The redevelopment and expansion of the Campbelltown Hospital, located in the southwestern suburbs of Sydney, Australia, was completed and celebrated with a community-wide event in May 2022. PENETRON ADMIX, a crystalline concrete waterproofing solution, was used for all exposed and below-grade concrete structures.
A picturesque town of about 175,000 inhabitants, Campbelltown has a historic center and is adjacent to the Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan, the country's largest botanical garden, and Dharawal National Park. The city is located on the outskirts of the Sydney metropolitan area in New South Wales, about 55 km (34 miles) southwest of the Sydney central business district.
Together with the Camden Hospital, the newly expanded Campbelltown Hospital has served the southwest suburban communities of Sydney (NSW), Australia since 1977. Since then, the facility has undergone numerous expansions and upgrades. The second and final phase of construction, a A$632 million (US$447.65 million) hospital redevelopment project, added a new 12-floor clinical services building. This facility doubles the hospital’s ICU bed capacity, increases the number of maternity beds, and expands mental health services. A multi-story car parking garage with seven levels and over 800 spaces was also added as part of the project.
“The addition of the new facility to Campbelltown Hospital will also add new digital operating rooms, a new dental and oral health department, and a new cancer therapy center,” says Steve Hodkinson, General Manager of Penetron Australia. “This adds up to a wider range of specialized medical and clinical services for the local community in New South Wales.”
Due to the high groundwater level at the construction site in Campbelltown, Penetron Australia collaborated with the project’s general contractor to provide an effective concrete mix design with a very low permeability. This effectively converts the concrete into a waterproofing element with built-in self-healing capabilities for any cracks that may emerge. As a result, PENETRON ADMIX was specified to waterproof all below-grade concrete structures, exposed terraces, roof slabs, and hospital helipad. PENEBAR SW swellable waterstops were also applied to permanently seal all construction joints.
Once added to the concrete during the batching phase, the proprietary chemicals in PENETRON ADMIX react to moisture in the concrete to generate a non-soluble crystalline formation in the pores and capillary tracts of the concrete. This formation permanently seals micro-cracks, pores, and capillaries against the penetration of water or liquids from any direction.
“The new medical facility was completed on time and thanks to Penetron’s crystalline concrete waterproof technology, the enhanced durability of the concrete structures will ensure a substantially longer service life for Campbelltown Hospital,” adds Steve Hodkinson.
Waterproofed with Penetron: The completion of the 12-floor clinical services building enables Campbelltown Hospital to offer a wider range of medical and clinical services for New South Wales.
Permanent protection: PENETRON ADMIX, a crystalline waterproofing admixture, was specified to waterproof all below-grade concrete structures, exposed terraces, roof slabs, and hospital helipad.
