Media Release

Miami’s Financial District Builds on PENETRON

USA

Miami’s largest downtown development project, the Brickell City Centre, is progressing quickly. The below-grade structures were recently completed and construction has now begun on the above-ground buildings; PENETRON crystalline technology was chosen to protect the project from any water penetration at the saturated mid-town construction site.

The Brickell City Centre is a gigantic urban development that covers over nine acres (3.7 hectares) of Miami’s Brickell financial district. The project will offer 5.4 million square feet (491,000m2) of residential and commercial space and a two-level underground parking garage that spans seven acres below the property (and offers room for over 3,000 cars).

In addition to the retail and entertainment areas, the overall plan calls for three office buildings, two residential towers, and a 243-room hotel with 93 apartments, a wellness center and an integrated station on the Miami Metromover light rail system, as well as easy access to Interstate 95.

Expanding Downtown Miami

Hong Kong-based developer Swire Properties broke ground in June 2012 on this massive project in what could be the beginning of substantial westward expansion of downtown Miami across South Miami Avenue. The $1.05 billion mixed-use development is being addressed in two phases, with the first phase, including all structural elements except one of the two residential towers (with 390 units each), scheduled for completion in 2015, followed by construction of the final “condo tower” in 2018.

“We are very excited about this project,” said Swire Properties’ Chief Executive Martin Cubbon. “Acquiring the site at Brickell City Centre was a rare opportunity to develop in the heart of a thriving financial district.”

Meeting Schedule and Budget Goals

The initial waterproofing solution for the project’s seven-acre parking garage quickly ran afoul of the construction schedule and project budget. Swire Properties experts looked for an effective solution that could be quickly implemented to substantially enhance the project’s overall waterproofing protection. After successful tests, PENETRON ADMIX was chosen to waterproof the existing structures without any further maintenance or unplanned work delays.

The soluble bags of PENETRON ADMIX SB were added during the concrete batch mixing process. The admixture was used in all below-ground structures and in the parking garage to eliminate water penetration at the saturated construction site.

“Recently completed studies and trials confirm that PENETRON ADMIX can add up to 60 years or more to a concrete structure’s life through its ability to substantially decrease permeability and chloride migration and enhance overall durability,” explains Christopher Chen, Director of The PENETRON Group. “These results point to an astounding increase in the life cycle of concrete treated with PENETRON; this has far-reaching consequences for all concrete structures."

The Brickell City Centre is Miami’s largest downtown development project (over nine acres).


Back to Media Releases