Turbine Hall’s Basement Parking Deck

Background

Found right in the center of Newtown, Johannesburg, South Africa, Turbine Hall is an iconic building. It plays an integral role in Johannesburg’s architectural history, having started out as a power station for the area in the late 1920s and transforming from there. And it benefits from being within the heart of a region known for arts and culture.

That legacy, however, did not protect it from the possibility of water ingress. Over time, the building’s basement parking deck started to leak like a sieve, with the vast amount of water entering through cracks in the nearby concrete, causing extensive damage.

It was an unfortunate situation that could not be resolved through traditional waterproofing membranes. To do so anyway would have meant removing the pavement above the basement parking deck, which was too expensive. Moreover, Growthpoint Properties Ltd. wanted a quick and efficient repair that wouldn’t interrupt the activities going on within the building.

Solution

Having been awarded the project to repair Turbine Hall, the Kryton-authorized distributor Sanika Waterproofing Specialists chose to use Kryton’s Krystol Leak Repair System and Krystol Bari-Cote. By applying both Smart Concrete^® solutions, they were able to waterproof the Turbine Hall’s basement parking deck from the negative side, circumventing the need to excavate. That helped them avoid disrupting the building’s activities and ensured the building would still get waterproofing repairs. These repairs would also be permanent, using rapid-setting hydraulic cement to stop the flow of water and applying grout and coatings that use Krystol^® technology. That would prevent active leaking and allow the treated concrete to create interlocking crystals when in the presence of water, blocking any potential pathways for water ingress.

The end result of this treatment left Growthpoint Properties Ltd. extremely happy with their leak-free basement parking deck. Since then, Turbine Hall has become a much-coveted venue for weddings, parties, and corporate functions.