The initial construction phase of the North Austin Complex in Austin, Texas was completed in July 2021. PENETRON ADMIX SB was specified to ensure durable and waterproof below-grade concrete structures. Penetron will also supply the waterproofing solution for the project’s subsequent construction phases.
The Texas Facilities Commission (TFC) is responsible for the management of all state-owned facilities, a property portfolio that totals over 28 million ft2, which houses and supports over 100 Texas state agencies with 62,600 employees throughout 283 Texas cities and towns.
Vaughn Construction, the general contractor, just completed Phase 1 of the North Austin Complex, a $186 million project that includes a nine-floor, 406,000-ft2 office building, a seven-level parking structure to accommodate 1,866 vehicles, and a central utility plant. The ground floor of the office building contains conference rooms and the upper floors contain office space with attractive views of downtown Austin.
Facing High Groundwater Levels
“The initial phase of construction has consolidated multiple state agencies from locations across Austin and beyond into one building with state-of-the-art workplaces,” adds Christopher Chen, Director of The Penetron Group.
Because of the high groundwater levels – and the proximity of Triangle Pond and Waller Creek – the contractor specified a durable waterproofing solution for the below-grade concrete structures, mainly the elevator pits and the retaining walls. The local Penetron representatives worked together with Centex Materials, the project’s concrete supplier, to provide a concrete mix that would provide the needed protection from the hydrostatic pressure of the groundwater levels.
PENETRON ADMIX Protects Below-Grade Structures
Centex Materials added PENETRON ADMIX SB, in soluble bags, to the concrete mix during batching. The soluble bag packaging eliminates measuring and simplifies mixing. Easily mixed into the concrete during the batching phase, the active ingredients in PENETRON ADMIX react with moisture to form insoluble crystals that self-heal and seal all micro-cracks, pores, and capillaries in the concrete, becoming an integral part of the matrix. This makes the concrete impermeable for the service life of the structure.
“Centex Materials is familiar with the use of PENETRON ADMIX and the project went smoothly,” adds Christopher Chen. “Thanks to a successful application, Penetron has been specified for the second phase of construction.*”
*The second phase of construction at the North Austin Complex began this month and comprises a new six-floor state office building with 302,000 ft2 of space, a six-level parking structure to accommodate 2,000 vehicles, and a connection to the central utility plant completed in Phase 1. Penetron will report on this project at a later date.
