2025 Carl E. Akeley Award: “Shotcrete as Final Liner – Design Considerations”

The 20th annual Carl E. Akeley Award was presented to Andy Thompson for his article, “Shotcrete as Final Liner — Design Considerations,” which was published in Shotcrete magazine, Volume 27, Number 3, 3rd Quarter 2025. The article discusses how shotcrete (often called sprayed concrete) is increasingly used worldwide as…

“Kingdoms of Asia” at Fresno Chaffee Zoo: Bringing Angkor Wat to California with Shotcrete Artistry – 2025 Outstanding Architecture Project

Imagine stepping through a towering stone gateway crowned with a serene Brahma head, flanked by guardian lions, and wrapped in the sinewy roots of untamed ancient fig trees. Beyond the archway, the air feels heavy with jungle mist, and the distant roar of a Malayan tiger echoes through crumbling temple walls. It’s easy to forget this is not Cambodia: It’s Fresno, California. This breathtaking experience is the result of…

Business in the Front, Party in the Back – 2025 Honorable Mention Project

This project began as a conventional form-and-pour pool installation before the homeowner recognized that the scope, access limitations, and structural implications required a specialized pool contractor and design professional. By the time Revolution Gunite was engaged, excavation was largely complete and footings were already in place — revealing a set of constraints that ultimately made shotcrete not just advantageous, but essential.

North America’s Tallest Façade Retention System – 2025 Honorable Mention Project

In the heart of downtown Toronto, ON, Canada, a full city block at 481 University Avenue and 210 Dundas Street West has become the site of one of the most complex heritage preservation efforts ever attempted in North America. The development of the United Bldg., a 50-story mixed-use tower, required the complete in-place retention of the façades of two historically significant heritage sites…