A county fairground is a collection of plain concrete jobs that need to work for a week of crowds and then sit quietly for a year: barn floors, RV pads, arena aprons, walkways, parking and the service roads that feed all of it. We build those pads and slabs around the Ector County Coliseum on Andrews Highway, where public owners and event operators both need surfaces that clean easily and take abuse from livestock, trailers and thousands of boots.
The coliseum at 4201 Andrews Highway was built in 1954 and seats 5,131. The county is combining Barns B and C into one air-conditioned space of over 43,000 square feet, a project of about $2 million within a $6 million package that also adds RV space and rodeo arena changes. Those three scopes each translate into concrete: a long barn floor, hard-surfaced hookup pads and an arena edge that stands up to animals and equipment.
We mobilize crews to the fairgrounds from Odessa and work to the owner's event calendar. Trade partners we coordinate handle utilities, grading and the buried lines that RV hookups need, and concrete trade partners take over at finished subgrade.
What concrete trade partners build
Barn slabs, aprons, pads, walks and curbs are all placed and finished by concrete trade partners. For a livestock building, that means a floor with positive drainage, a non-slip finish and a base that keeps its shape under washdown. For a vendor area, it means a flat, broom-finished surface that can hold tents, trailers and carts.
The buried work is another matter. Water, sewer, electric and drainage lines are installed by trade partners we coordinate. We schedule their work ahead of ours, confirm sleeves and slopes, and close the base only after the lines are in. Because the buried work and the concrete share a calendar, the county gets a single set of dates for the whole package, and nobody has to cut into a new barn floor to fix a missed pipe.
Public owner requirements
County projects follow the county's procurement rules and the plans issued by its engineer or architect. We read the specifications for mix design, testing frequency, submittal lists and curing methods, and we price accordingly. Where the contract calls for certified testing, an independent lab handles sampling and we coordinate access.
For work on a public site, the permit and inspection steps may involve both the county and the local building department. We confirm which approvals apply, file or support the paperwork, and schedule inspections around pours so concrete is not placed before the inspector has approved forms and steel. Closeout includes mix tickets, test results and any warranty documents the contract requires.
Barns, arenas and event buildings
The building types at a fairground are simple and heavy. A combined barn with air conditioning needs a thick, well-drained slab and edge details for the walls that will rise on it. Arena spaces call for aprons and drive lanes that tolerate loaded trailers. Concession buildings and restrooms sit on ordinary slab on grade with plumbing rough-ins.
Beyond these, government and municipal buildings such as an office, a maintenance shop or a storage building may share the site. A pad poured for one use today may carry another tomorrow, so we recommend sections that allow future flexibility, such as a thicker slab where a loading dock might later be added.
County and event buyers
Our main client here is the county, along with the contractors it hires and the operators who run events. Departments under municipal and public works call on us for roads, parking and drainage. General contractors on the barn project want concrete subcontractors who show up on time and finish a floor right the first time.
The coliseum hosts the Permian Basin Oil Show, held every two years with more than 600 oilfield product exhibitors, and the annual Permian Basin Fair. That brings oil and gas vendors who bring heavy equipment, and they appreciate floors and pads that handle weight. We help the county and its exhibitors plan load paths and entry points ahead of show week.
Events, animals and washdown
Concrete near livestock faces ammonia, wash chemicals and constant moisture. A rough finish gives traction but holds dirt, so we aim for a texture that gives grip without trapping debris. Slopes must send water to drains rather than to the barn aisle, and joints need a sealant that tolerates cleaning agents.
Show-week schedules are fixed, and no one moves an opening for a slab that is still curing. A barn floor that misses its cure window cannot take the first livestock trailer, so we protect that date above others. We work back from the event date, set milestone pours and add buffers for weather. Access during construction needs thought too: a large public site has multiple entrances, and keeping one clear for the fair's own operations is often part of the contract. Haul routes for mixer trucks are drawn so they never cross the lanes visitors use.
Public sites and working crowds
When a facility stays partly open, the public can wander near the work. We fence the area, put up signs, and keep trucks on routes away from walkways. Deliveries are timed to quiet hours, and spotters guide backing trucks. If events are going on nearby, we pause noisy operations when asked.
On the pour, crews use water for dust control and avoid placing in strong wind without a screen. Fresh cement, silica from cutting and heat are managed as on any other job. Excavations are marked, utility locates come first, loose forms and tools are gathered each evening, and the work area is secured at night so visitors and animals cannot reach forms or open trenches.
Floors, hookups and parking
A typical package includes the large barn slab, parking lot concrete for trailers and vehicles, and sidewalks and flatwork that tie buildings together. RV areas need level pads with room for slide-outs and hookups, and bollards or curbs to protect pedestals. Rodeo arena changes often involve concrete edges, gates and pavement for stock trailers.
Around the site we build drainage structures and aprons at entrances. Owners who plan more growth can ask for stub-outs and thickened edges so later additions tie into the existing work. Nearby, we also serve Andrews and West Odessa, so crews and equipment can move between sites efficiently.
Send the event calendar
Tell us the buildings, the show dates and where the public needs to walk. We will inspect the site and send a phased scope for floors, pads and parking.
Common Questions
What finish works best for a livestock barn floor?
A medium broom or light-texture finish gives traction without catching manure and feed. The floor should slope to drains, and joints should be sealed with a product that tolerates washdown chemicals.
Can you build RV pads with utility pedestals?
Yes. We pour level pads with room for the vehicle and its slide-outs, install bollards or curbs to protect pedestals, and coordinate the buried water, sewer and electric lines with trade partners.
How do you schedule around a fair or a trade show?
We work backward from the event date, set pour milestones and carry extra time for weather. Noisy work stays away from show days when possible, and one entrance is kept clear for event traffic.
What testing does a county concrete job need?
The contract documents set the testing frequency and the lab. We coordinate sampling at the truck, cylinder curing and reports, and we hand over the results at closeout.
Who handles the utilities and grading?
Our trade partners install the buried utilities and prepare the subgrade, and we coordinate them with our pours. You get one schedule for the combined work.