The new global headquarters of the Educational Media Foundation in Franklin, Tennessee, was inaugurated in April 2024. PENETRON ADMIX SB, a crystalline waterproofing admixture delivered in soluble bags, was specified as the concrete waterproofing solution to protect the below-grade foundation structures of the Foundation’s headquarters from high groundwater levels.
Educational Media Foundation (EMF) is a media company that owns and operates the two largest Christian music radio networks (K-LOVE and Air1) in the USA. The Foundation also produces podcasts, books, films, concerts, and events, and streams programming in 189 countries.
As a result of this project, EMF moved its global headquarters from northern California to the Berry Farms community in Franklin, Tennessee, a city of around 84,000 inhabitants within the Nashville metropolitan area. Designed by Hastings Architecture, Berry Farms is a 600-acre mixed-use complex in Franklin, with 3 million square feet of office space (housing 500 employees), 1.8 million square feet of retail and 1,100 residential units. The complex includes broadcast facilities, podcast & video production studios, and a worship center.
“The local Penetron team worked together with Nashville Ready Mix, the ready-mix concrete supplier, to provide an optimal concrete mix for the below-grade concrete foundation structures at the EMF campus,” adds Dale Williams, General Sales Manager for Penetron USA.
After review by Brasfield & Gorrie General Contractors, PENETRON ADMIX SB, a crystalline waterproofing admixture, was specified for the concrete mix used for the foundation slabs and retaining walls of the Foundation’s data center, crucial for protecting the media company’s extensive electrical systems.
Once mixed into the concrete, the proprietary chemicals in PENETRON ADMIX SB 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 concrete permeability, provides corrosion mitigation, and provide self-healing abilities to seal hairline cracks over the service life of the structure.
“In particular, this crack self-healing capability will virtually eliminate the need for any future maintenance of the basement structures at the EMF headquarters,” adds Dale Williams. “Once added to the mix, PENETRON ADMIX SB can extend the service life of concrete structures by 60 or more years , even when exposed to the constant high hydrostatic pressure of the Berry Farm site.”
Optimizing service life of concrete: Penetron worked with Nashville Ready Mix to provide an optimal concrete mix for the below-grade foundation structures of the Educational Media Foundation campus.
