I've known Buddy Rhodes for a long time - as a matter of fact, I took his very first workshop, and I'm fairly certain I was the first person to purchase a pallet of Buddy Rhodes Concrete Mix. I used to teach workshops for Buddy in San Francisco for many years. Buddy is good people, as they say, and it's always nice to spend time with him. If you haven't had the opportunity to meet him, now is your chance as Buddy Rhodes will be joining us for the February Pinnacle Concrete Camp!
The Pinnacle Concrete Camp is hosted by Concrete Design School and features trainers Brandon Gore, Dusty Baker, and Jon Schuler. Additionally, we will have several guest assistant trainers that bring a wealth of knowledge and experience. Between the training staff and workshop attendees this class is going to be a record breaking 40-50 people total! You don't want to miss this event!
Spend 6 days in the beautiful mountain town of Eureka Springs, AR learning the following:
+ Rubber Mold-Making
+ How to Post-Tension Concrete
+ GFRC and ECC Concrete Mix Designs
+ How to Properly Mix, Cast, Cure, and Finish Concrete
+ How to Seal Concrete for the Real World
+ Dusty-Crete
+ Advanced Finishes using Upright Casting Techniques
+ The Business of Running a Concrete Business
+ How to Price Your Products
+ ... and Much More!
If you are new to concrete and want to start a successful business, or if you are an industry veteran that wants to sharpen their processes, the Pinnacle Concrete Camp is for you! The workshop is being held February 24-29, which is approaching quickly, and only a few seats remain so don't delay, register today!
Review of the February 2019 Concrete Design School GFRC, ECC, Fabric-Forming, Post-Tensioning, DustyCrete, and Concrete Sink Workshops
Another series of Concrete Design School workshops has come and gone. It was a great week of training where we covered ECC, GFRC, SCC, UHPC, DustyCrete, Fabric-Forming, Concrete Sinks, and Concrete Countertops. We made a lot of awesome pieces, awesome friends, and even tested the strength of a sink with 8 rounds of 45-70 (spoiler, it held up great)! It’s time to rest for a minute and take a look at the production schedule for the next few months to see where we can work in another class. Keep an eye on the website, we’ll announce the dates shortly.
New KODIAK PRO Concrete Admixtures Now Available
If you’re like me, you are constantly striving to create the absolute best product possible, from a materials viewpoint as well as design. KODIAK PRO just released 2 new concrete admixtures that will up your concrete game.
The first is ‘BOOST’ - this admixture, used at the upper end of the loading rate, allows you to de-mold your pieces the same day in addition to improving the overall performance of your concrete. Dosed at the low end of the loading rate will increase hydration of your mix which reduces shrinkage and lowers permeability - both good things. Needless to say, if you’re casting concrete you should be adding BOOST.
The second admix is simply named ‘THE BEST PLASTICIZER’, and for good reason, it is the best plasticizer we have ever used. It comes in a powder form, it is extremely potent without retarding the mix as many other plasticizers will when dosed at higher rate. If you want the best concrete then you need to use THE BEST PLASTICIZER!
The September 2018 All-In Workshop & Fabric-Forming Workshop are SOLD OUT! You can still get into the Dusty-Crete and Post-Tensioning Workshop!
As anticipated the September 2018 'All-In Workshop' and 'Fabric-Forming Workshop' are officially SOLD-OUT! As of 8:00am this morning there is 1 seat available in the 'Dusty-Crete Workshop' and 'Post-Tensioning Workshop'. They won't last long so NOW is the time to register and book your travel arrangements, the class is in 1 week! See you in Eureka Springs.
That's a wrap for INCEPTION, and now we're looking towards March 2018!
The INCEPTION Training Event was an overwhelming success! We had attendees from all over the world - South Africa, Pakistan, Mexico, Canada, New Zealand, and of course the United States. It was truly a pleasure having this diverse, talented, and enthusiastic group in our studio for a week.
