Riverfront Residences

Riverfront is a distinctive, high-end mixed-use building that offers the Napa lifestyle to its residential, retail and office residents. Resembling a quaint street that one could expect in Europe, Riverfront is a destination property that offers city living with rural charm. Located alongside a river, the Riverfront offered a picturesque view that was a draw for homeowners and tenants alike. The river, which was once prone to flooding and caused frequent damage, was now its best feature.

Stretching on a two-block site running alongside the river, the project had several construction challenges including a fast-paced schedule, high hydrostatic head pressure, flowing water, and changing water levels throughout the year. Moreover, as the concrete would be placed using shotcrete, traditional membranes would not be suitable for their waterproofing needs.

The general contractor Ledcor was looking for a long-term solution that would be able to provide permanent protection for the below grade parking structure. Clearly, the concrete waterproofing challenge was numerous and considerable.

Solution

Kryton International Inc. is the inventor of integral crystalline waterproofing and were chosen for their expertise in the field. Developed out of their concrete permeability testing laboratory, which is the largest of its kind in North America, Kryton’s Krystol Internal Membrane (KIM) is a proven to cut waterproofing costs by up to 40 per cent.

When added to the concrete at the time of mixing, KIM transforms the entire concrete structure into a waterproof barrier. Crystals grow and fill the naturally forming capillaries and cracks, stopping the flow of water. KIM’s unique ability to reactive in the presence of moisture, even years later, means that it a permanent solution that cannot be torn, punctured or damaged.

Given the tight construction cycle, the contractors were interested in KIM’s time-saving benefits. Unlike membranes, KIM does not require skilled tradesmen, and is a very effective means for waterproofing shotcrete. Kryton’s Krystol Waterstop System was also used to waterproof the construction joints throughout the project, ensuring that the entire project was watertight. To-date the project remains to be dry and the river continues to be the community’s best feature.