As the saying goes, "a rising tide lifts all boats." Which is why our mission is to elevate the level of design, craftsmanship and visibility of high-end concrete. In order for concrete to be recognized as a premier artisanal material, it should be fashioned at a master level. By training professionals and those just learning the craft, we help artisans reach their full potential and benefit the industry as a whole – increasing the value of finely produced concrete in the process.
Since 2005, more than 1,400 artisans have attended training workshops at Concrete Design School (C.D.S.). During this time, we have built a reputation for excellence in the industry, which is why so many have trusted us to teach the art of high-end concrete design. What sets us apart is experience, and we invite you to experience the difference. Register for a hands-on workshop today.
You'll learn from craftsmen who are currently creating custom concrete pieces for high-end clientele. People who practice their trade daily will teach you the same techniques used to operate successful, award-winning concrete businesses. These workshops offer instruction on the latest techniques and insights in concrete design.
If you're going to spend money on a concrete class, shouldn't someone currently making a living in concrete design and fabrication teach it? It has always been our goal to offer our attendees "tried and true" skills from qualified instructors that successfully run their own businesses. Our instructors innovate and master unique approaches through years of trial and error - client project after client project. That is the value in what they bring to the table and teach to every attendee of our workshops.
What sets our training apart is the relevance of our information. The school's position under the GDCos. umbrella allows us to give you current, real-world knowledge of what it takes to make it in this profession today.
Every day we …
And we'll show you how we do it, using products and techniques proven to work.
At C.D.S., our workshops focus on the following skills to help you reach the level of quality expected at the highest echelon of architecture and interior design:
SPRING 2022
FEBRUARY 21-26, 2022
WORKSHOP DETAILS AND SCHEDULE:
DAY 1 & 2
FABRIC-FORMING CONCRETE SINK + GFRC WORKSHOP
INSTRUCTOR: BRANDON GORE
THIS IS IT, the World Famous Fabric-Forming Concrete Sink + GFRC Workshop! Over the last 14 years 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. In the evening 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.
DAY 3 & 4
DUSTY-CRETE WORKSHOP
INSTRUCTOR: DUSTY BAKER
Students attending my workshop will gain extensive knowledge turning regular concrete into a beautifully marbleized natural piece of art. We will be demonstrating a casting technique I have developed and perfected over the last 11 years. Our custom look uses the imperfections as part of the details that we call "Dusty-Crete." During the workshop students will learn in-depth instruction on how to marbleize and vein concrete. Instruction on how to form concrete for unique edgings including carved and tooled. In addition, we will be teaching various finishing techniques such as slurrying, scrubbing, and buffing. Last but not least, our latest uses for color enhancement using water-based stain products and how to properly seal with the QUANTUM sealing system.
With the techniques that are taught by our artisans, students will be able to create a uniquely custom concrete product with a modern or rustic look. If you want something different, unique, and individualized to each piece of concrete, look no further than attending a workshop with the artisans of Stone-Crete.
DAY 5 & 6
ADVANCED FINISHES + UPRIGHT CASTING WORKSHOP
INSTRUCTOR: JON SCHULER
In today's modern age of casting most concrete artisans have forgotten, or worse yet, never learned the fundamentals of manipulating concrete using simple hand tools to control the very nature of the material, hereinafter referred to as 'Upright Casting'. Upright Casting plainly explained is the process of crafting and processing concrete goods right-side-up, in it's final state, instead of upside-down against a form. This difference allows an infinite variety of creative options not available with common casting methods. These techniques date back more than 2,000 years and were utilized by the Romans in the creation of their masterpieces. Modern technologies have blinded the current craftsman to the inherent beauty that makes concrete "concrete", the 'soul of the substance' if you will. A simple and subtle shift in finishing techniques can yield drastically different aesthetics ranging from modern to rustic.
In this workshop Jon Schuler will teach you how to produce multiple finishes, embodying each piece with the mark of it's maker, in the truest sense. You will learn how every aspect of the mix, from design, to casting and curing, impress a signature on the final surface. We will meld ancient tooling and casting techniques with the worlds most technically advanced concrete mix designs. Upright Casting, using the most rudimentary of tools, offers your customers a myriad of finishes that will not only increase the demand for your products, but the value as well. We will demystify the process, simplify the complexities, and teach you how to take command of your medium.
Workshop Topics will include:
Concrete Design School is the continuation and progression of training workshops that Brandon Gore of Gore Design Co. and Hard Goods begun in 2005. At that time GFRC (glass-fiber reinforced concrete) was in its infancy of being utilized in the application of concrete sinks and countertops. Training was not available then, it was all trial and error.
Our training has continued at a steady pace since 2005. Over that period of time the techniques, materials, tools and the methods of teaching them have been refined. With the launch of Concrete Design School we hope to continue to lead the advancement of the craft of concrete. We will do so with the help of our industry partners, associate trainers and the continual progression of excellence that can only be gained through sustained hard work, real world experience, and innovation.