Now that INCEPTION has passed we have been receiving emails asking when our next workshops will be HELD. We have scheduled the following two classes at our Eureka Springs, AR headquarters:
2.5 Day Fabric-Forming Concrete Sink + GFRC Workshop, March 12-14, 2018, Eureka Springs, AR
from $1,500.00
THIS IS IT, the World Famous Fabric-Forming Concrete Sink + GFRC Workshop! Over the last decade we have taught, asked and listened to students, then refined and repeated countless times. All of that experience has led to this, the absolute best Fabric-Forming + GFRC Workshop that has ever been offered in the history of man. We should know, we have been teaching both subjects longer than anyone else!
Every student will receive a full-color 36 page course guide, packed with invaluable information and never-seen-before photographs! This course guide is not available for purchase to the general public. It is only available to students who enroll in this workshop.
Fabric-forming is the future of concrete, now. It is an amazing method that can be employed in the creation of custom sinks, planters, wall panels, fireplace surrounds, etc. There is much rationale backing fabric as the optimal material for creating forms, with the primary being that it creates a natural shape, a form that cannot be created any other way. We spend the first two days of your workshop creating a fabric-form from scratch. All processes are covered with a concentration on the nuances that can only be gained from years of experience.
Once the form is completed, we continue on day two with GFRC (glass-fiber reinforced concrete). We cover GFRC tools and equipment, materials, mix design, proper mix protocol, and most importantly, how we cast GFRC. On day three the mould is removed and the piece created is revealed! At that point we finish the concrete, repair any imperfections, and discuss sealers and application methods.
GFRC (glass-fiber reinforced concrete) is the medium we choose to create our work with for several reasons. It is easier to manipulate than traditional concrete, it is lighter, and ultimately, GFRC creates a stronger finished piece. However, it is important to note that GFRC is not new, it has been used in exterior commercial pre-cast applications for more than 30 years in some of the harshest climates known to man. The material is sound. It is proven.
Anything can be made more difficult than it needs to be, and left up to engineers, it is. We have striven to reduce our mix designs and techniques to be simple, repeatable and reliable so you can focus on the heart of the matter, and the reason you are interested in concrete; art, design, expanding horizons, and to shape the world around us with our own two hands.
We were the first company to train both fabric-forming and GFRC and are the long-leading experts in this emerging market segment. Our training is often imitated, but never duplicated; the pieces our attendees create are in a league of their own. You will not find cliche college’esque course numbers, bloated egos or erroneous claims of practical knowledge here. What you will find is the most passionate, creative and thorough training of fabric-forming and GFRC available anywhere - if this is what you’re looking for, welcome to your workshop.
SESSION TIME AND CAPACITY
- 2.5 days of training in the Concrete Design School Headquarters located in Eureka Springs, Arkansas
- These sessions are limited to 15 participants to ensure hands-on learning and class participation
WORKSHOP DATES
- March 12, 2018 - March 14, 2018 (Please note, we are conducting a '1.5 Day Post-Tensioned Concrete Workshop' directly following this class, you can learn more and register here. If you are a first time attendee of the Fabric-Forming Workshop you can register for the Post-Tensioned Workshop at the Alumni Rate!)
COST
- First-time Students: $1875
- Alumni: $1500
You may be asking yourself, which ticket type should I purchase? If this is your first time attending a Concrete Design School Workshop you should choose the 'First Time Student' ticket. If you have previously taken part in a Concrete Design School class you should choose the 'Alumni' ticket, as we offer special reduced pricing to returning attendees as way of saying thank you for your continued support.
WORKSHOP LOCATION
Concrete Design School is located at:
45 Bear Ridge Rd., Eureka Springs, AR 72631
GPS Coordinates: 36.421726, -93.789226
THE FINE PRINT
If you need to cancel, the course fee will not be refunded but the amount can be used towards a future Concrete Design School workshop.
All participants will be required to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement with penalties for unauthorized disclosure of material. The methods and formulas taught during the class may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in any form.
Concrete Design School reserves the right to change, modify or cancel the class schedule at any time.
