A Facelift on Alcatraz Island

Words: Dan Kamys

May 2013

Case Study: Rehabs and Restorations

Case Study: A Facelift on Alcatraz Island

QUIKRETE Cos. recently supplied shotcrete in 3,000-pound bulk bags for a restoration project on Alcatraz Island, also known as “The Rock.”

The QUIKRETE Cos. recently supplied shotcrete in 3,000-pound bulk bags for a restoration project on Alcatraz Island, also known as “The Rock.”

Boulderscape, a design architect specializing in shotcrete application, used QUIKRETE Shotcrete MS – Fiber Reinforced and QUIKRETE Shotcrete MS to successfully repair and stabilize a failing slope on the 22-acre island.

In addition to facing dangerous application conditions, a condensed six-week shotcrete schedule was required to avoid disruptions to regular tour operations, while considering the habitat and migration patterns of local sea birds. “Navigating a variety of unique factors made this a very fulfilling project for everyone,” says Steve Jimenez, senior VP commercial sales for Boulderscape. “We couldn’t start until the indigenous birds migrated from the island in November, and we had to complete our portion of the work before the birds returned in February. “This meant everything had to be expedited, starting with the delivery of material,” he continues. “Beyond the challenging schedule, the application process was full of danger. The nozzlemen had to be hoisted more than 60 feet in lifts to spray-apply the shotcrete before sculptors repelled down the cliff to shape the material. The end result was a structurally sound slope that matched the surrounding environment.” In one weekend, 131 bulk bags of Shotcrete MS – Fiber Reinforced and 126 bulk bags of Shotcrete MS were delivered to Alcatraz Island for the project. QUIKRETE delivered16 truckloads of material to Pier 50 in San Francisco that were later shipped on two barges to Pier 33 on Alcatraz Island. It was offloaded at night by crane, one-by-one, before finally being transported to the jobsite on trailers pulled by four-wheel, all-terrain vehicles. Shotcrete MS – Fiber Reinforced is a single-component Micro Silica enhanced repair and restoration material that achieves more than 9,000 PSI at 28 days, and features very low rebound and permeability characteristics.
For more information on QUIKRETE and its products, visit www.quikrete.com, like it on Facebook and follow it on Twitter @QUIKRETE.
Return to Table of Contents
About: Case Study
The Sync Up: Aligning Schedule, Labor, and Logistics in Masonry
July 2026

A masonry contractor is only as good as the crew standing on the staging. You can source the highest-grade block, line up the perfect mix, and have every submittal approved weeks in advance, but production ultimately depends on the stamina, skill, and phy

Shayne Sanders
MAP Partner
Sponsored
Read More
Color Trends Shaping Today’s Masonry Projects
July 2026

Homeowners today are coming into projects with a lot more opinions than they used to have. Between social media, home shows and contractor sites, most customers already have a look in mind before you even quote the job. For masonry contractors, having a

Chad Riley
Stone Savvy
MAP Partner
Read More
The New Equation for Masonry Profit: Predictable Hardware and Proven Data
July 2026

The masonry industry is built on tradition, but modern growth requires a shift from guesswork to absolute certainty. When we talk about the philosophy that you cannot improve what you do not measure, we are looking at the literal minutes and manpower lost

Erin Koets Shayne Sanders
Build Smart
MAP Partner
Read More
Backfill Your Foundation
July 2026

I’ve been noticing an uptick in a very specific kind of application lately, and once you see the pattern, you can’t unsee it. The résumé usually reads like a family photo album. “Started helping my dad when I was 15.” “Worked summers, then full time.” “R

Corey Adams
Building More
Read More