When the managers of the Albertson's grocery chain decided to expand and remodel their existing corporate headquarters in Boise, Idaho, they wanted their new building and facilities to harmonize with the surrounding environment - a concept of which the City of Boise enthusiastically approved.

The 150,000-sq.ft. building is located next to the Boise River with picturesque foothills as a backdrop. The building is brick with earth-toned, terrazzo-like support columns that blend well with the landscape. When it came time to choose the lighting poles, Dick Holtz of Architectural Dynamics and Jack Willmorth of Willmorth Engineering decided that the concrete poles and bollards should match the colors and terrazzo appearance of the columns.

Prestressed concrete bollards provide ground-level lighting for sidewalks and grassways, and 40-foot-tall prestressed concrete lighting poles illuminate parking lots and other areas. Holtz and Willmorth were pleased with the results. "The poles did the job, and I would use them again," Holtz said.

Both the bollards and poles were embedded directly in the earth instead of being mounted on a concrete foundation; this reduced installation costs by eliminating the concrete foundation, anchor bolts and base covers.

The project electrical contractor, Rex Lea of Lea Electric Company, commented, "We were really pleased with the ease of the installation, especially in an area next to the Boise River with a high water table. The direct burial aspect of the poles saved us from having to build costly bases and really worked well." LASN

Developer:

Albertson's Grocery

Architect:

Architectural Dynamics

Engineer:

Willmorth Engineering

Electrical Contractor:

Lea Electric Company

Lighting Bollards:

Ameron Pole Products

Lighting Poles :

Ameron Pole Products

Bollards and Poles

Manufacturer's Representative:

D.M.A.