1.5 Day Post-Tensioned Concrete + Current Techniques Workshop, March 15-16, 2018, Eureka Springs, AR
from $975.00
40,000 HOURS LEAD TO THIS
13 years of uninterrupted hard-work is a long time to be focused solely on a single task, but that is what I have been doing. 40,000 hours. 40,000 hours of trial and error, evolution, back-tracking, and discovery. All of that lead to this workshop; a class that focuses on the most up-to-date techniques that I am employing, which includes post-tensioned concrete.
You may be asking yourself, what is post-tensioned concrete? Post-tensioning is a method of reinforcing concrete where we strategically cast high-strength steel cables in the concrete, allowing them to move within a protective sleeve, and once cured we tighten (aka "tension") the cables placing the concrete in permanent compression. Why is this important and/or useful to the concrete artisan? It allows tremendous creative and design freedom in relation to unsupported spans. The 'Leviathan Table' (pictured below), a 14' outdoor dining table, was only plausible and made possible due to post-tensioning.
The truth of the matter is that nearly every other training program is teaching information and techniques that we were instructing a decade ago. There's nothing wrong with this information, it's just not the way we do things any longer. We have tried most every method, mix, and sealer and have ruled out the vast majority of them for a multitude of reasons, the most basic being that they are bad for business. Perhaps they are unpredictable, unreliable, not repeatable, or not backed by the manufacturer when they fail. You can spend 13 years of your life working in your studio 60 hours a week to arrive at our conclusions for best practices, or you can attend this class and save yourself a ton of money, heartache, and possibly your marriage.
Simply put, this workshop's priority is to teach you:
- How we currently design and construct our forms
- The mix designs and sealers we presently employ
- Our most up-to-date casting techniques
- The principles of post-tensioned concrete and how it is applicable to our scale of work
As a class, we will work together to form, cast, and de-mold a post-tensioned item. We will take time to answer your questions, review past projects with behind-the-scenes photos, discuss what works, and more importantly, what is a waste of time and money.
This is not a 'basics class', but that isn't to say you have to be experienced to attend. If you are new to concrete but are serious about advancing your career within this craft, this workshop is for you. If you are a veteran and/or have attended previous Concrete Design School workshops, but want to learn how we approach and cast projects today, this workshop is for you. This class is for the individual that wants to learn from the 2,400,000+ minutes of trials and tribulations it took for us to get "here", this moment in time, not a day, month, year, or decade ago. This isn't a sales pitch, nor is it training from trainers that haven't been in the game for many years, if ever. It is a serious discussion and instruction on what works today, and why.
SESSION TIME AND CAPACITY
- 1.5 days of training in the Concrete Design School Headquarters located in Eureka Springs, Arkansas
- These sessions are limited to 15 participants to ensure hands-on learning and class participation
WORKSHOP DATES
COST
- First-time Students: $1200
- Alumni: $975
You may be asking yourself, which ticket type should I purchase? If this is your first time attending a Concrete Design School Workshop you should choose the 'First Time Student' ticket. If you have previously taken part in a Concrete Design School class you should choose the 'Alumni' ticket, as we offer special reduced pricing to returning attendees as way of saying thank you for your continued support.
WORKSHOP LOCATION
Concrete Design School is located at:
45 Bear Ridge Rd., Eureka Springs, AR 72631
GPS Coordinates: 36.421726, -93.789226
INSTRUCTOR
THE FINE PRINT
If you need to cancel, the course fee will not be refunded but the amount can be used towards a future Concrete Design School workshop.
All participants will be required to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement with penalties for unauthorized disclosure of material. The methods and formulas taught during the class may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in any form.
Concrete Design School reserves the right to change, modify or cancel the class schedule at any time.
We will be scheduling a Dusty-Crete Workshop in Burns, TN and a workshop with Jon Schuler in Angels Camp, CA for the first quarter of 2018. Keep an eye on the website for the announcement of the dates.
The November Concrete Workshops are HALFWAY FILLED!
“Opportunities are like sunrises. If you wait too long, you miss them.”
Perhaps you've been waiting for the perfect moment to come along to attend a Concrete Design School hands-on workshop? There are no perfect moments, the only moment is now, the best opportunity is the one at hand. The good news is we are holding 3 amazing concrete workshops in November (aka "The Inception Training Event"). The bad news is they are already halfway filled! Don't let the sun set on your dreams of getting into the high-end decorative concrete trade, or expanding your current business, there is still time!
