2018 DCC Award Winner
Atlanta Botanical Garden, T.B. Penick & Sons, Inc.

First Place: Concrete Artistry / Under 5000 SF
WOW! Winner
 

The gardens in Storza Woods comprise a richly detailed strolling path set in a four-acre mature woodland. Features include stone clad bridges and overlooks, a formal garden surrounding a water mirror and water stairs, an elevated boardwalk and terraces, all threaded together by a sinuous concrete walkway embellished with intricate mosaics. The design was a collaboration between Spurlock Landscape Architects, Artisan Amanda Elizabeth Mosaics, Tres Fromme, and the Botanical Garden.

Among the technical considerations were preservation of the critical root zones around the many magnificent hardwood trees. To overcome this a combination of elevated walkways and structural slabs on helical piles were installed to minimize soil disturbance. 

The mosaic patterns were based on plant morphology. In collaboration with the landscape architect, Penick translated the conceptual sketches into full construction documents, including stone color, size, arrangement and installation methodology. A number of studies and mockups, including Photoshop renderings and sample boxes, were created to assist the client and design team in final material selection.