Pennsylvania Capitol East Wing

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Sweeping walkways with granite pavers and planting beds complement the majestic structures. Veterans’ Memorial Fountain, located behind the East Wing, generates computerized water displays for visitors and state workers during warm months. A parking garage and Commonwealth offices are located beneath the plaza. After continual exposure to the elements over the years, the sheet-applied waterproofing system below the paver and pedestal system had begun to fail at its numerous seams and moisture had begun infiltrating the occupied spaces. 

Work was completed on the design for the renovation and upgrade on the project in September of 2013. Daniel Vodzak, regional director of the architecture and engineering firm Vitetta in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, wanted to avoid the potential for leaks at seams, so a sheet-applied waterproofing membrane was not a consideration. With the configuration of the plaza including curving walkways and a multitude of planters, the waterproofing needed to be able to conform to any geometry. Another requirement was a 25-year warranty.

Since concrete is naturally porous and fine cracks will occur over time from expansion and contraction due to climate changes, the selection of products for use above inhabited areas is particularly important. The potential for leaks must be eliminated and fluid-applied coatings were the preferred choice for waterproofing due to their ability to provide a seamless water barrier along with the ability to elongate to bridge cracks that develop over the years. 

The waterproofing that met all the criteria was TREMproof 250GC Cold Fluid-Applied Elastomeric Waterproofing Membrane. A rapid-curing, VOC-compliant membrane, TREMproof 250GC is a one-part, moisture-curing elastomer. While other products needed testing and monitoring to ensure moisture content in concrete substrates was within acceptable levels, TREMproof 250GC was designed to enable use on damp and green concrete. This high-solids membrane could also be applied in one pass, which dramatically expedites construction schedules. To compress schedules further, TREMproof 250GC could be catalyzed with water to cure faster.