Sherbourne Common

Sherbourne Common was constructed in 2010 to revitalize the Toronto Waterfront. It revitalized a former industrial area to a much needed public park on the shores of Lake Ontario. The park is the first in Canada to integrate a neighborhood-wide storm water treatment facility into its design.

There is a concrete water channel that spans the length of the one and a half hectare long park that was finished with a light sandblasting on all exposed surfaces. The bottom of the channel is clad in a grey, white and black mosaic pattern based on an abstraction of sparkling water. There are numerous water features and fountains throughout the park.

Solution

Concrete is porous, so the team knew they needed to waterproof the concrete to prevent leaks and contamination. In addition, because the channel would be filled with water year-round, and Toronto is known for its warm summers and icy winters, the concrete needed to be able to withstand freezethaw cycles. The walls and slab of the channel needed the best protection available to ensure a watertight seal. The design team wanted the fountains to have an architectural concrete finish so a traditional waterproofing membrane made of unsightly black PVC would not be a good fit. The team selected Kryton’s Krystol Internal Membrane (KIM) waterproofing admixture for KIM’s ability to selfseal hairline cracks, stand-up to Toronto's weather and provide a permanent barrier to water.

The contractor, UCC won the Ontario Concrete Awards for Product Innovation and Architectural Hardscape for their work on Sherbourne Common in 2011.