After a construction time of just over a year, the Falcon Cove Middle School in Weston, FL, opened in August 2020 to welcome students back for the 2020-2021 school year with a newly expanded and upgraded campus. The integral waterproofing properties and the ease-of-use of PENETRON ADMIX contributed to the on-time completion of the project.
Located on the western border of Broward County and directly adjacent to the Everglades Wildlife Management Area, Weston is a planned community of over 65,000 that was incorporated in 1996. Part of the Fort Lauderdale School District, the Falcon Cove Middle School serves 2,267 students in grades 6-8. The school consistently places among the top 20% of public schools in Florida.
Designed by Zyscovich Architects, the $5 million project included a new classroom and administrative building, which included 33 classrooms, a media center, and a technology lab, covering 59,000 square feet (5,400 m2). Because of the extremely high groundwater levels common in southern Florida, DDA Engineers was well aware of the need for a reliable waterproofing solution for the school’s below-grade concrete elevator pits.
Looking for an Optimal Solution
“When you build that close to the Everglades, waterproofing your structure is going to be top of mind,” explains Christopher Chen, Director of The Penetron Group. “Penetron collaborated with the ready-mix supplier on an optimal concrete waterproofing solution.”
After reviewing the performance specifications and installation costs, the structural engineers at DDA Engineers opted for PENETRON ADMIX, an integral crystalline waterproofing concrete admixture, to replace the originally specified bituminous membrane system. Supermix, the ready-mix supplier, added PENETRON ADMIX SB in soluble bags to the concrete during batching, simplifying the dosage and batching process. PENETRON ADMIX-treated concrete was used for the elevator pits to protect the below-grade structures from groundwater penetration, resulting in durable and waterproof structures.
Permanent Seal for Microcracks
As a crystalline waterproofing admixture, PENETRON ADMIX unleashes a catalytic reaction activated by moisture to generate a non-soluble crystalline formation throughout the pores and capillary tracts normally found in concrete. This formation permanently seals microcracks, pores and capillaries against the penetration of water or liquids from any direction, substantially reducing the permeability of usually porous concrete. As an integral waterproofing solution, PENETRON ADMIX provides low permeability, low shrinkage and self-healing properties, a highly effective combination for exposed concrete structures.
“In the final count, the contractor avoided the labor-intensive installation of a membrane system and gained time on the construction schedule by choosing PENETRON ADMIX,” adds Christopher Chen. “And I won’t even mention the downstream savings on virtually no future maintenance costs!”
Next door to the Everglades: PENETRON ADMIX was used for the elevator pits at the Falcon Cove Middle School to protect against groundwater penetration, replacing a bituminous membrane system.
