The September 2026 inauguration of the Spark Gene Therapy Innovation Center on the Drexel University campus in Philadelphia, PA, further strengthens the city’s reputation as a leading U.S. biotech hub. PENETRON ADMIX SB, a crystalline waterproofing admixture, was requested to provide comprehensive protection for the center’s below-grade concrete structures against high groundwater levels.
Part of the Roche Group, headquartered in Switzerland, Spark Therapeutics is a gene therapy company focused on developing cures for genetic diseases. Spark invested $575 million in a new, state-of-the-art gene therapy innovation center on Drexel University’s campus in Philadelphia’s University City district. The new center is expected to create additional collaboration opportunities between Drexel and Philadelphia’s growing life sciences community.
“The new center more than doubles Spark’s gene therapy footprint and helps position Philadelphia, already one of the nation’s leading biotech hubs, as a center of excellence for gene therapy manufacturing. It is one of the Roche Group’s global product development sites for the next generation of genetic medicines,” said Richard Farmer, Eastern Region Sales Manager for Penetron USA.
Designed by Pennoni Associates, a Philadelphia-based engineering and design consulting firm, the new center was built by Hunter Roberts Construction Group and Healy Long & Jevin. As part of Spark’s planned 1 million-square-foot campus in Philadelphia, the new 500,000-ft2 (45,455-m2), six-story building features a mix of laboratory and office space, as well as three manufacturing suites that could eventually be expanded to as many as 12.
“Due to the depth of the excavation at the building site, which involved approximately 50,000 cubic yards of material, the general contractor needed a robust concrete waterproofing solution to protect the below-grade structures from the high groundwater levels common in the area,” said Richard Farmer.
Initially, a competitive concrete waterproofing solution was specified. However, thanks to success in previous projects, Penetron was accepted through a substitution request from Castor Materials, the ready-mix concrete supplier. PENETRON ADMIX SB, a crystalline waterproofing admixture, was added to more than 4,700 yds3 (3,600 m3) of concrete used for the below-grade walls and slab-on-grade. The project is designed to achieve LEED Silver certification.
Once applied to a prepared concrete surface or added to the concrete as an admixture, the proprietary chemicals in Penetron’s crystalline products react with moisture to form a non-soluble crystalline structure throughout the pores and capillary tracts of the concrete. This process helps self-heal and seal pores and micro-cracks, reducing permeability and making concrete more waterproof and durable.
“Thanks to our technical support and rapid follow-up, the customer was very pleased with the performance of the Penetron products,” added Richard Farmer.
