Olympic Cauldron

When Vancouver hosted the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, the city prepared to host the biggest party it had ever had. Determined to showcase the beauty, diversity, and culture of its citizens, country, and landscape, Vancouver planned not only the events during the games, but also for the legacies they would leave behind to commemorate the event of a lifetime. At the heart of the permanent legacies lies the Olympic Cauldron in Jack Pool Plaza. Located near the Vancouver Convention Centre, and with an unobstructed view of the North Shore mountains, The Olympic Cauldron stands proudly over a pool of water with a working fountain. The architect, PWL Partnership, designed the pool and fountain to have a natural concrete look, so as to flow aesthetically with the rest of the open concrete surface of Jack Pool plaza. Additionally, the plaza is in fact a suspended slab over a rail yard, from which vibrations were bound to cause micro-cracking in and around the pool’s concrete. Cracking would be very visible, yet a waterproofing coating or membrane would not maintain the aesthetic look of bare concrete that the architect had designed for.

Solution

PWL Partnership had experienced great success using Kryton’s Krystol Internal Membrane (KIM) in the past as a concrete waterproofing admixture to the concrete. When added to concrete, KIM reacts with water and moisture to grow crystal throughout the pores and capillaries of the concrete matrix, effectively blocking water permanently. As KIM can self-heal hairline cracks, using KIM in the concrete also heal micro cracking caused by train vibrations. Kryton’s Krystol External Grout was used in pipe penetrations and cold joints, using the same crystalline technology seen in the KIM admixture, but as a concentrated application specifically designed for permanently waterproofing concrete joints.

The Olympic Cauldron is free from visible cracking, and has held up very well to the challenging conditions it was presented with. This Legacy continues to act as a prominent gathering place for important events, and remains a permanent landmark, for visitors and locals alike to enjoy.