Penetron Technology Provides Durable Foundation for Miami’s Newest Office Tower

Inaugurated in December 2022, the 830 Brickell Office Tower is the tallest office tower in Downtown Miami. The $235 million project opted for Penetron crystalline waterproofing technology for the tower’s concrete foundation.

Designed by Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture and with interiors by Iosa Ghini Associati, an Italian designer, the distinctive 830 Brickell Tower is sheathed in 1,030,000 square feet of uninterrupted silver low-E (and hurricane impact resistant) glass. At a height of 724 feet tall, it is the central business district’s tallest office tower and the second tallest office building in all of Miami.

Now home to well-known brands including Microsoft, Thoma Bravo, A-CAP, CI Financial, Marsh Insurance, AerCap, and WeWork, the 57-floors of the building provide 640,000 ft² of office space. The eight-story parking garage lies between the office floors and the ground floor retail shops act as the tower’s podium. Amenities include 13’ slab-to-slab height, floor-to-ceiling windows, and column-free spans for the office floors. There is a large outdoor terrace on the 14th floor, and the Sky Lobby on the 30th floor is home to the fitness and wellness center, conference rooms, common area with light shopping, and a café. The rooftop bar/lounge and high-level restaurant on the 54th floor boast 360° views of Miami and Biscayne Bay.

“The architects, Adrian Smith and Gordon Gill, are the stars of the design team behind the Jeddah Tower and the Burj Khalifa, the tallest towers in the world,” adds Christopher Chen, Director of The Penetron Group.

Penetron was asked to provide a reliable – and cost-effective – waterproofing solution for the foundation structures of the lofty Miami office tower. The local Penetron expert worked together with Supermix, the ready-mix concrete supplier, to come up with an optimal concrete waterproofing solution. Supermix provided 2,300 yds³ of PENETRON ADMIX-treated concrete mix for the below-grade pad foundation footings and elevator pits of the 830 Brickell project. PENEBAR SW-55, a swellable waterstop, was installed along the construction joints and around penetrations found in the elevator pits.
 

Providing a Self-Healing Capability

Once mixed into the concrete, the proprietary chemicals in PENETRON ADMIX react with moisture and concrete minerals to form insoluble crystals throughout the entire concrete matrix. The insoluble crystals forming within the cracks and voids of the concrete matrix reduce long-term shrinkage cracking, seal existing microcracks and provide self-healing abilities to seal hairline cracks over the service life of the structure.

“The self-healing capability of the concrete mix used for 830 Brickell virtually eliminates the need for any future maintenance,” adds Christopher Chen. “Once added to the mix, PENETRON ADMIX has been proven to extend the service life of concrete structures by 60 years or more, even in the saturated environmental conditions of Miami and Southern Florida.”