Atlas ArchimedesKansas Company Mixes Concrete With Mediterranean InspirationDavid Root grew up in a concrete family — doing it, he says, against his will to pay his way through college to earn his degree in design. Today, he combines his design skills and Mediterranean-style inspiration with his new-found respect for concrete as the cornerstone of his company, Atlas Archimedes. Based in Lawrence, Kansas, Root's four-year-old company does a little bit of everything — restoration, sculptures, terrazzo, casting, countertops, fireplace surrounds, remodeling.
"I do a lot of jobs that others won't do," Root said. "It's almost entirely residential — mostly small jobs." Root holds a bachelor of arts degree in Design from the University of Kansas. His emphasis is in 3D processes, including ceramics and sculpture. "Like a lot of others in my major, after college I ended up in the construction business," he said. "It got to the point where no jobs were coming in." So Root put his future in his own hands and formed his own company. And for the past four years he's been increasingly busy. But unlike his decorative concrete colleagues from other parts of the country, the concrete countertop has yet to surface as a staple of his portfolio. "In the Midwest we get the tail-end of everything," he said, talking about design trends. "There's not much demand for it here. The people in general are still very conservative in the Midwest." But Root said he thinks concrete countertops will eventually catch on in his region. "The public doesn't really know much about them," he said. So Root has turned his attention to a host of other types of projects. The types of projects tend to come in stages, Root said. For example, spring brings a host of masonry, flagstone, and stucco projects. "I also do a lot of patios, terrazzo, and restoration jobs," he said. But one of Root's all-time favorite projects was a small bathroom he designed in an old house. Root got rid of all the corners in the room by using lightweight concrete and steel mesh. The bathroom was then graced with a continuous mural, inspired by ancient Mediterranean art, the architecture of Gaudi and the artist Hokusai's Japanese woodblocks. The mural covers the entire room. His work earned him the 2001 Residential Award of Merit at the 15th Annual Spectrum International Ceramic Tile Competition. "It was a small space; I made the most out of it," Root said, saying he also tore out the ceiling and tiled 7 feet up the wall. And it wasn't just the small space that tested his abilities. "I did it while the bathroom was still in use, so it was definitely a challenge," he said. Root also loves the terrazzo projects — grinding the concrete and then seeing the various-shaped brilliant colors peeking through the surface. One of those terrazzo projects involved creating a curved outdoor patio bar top. A local artist had wanted the bar top as part of his "fantasy back yard garden," Root said.  Curved outdoor patio bar top. "He basically designed it and asked me to make it," Root said.
The brilliant blue background is accented with three circles spaced evenly apart. Each circle encloses a gray terrazzo center with a taupe and yellow ring. A bright blue x marks the middle and cursive writing borders the edge of the circles. Root used a dye grinder to do the decorative cursive writing. Root's other projects have run the gamut. "I've done interesting molds to match old structures and pillars. It's neat making the mold — the negative of the structure," he said. He also replaced an old, leaning brick fence. He tore it down, and matched the original; this time using bricks that are each stamped "Lawrence, Kansas," collectors' items in the area.  While some of his projects involve this sort of replacing or restoring, the ones he enjoys most are those in which he uses his design talents. He's currently working on a fireplace surround that will incorporate concrete, stone, and terrazzo. "I picture myself as an old man just doing the design work," he said, saying that the physical part of the work is the most grueling. Atlas Archimedes is a one-man show for the time being, with some part-time help from his girlfriend. He had some others working for him, but had to let them go after business slowed down in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Plus, Root said, it's tough to find good help — someone who has the specific skills, passion and commitment required to achieve great projects. And how did Root come up with the unique name? "Half of my family is Sicilian," Root said. "And in all my work is through a Mediterranean approach: I like to use organic, hard materials — stone, stucco, plaster. And Archimedes is a thinker. Atlas fits well with the nature of the work." Root said he thinks Atlas Archimedes and the industry in general will continue to gain momentum. "Concrete's always been here, but people are now looking at it for its durability ... People are getting more interested," he said. And as an artist, Root loves working with it. "You don't have to cut it. You just form it, pour it, and go," he said. "I love working with it. It translates well to what I learned in school." As the clientele blossoms, they, too, are falling for artistic, decorative concrete projects. "Not to sound too cliché, but concrete does have a warmth," Root said. "It's not as stark and forbidding as stone." Atlas Archimedes
Michele Dawson writes each week on one of the contractor members of The Concrete Network (www.concretenetwork.com). She has written about the home building industry for several years and was on the public affairs staff of the California Building Industry Association. Find a Concrete Contractor 23 Services in 200 Metros -- U.S. and Canada © 2008 ConcreteNetwork.com None of this site may be reproduced without written permission |
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