Atlantic Crossing in Delray Beach Stays Dry with Penetron

The Atlantic Crossing in Delray Beach, Florida inaugurated the first two of six buildings in December 2021. These buildings, the project’s first phase of construction, include ground floor shops and restaurants topped by offices along a pedestrian promenade. Apartments will be added in later phases. PENETRON ADMIX SB was specified to waterproof all below-grade structures, including the underground parking garage.

Home to about 70,000 people, Delray Beach is located within the Miami metropolitan area – 52 miles north of the city. The area was initially a prosperous farming community settled in the 1880s by African Americans. Over the next century, the town became a popular winter enclave for artists and authors, and after the 1960s, a well-known surfing destination centered around the surfboard shops on Atlantic Avenue. More recently, Delray Beach was named “America's Most Fun Small Town” by Rand McNally and one of the “Happiest Seaside Towns in America” by Coastal Living.

The Atlantic Crossing multi-use complex, built by Mauw Associates, is part of the revitalization of the town’s historic downtown center along Atlantic Avenue. The $300 million project comprises six 3- 4-floor buildings – each with a different architectural design – on a nine-acre site on Atlantic Avenue. The first phase of construction, now completed, includes 83,000 ft² of office space, and 76,000 ft² of retail space with 560 linear feet of exposure along the famed Atlantic Avenue for retail shops and restaurants. The planned 82 luxury condos and 261 apartment units are now under construction and will open in the near future. All parking is below ground or in a garage wrapped by residences.
 

Robust Waterproofing Required

“Because of the tropical climate of Delray Beach, with its hot and humid summers, and the proximity of the construction site to the Intracoastal Waterway and Atlantic Ocean, the waterproofing consultants of the Wolf Group needed a robust waterproofing solution for the below-grade concrete structures,” adds Christopher Chen, Director of The Penetron Group.

PENETRON ADMIX SB was added to the concrete mix during the batching phase. The roughly 13,000 yd³ of PENETRON ADMIX SB-treated concrete were delivered by Titan America, the project’s ready-mix concrete supplier, and used to waterproof the foundation slab of all six buildings, including the retaining walls and the underground parking garage. Spengler Construction, the project builders, also applied PENEBAR SW 55 waterstop strips to seal the resulting construction joints; and PENETRON and PENECRETE MORTAR were applied to specific concrete elements to complete the Penetron System.
 

Surrounded by Hydrostatic Pressure

The active ingredients in PENETRON ADMIX SB, PENETRON, and PENECRETE MORTAR react to moisture to form an insoluble crystal network deep within the concrete matrix. As an integral part of the concrete, it provides permanent protection against deterioration caused by water penetration and the resulting corrosion of the embedded steel reinforcing.

“The Atlantic Crossing infrastructure is surrounded by hydrostatic pressure generated by both the nearby Intracoastal Waterway and the generally high groundwater table typical for the area,” adds Christopher Chen. “The Penetron System was the optimal solution to ensure the concrete remains impermeable – and provides permanent protection against water penetration.”