Follow the links below to learn more and to register for your perfect workshop(s):
2.5 Day Fabric-Forming + GFRC Concrete Sink Workshop, November 5-7
2.5 Day Upright Casting Technique (UCT) Workshop for Sink with Jon Schuler, November 7-9
1.5 Day Furniture Design Workshop, November 10-11
or attend ALL THREE:
Post-Tensioned Concrete, Current Techniques, Old World Methods, Modern Mix Designs, and Jon Schuler! We must be California dreaming!
The stars have aligned and we just scheduled two brand new workshops to be held at Creative Crete in Angels Camp, CA, May 1-6, 2017! Brandon Gore will be teaching a class that goes in-depth on his most current techniques, including post-tensioning concrete, while Jon Schuler will be conducting a workshop on creating a multitude of finishes with the most basic of tools and techniques. Two things are guaranteed; 1. These classes are going to be a ton of fun, and 2. They are going to fill up fast! If you want to attend both workshops at a special reduced rate, check out the All-In Workshop Package. See you in California!
Photos from the June 2014 Fabric-Forming & GFRC Concrete Countertop and Sink Class
The June 2014 Fabric-Forming Sink & GFRC Concrete Countertop training event just wrapped up, and we wanted to share a few photos we snapped during the class. The next 2.5 day workshop will be in August, click here to learn more or to enroll.
Our Roots
Buddy Rhodes (left) and Brandon Gore (right) in San Francisco at Buddy Rhodes Studio, ca. 2004
Buddy Rhodes (center), Brandon Gore (left), and Jon Schuler (right) at World of Concrete in Las Vegas, 2014
As we prepare to receive attendees of the May 6-8, 2014 2.5-day Fabric-Forming Concrete Sink + GFRC Workshop, we reflect back on our beginnings.
I (Brandon Gore) have only taken one concrete related class, and that was with Buddy Rhodes of Buddy Rhodes Studio many years ago. Buddy's shop was huge, employees were everywhere, mixing, placing and polishing concrete; it was as if he and his studio were the Willy Wonka of concrete.
Willy Wonka sings Pure Imagination.
Thinking back, I can recall the excitement and possibility of this burgeoning industry; it's as palpable now as it was then. Concrete sinks and countertops were just coming onto the scene. GFRC hadn't become the standard and fabric-forming was unexplored. Anything was possible, which was good and bad. Decorative and interior architectural concrete hadn't gained a foothold yet, so the thoughts of failure were visceral - could a small studio make it? That was uncharted territory.
A decade later and that question has been answered, and it is a resounding 'YES!' Small studios can not only survive but thrive. The materials, tools, technologies and processes have gone through a quantum leap since then, but the entrepreneurial ethos remains a constant. The sustained heartbeat of this industry comes from the artisans and craftsman that care deeply about the quality of each and every piece they create by hand. It is in this spirit that we welcome the attendees of the May 6-8th workshop, and we hope to see them grow along with the industry in the coming decade.
Fighting the Burn
Steel + Wood Sculpture by Brandon Gore, ca. 2008
Concrete countertops and sinks are a lot of fun to make, but concrete veterans often time struggle with staying excited. They get stuck in a rut and lose sight of the magic that comes from creativity and design. How can experienced concrete craftsmen stay motivated and enthusiastic? One way is by attending a training course at Concrete Design School. Learning a new method or approach can reignite passion.
Don't get burned out. Get your concrete mojo back. Get energized. Get the best training available - Concrete Design School.
What is Concrete Design School?
GFRC training attendee learning how to properly spray a face-coat for a concrete sink
Concrete Design School is the continuation and progression of training workshops that Brandon Gore of Gore Design Co. and Hard Goods has held since 2005. The objective of these workshops is to elevate the industry, to raise the bar of what can be done with concrete and increase expectations from the public at large as to what good concrete should be. Over the last decade we have taught hundreds of individuals, many going on to launch award-winning leading decorative concrete companies. We look forward to the future of concrete!