Ft. Lauderdale Urban Center Built Mainly on Penetron-Treated Concrete
The October 2020 opening of The Main Las Olas, a 1.4 million square foot mixed-use development, creates a new urban center for Fort Lauderdale, Florida. PENETRON ADMIX was used to waterproof the below-grade concrete foundation structures.
EAST SETAUKET, N.Y., Oct. 15, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The October 2020 opening of The Main Las Olas, a 1.4 million square foot mixed-use development, creates a new urban center for Fort Lauderdale, Florida. PENETRON ADMIX was used to waterproof the below-grade concrete foundation structures.
The $95 million project, developed by Stiles Corporation and Shorenstein, is a mixed-use office, residential and retail community that occupies an entire city block (3 acres) in the center of Fort Lauderdale's financial and entertainment district, just blocks away from the Brightline Rail Station.
"Thanks to the exceptional location and outsize dimensions for both work and living, The Main Las Olas represents a transformative development for Fort Lauderdale," explains Christopher Chen, Director of The Penetron Group.
"The Main Las Olas" project comprised twin towers with 25 floors of office space and 27 floors for 341 apartments. There are 357,000 square feet (32,500 m2) of Class A offices for lease, with floor-to-ceiling glass walls. Restaurants and retail shops are on the ground floor of the office tower. The apartments are available as one-, two- and three-bedroom homes ranging in size from 600 to 1,400 square feet (55-127 m2). The ground floor of the apartment tower houses Publix GreenWise, an organic grocer.
Facing Constant Groundwater Pressure
The towers are connected by a multi-story parking garage with a suspended pool and deck. Further amenities include an open-air terrace with grilling & dining areas, as well as a fitness center, a yoga lawn, a rooftop terrace, an indoor dog run and pet grooming spa, and co-working spaces.
"The main challenge for the project engineers was groundwater. They needed to ensure durability for the below-grade concrete structures, in particular the foundation slab," adds Christopher Chen. "Our local Penetron representative worked with Adonel, the project's ready-mix supplier, to provide an optimal waterproofing solution."
Making Concrete Impermeable
PENETRON ADMIX, a crystalline waterproofing admixture, was added to the concrete used to construct the massive matt foundation slab and the below-grade elevator pits. PENETRON, a crystalline material, was used in combination with PENECRETE MORTAR to plug the tie-holes.
Once added to the concrete mix or applied to the concrete surface, the active ingredients in Penetron crystalline products react in a catalytic reaction to the moisture in concrete. This generates a non-soluble crystalline formation throughout the pores and capillary tracts of the concrete. The entire concrete matrix is now impermeable, stopping the penetration of groundwater and liquids from any direction.
"The Penetron crystalline waterproofing system also provides concrete with the capacity to self-heal micro-cracks for the lifetime of the structure," says Christopher Chen. "This effectively eliminates any future maintenance costs for the 3 acre foundation of The Main Las Olas development."
The Penetron Group is a leading manufacturer of specialty construction products for concrete waterproofing, concrete repairs and floor preparation systems. The Group operates through a global network, offering support to the design and construction community through its regional offices, representatives and distribution channels.
For more information on Penetron crystalline technology solutions, please visit http://www.penetron.com, email: [email protected] or contact our Corporate Relations Department at 631-941-9700.
SOURCE The Penetron Group
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