the manufacturer and Isaiah Ruczewski was the designer. The honorable mention in this category went to MW Lawn and Landscape, which worked on a residence in Overland Park, Kansas.
The winner of the residential project more than 4,000 square feet was Bahler Brothers. The company hardscaped a large area surrounding a pool in Wilbraham, Massachusetts. Techo-Bloc was used and Jen Kloter, along with Bahler Brothers, designed the project. There were two honorable mentions in the category: Holloway Co. for a project in Ashburn, Virginia; and Monello Landscape Industries for a job in Wayne, New Jersey.
The Legacy Paver Group claimed the top prize in the category of commercial projects of more than 20,000 square feet, thanks to its work at the University of San Francisco. Materials included Pavestone Co. products and natural granite pavers. Honorable mention in the category went to Continental Hardscape Systems for a job in Denver, Colorado, and Worthing Southeast Builders for a project in Duluth, Georgia.
Along with the honorable mention above, Monello Landscape Industries won the top award for commercial projects less than 20,000 square feet for its work on a nursing home courtyard in Wilmington, Massachusetts. Joe Monello designed the project and Techno-Bloc was used. Honorable mention went to Ladd-Scapes Inc. for its work at Oak Ridge Country Club in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
In the subcategory of projects using only concrete pavers, Re-Create Companies LLC won for a commercial project of less than 15,000 square feet for its installation at Territory Square Library in Florence, Arizona. Arlington Pavers received the honorable mention for a job in Dallas, Texas.
Dreamscapes Inc. took home the award for using concrete pavers in a commercial project larger than 15,000 square feet. Clark Enerson designed the Centennial Mall’s hardscaping in Lincoln, Nebraska. Honorable mention went to Builders Services Co. for its work at the State Farm Regional Office at Cityline in Richardson, Texas.
On the residential side, Paver Designs LLC won for the use of concrete pavers in a project of less than 3,000 square feet for a job in Omaha, Nebraska. Lindgren Landscape and Jackson Jones Construction earned honorable mentions in the category for work in Fort Collins, Colorado, and Kingsport, Tennessee, respectively.
Hain Enterprises won the top award for residential work of more than 3,000 square feet for a home basketball court in Reno, Nevada. CLA Landscaping completed a project in Appleton, Wisconsin, to receive an honorable mention in this category.
As for permeable pavers, Surfaces Group LLC won on the residential side, while Gulf Coast Pavers won in the commercial category. Precise Paving was recognized with an honorable mention in the commercial category.
Greenworks Landscaping won segmental retaining walls/residential and Lewis Block & Supply Co. won segmental retaining walls/commercial. Bear Retaining Walls earned honorable mention for its retaining walls in Lohi Gardens in Denver, Colorado.
Among projects using clay bricks, the winner was Nature’s Perspective Landscaping and the honorable mention went to GoldGlo Landscapes LLC for their residential projects.
C.R. Schmidt Inc. took home the win in the commercial category for its work at Wrigley Field in Chicago. Fred Adams Paving was listed as honorable mention.
Fittingly, Outdoor Enterprise LLC won the top award in the clay brick/permeable category for the Barbara Cox Center for Sustainable Horticulture in Dayton, Ohio. The project was designed by Eric Sauer and used materials from Whitacre Greer Co.