Pier 57’s SuperPier Redevelopment

Background

Envisioned to be a new cultural hub, adjacent to New York’s Meatpacking District, the SuperPier at the historic Pier 57 is undergoing an extensive redevelopment. Once completed, it will house Google’s new office as well as a dynamic mix of office, retail, and public space. That will also include a full wraparound apron at water level and a landscaped rooftop park with breathtaking views of Manhattan’s West Side and the Hudson River.

Before this redevelopment had taken place, the pier itself was known as an innovative engineering achievement due to the techniques employed to keep it afloat. Originally constructed in 1952, the main structure of the pier was supported and continues to be supported by three large watertight concrete chambers that are just below the water, which was done in lieu of traditional piles. Furthermore, these underwater chambers serve as unique occupiable basement spaces, unlike the supports for other piers. With that in mind, making this existing structure waterproof, floodproof, and corrosion-resistant were all major considerations for this redevelopment.

Solution

Based on the crucial need to have a watertight structure and the engineer’s previous experience with the technical performance, support, and unique self-sealing ability of Krystol^® technology, they chose Kryton to deliver a comprehensive waterproofing system. The Kryton waterproofing products within this system not only replace the need for a membrane, but they also increase the durability and longevity of concrete structures by reducing corrosion.

As the largest distributor of Kryton’s line of waterproofing products in the United States of America, Greg Maugeri of Dry Concrete L.L.C. provided the critical support and site supervision needed to ensure nothing was overlooked during the application of Kryton’s system. The application started with the team waterproofing the underwater vaults and pits by adding KIM to the concrete and treating all construction joints and penetrations with Krytonite Swelling Waterstop and Krystol Waterstop Treatment. These same products were then used for the floodproofing wall that wraps around the entire perimeter of the structure. Finally, to prevent water from infiltrating the entire exposed walkway that surrounded the pier, the team applied Kryton’s Krystol T1 and KIM solutions. Using these solutions and the Krystol technology within them ensured that the pier structure would remain watertight both above and below the surface for its life span.