The official September 2019 opening of the Bristol Palm Beach luxury condo tower raises the standard – with its location on the Intracoastal Waterway and high-level amenities and style – even for Palm Beach. The waterfront site demanded a reliable waterproofing solution, and Penetron crystalline technology met the challenge.
Designed by Solomon Cordwell Buenz, an international architectural, interior design, and planning firm based in Chicago, the imposing waterfront luxury condo tower offers commanding, unobstructed views of the Intracoastal Waterway, Atlantic Ocean and Palm Beach Island. Built by Suffolk Construction, the 610,000 square-foot building in the heart of West Palm Beach is now home to 67 high-end units and 12 guest suites, with floor-to-ceiling glass situated above two parking levels and the amenity area. The condo units range from 3,500 to 9,000 square feet. Amenities include the fitness center, 75-foot outdoor lap pool, hot tub and children’s private pool facility, wet & dry spas, a private dining room, elevated outdoor terrace, conference rooms and a business center.
Looking for a Secure Waterproofing Solution
“The Bristol Palm Beach is a 25-floor tower that’s surrounded on three sides by the waters of South Florida’s Intracoastal Waterway,” explains Christopher Chen, Director of The Penetron Group. “With a substantial below-grade concrete foundation, the project engineers needed a secure waterproofing solution to ensure long-term durability.”
The challenge of the high groundwater level at the construction site was compounded by the Intracoastal Waterway’s seawater. Chloride ions in seawater are a major cause of concrete deterioration. Titan, the project’s ready-mix supplier, treated all concrete used for the tower’s elevator pits with PENETRON ADMIX to ensure a waterproof and durable below-grade concrete structure.
A Permanent Solution for Concrete
Easily mixed in during batching and unaffected by climatic conditions, PENETRON ADMIX quickly becomes an integral part of the concrete matrix. It is a permanent solution that provides an added self-healing capability that will seal any micro-cracks that appear during the lifespan of the concrete when exposed to water.
“Our crystalline admixture protects concrete in critical environments, like the construction site located adjacent to Biscayne Bay,” says Christopher Chen. “As recent results have shown, concrete treated with PENETRON ADMIX can last up to 60 years longer than conventional concrete.”
Penetron in the mix: Surrounded on three sides by the waters of South Florida’s Intracoastal Waterway, the Bristol Tower needed a secure waterproofing solution to ensure long-term durability.
Seawater-proofed: The seawater surrounding the Bristol Tower is a major cause of concrete deterioration. The PENETRON ADMIX-treated below-grade concrete structures are now waterproof and durable.
Nocturnal beauty: The 25-floor Bristol Tower is home to 67 high-end condos and 12 guest suites (with floor-to-ceiling glass), all situated above two parking levels and the amenity area.
