Creating Beauty Out of Concrete

Most people may think of concrete as plain hard, weather endurable stone, but for 39 years, Sullivan Concrete Textures has been proving that beauty exists in concrete. "It's creative, like putting down a new painting and not all of them are the same. It's this satisfaction that drives me," said Francis Sullivan, founder of Sullivan Concrete Textures.

The company is known throughout the industry as a pioneer specialist in all types of architectural concrete, especially stamped and textured concrete systems. Since 1964, they have earned a solid reputation for superior workmanship in decorative concrete with numerous surface finishes to their credit. They are also the first licensee of Bomanite Corporation.

Bomanite is an industry leader in providing a variety of high-quality concrete paving and flooring products. Today they have built a network of over 250 licensed contractors that are specialty trained in more than 70 countries. "Bomanite is the most imitated in the business," said Sullivan.

Francis Sullivan met the founder of Bomanite, Brad Bowman, in 1964 through a fellow dating Mr. Bowman's daughter. Bomanite Company was then called Ornamental Concrete. "I talked him into letting me use his patten in Southern California," said Sullivan. "There was only myself and one other company at the time."

Since then both companies have grown and expanded into cutting-edge industry leaders. They have set standards for new evolving companies to follow. "Bomanite sometimes uses us as a flagship to show others what we can do with concrete," said Sullivan. Companies from Japan and other places have visited Sullivan Concrete Textures to view their designs and workmanship. "When they come, they take a multitude of pictures," said Sullivan.

In addition to the numerous customized designs, colors, and creative aspects available to customers, Sullivan Concrete Textures provides impeccable, quality service to their customers. "They get the satisfaction of knowing their job will be done in a first class fashion and we never drop out of our contracts." In other words, if they run into unexpected issues such as weather and other problems, Sullivan has been known to work beyond contract dates to ensure satisfied completion.

If a customer wants a specific color that isn't traditionally available, that never stopped Sullivan Concrete Textures. They mix their own colors to create the right effect for their customers. In 1972 Sullivan worked on a project for a family owned company that required a color mix to match a lima bean field. "The manufacturer didn't have a name for it, so they called it Sully Gray Green," said Sullivan, "now they refer to it as is The Gray Green."

In 1980 Sullivan was requested to participate in the first California Landscape Architect Student Scholarship Fund. The fund has been very successful and grown into a very reputable function as it is known today. They raise funds through luncheons and other activities, including donations. "One year we held a golf tournament and netted over $15,000," said Sullivan. He is very proud to have been a part of it. "The ideas just kept coming and coming and it gave me a chance to put something back into the industry that has been so good to me."

Each year a contest is held and prospective students are questioned regarding their future plans, ideas, and thoughts on the industry itself. A panel of judges award points to students and a winner is chosen. Sullivan sees these students as the greatest potential in the future of landscape architecture design.

"Almost all the ideas from my company can be contributed to landscape architect design," said Sullivan.

Throughout the years, Sullivan Concrete Textures has developed customized, unique slate design patterns used all over Disneyland and Fantasy Land, including standard catalog patterns such as wood plank patterns used for wooden bridges in Disneyland. They have also provided other creative ideas and patterns to the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

One thing that Sullivan would like people to understand is that concrete isn't just concrete. "There are so many ways to use it. It's a medium at which you can sculpt it, create walls with form liners, stack bond rocks and flagstone." There appear to be no limitations in what Sullivan Concrete Textures can do with concrete. It's one of their commitments to their customers.

Sullivan believes the future of the concrete industry will grow and expand into new discoveries of areas and mediums to further use concrete. He also believes more individuals will be able to afford it. "Decorative concrete will be more and more essential to the industry. It's price driven just like everything else. Like computers, as the price comes down, it will be more available."

Today Sullivan is in a position to realize how far Sullivan Concrete Textures has come, and able to look forward to where the future might lead them. He is proud of the contributions his three daughters have made to various areas of the company, and even more proud of the new ownership they have undertaken. In Sullivan's own words, "This little acorn has grown into quite a tree."

Jennifer Hudson Taylor writes each month on a concrete industry leader for The Concrete Network (www.concretenetwork.com). The articles are meant to inform and inspire by shedding light on leaders in the industry who are "making things happen."

Return to "Industry Leaders" index