The grand opening of La Nube (“The Cloud”), a 35-floor apartment tower, in October 2020 added 178 luxury apartments and a new architectural highlight to Monterrey’s growing skyline. PENETRON ADMIX, a crystalline waterproofing admixture, was used to treat the below-grade structures to counter the effects of the marshy ground and high-water table typical of the city’s swampy geology.
La Nube is one of the most visible elements of the new Arboleda mixed-use community (see our May 26, 2020 news release) designed by Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects, designers of many of the world’s most recognizable buildings, such as the World Financial Center in New York, the Petronas Towers in Malaysia, and the International Finance Centre in Hong Kong. Located in San Pedro Garza Garcia, the prestigious suburb and commercial center of Monterrey, the La Nube luxury residential tower features 94 apartments (150-395 m2) on the lower floors, 84 apartments and penthouses (up to 450 m2) on the upper floors and 44 villas at ground level, all surrounded by more than 22,000 m2 of green areas. Amenities include a clubhouse, a fitness center & spa, a swimming pool, Zen garden, and individual wine cellars in the tower and villas.
A Stable Base for a 35-Floor Tower
“La Nube was built by Grupo Aldesa, a developer and construction company well-known in the northeastern state of Nuevo León,” adds Alejandro Muciño, Managing Director of Penetron México. “A long-time Penetron partner, they have successfully completed dozens of projects in Monterrey over the past decade.”
The project engineers were initially confronted with the challenge of a high-water table and a need to waterproof the massive basement that supports the 35-floor tower, as well as the drinking water reservoirs and the underground parking garage. After consulting with specialists at Penetron México, they specified PENETRON ADMIX-treated concrete for all below-grade concrete structures.
PENETRON ADMIX was mixed into 20,000 m3 (26,160 cubic yards) of concrete during the batching phase by CEMEX-Concretos, the project’s ready-mix supplier. Additionally, 5,280 m (17,400 feet) of PENEBAR SW-45 waterstop strips were installed to seal the cast-in-place concrete joints.
Impermeability is Key for Durability
Groundwater and waterborne contaminants penetrate concrete mainly through capillary absorption and hydrostatic pressure. Making concrete impermeable through the self-healing of cracks and pores is the key to durability. PENETRON ADMIX reacts to the moisture in concrete to generate a non-soluble crystalline formation throughout the pores and capillary tracts. PENETRON ADMIX also provides the ability to self-heal cracks that could develop during the life of the concrete. This permanently seals the concrete against the penetration of water and other harmful elements, permanently protecting it from deterioration.
“In addition, the drinking water tanks of La Nube required a completely non-toxic and permanent solution. Penetron’s crystalline materials are NSF-61-certified (safe for use in potable water applications), completely non-toxic and they contain no VOCs,” adds Alejandro Muciño. “PENETRON ADMIX was an optimal solution for the wet environment of the Monterrey construction site.”
Hard to miss, easy to waterproof: The massive concrete basement structures (incl. parking garage & water reservoir) that support the 35-floor La Nube residential tower were treated with PENETRON ADMIX..
