Unity Square Benches MD: Award-Winning Architectural Precast

Hyde cast 19 curved architectural precast concrete benches for Unity Square in Salisbury, Maryland, earning First Place in Decorative Concrete Furniture at the 2026 ASCC DCC/CPC International Project Awards.

When the City of Salisbury, Maryland envisioned Unity Square, its first dedicated downtown public gathering space, the centerpiece seating had to do more than function. It had to define the space. Hyde delivered 19 precast concrete bench sections spanning approximately 512 square feet: a sweeping circular focal bench and two flanking curved benches, all custom-fabricated to radii and profiles that no off-the-shelf form could replicate.

The primary circular bench required nine interlocking sections cast to a 21-foot radius; the two flanking benches added ten more sections at a 58-foot-9-inch radius. No two assemblies shared the same geometry. The complexity of the specified profiles was a challenge most precast contractors would not attempt. To achieve exact geometry, Hyde commissioned custom fiberglass and foam molds. The largest section, at 2,200 pounds, was cast into a complex curved form in a single pour, leaving no room for cold joints or misalignment.

All sections were cast with a toe-kick notch to house integrated LED underlighting, essential for Unity Square's evening programming. Integrating a consistent lighting recess across curved, heavy-mass sections separates this project from standard site furniture.

The Landscape Architects specified Hyde Concrete Gray with an acid-etched surface for durability in a high-traffic, all-weather plaza. All 19 pieces were safely set using telehandler equipment and multi-person lifting protocols.

Design lead Michael Pullano of Design Collective stated: "The design required a fabricator who could engineer solutions. Hyde was a true partner maintaining the precision needed to bring our complex design to life, and their ability to deliver on time for a public opening reflects the expertise and reliability we look for in every collaboration."

Design Collective, the project's landscape architects, also earned a Merit Award from the Maryland Chapter ASLA for Unity Square.