Glendale Arena Project Uses Membrane System to Solve Below-grade Waterproofing Needs
Jan. 19, 2004
Sports arenas and entertainment facilities seem to be the focal point of many peoples’ weekend adventure or week night of fun. Thousands of arenas across the country compete for the top entertainers, events, and show off the hottest sports teams. With the growing need and interest in bigger, better, and more modernized arenas, the concrete construction industry has not skipped a beat. The Glendale Arena, located in Glendale, AZ, a suburb of Phoenix, is one of the newest and largest facilities in the state. Even though its stately structural shell is an impressive site for fans, residents, and people passing by, the stadium is more than what meets the eye. Underneath 17,653 seats, its existence is attributed to concrete and thousands of square feet of coatings. Emerging from 30 feet below grade to nine stories above grade, this colossal stadium is a total of 600,000 square feet, requiring an astounding 35,000 cubic yards of concrete. At its peak, the construction site will include more than 500 construction professionals. Among the first to arrive to the site will be the waterproofing professionals. The roofing consultant, Independent Roofing and Waterproofing Consultants, recommended Carlisle Coatings and Waterproofing’s Barricoat membrane system to use as the below-grade waterproofing coating. Carlisle Coatings and Waterproofing, a leading manufacturer of waterproofing products, offers Barricoat-S (spray-applied) and Barricoat-R (roller-applied) systems for a variety of applications. Barricoat-S was used for the Glendale Arena, the new home of the Phoenix Coyotes. “Barricoat works so well because of its unusual texture, and the surface profile of shot crete requires a fluid-applied system that can fully bond to concrete, giving a monolithic membrane throughout,” said Cid Cada, corporate vice president of Independent Roofing and Waterproofing Consultants in Las Vegas, NV. Barricoat-S is a water-based, asphalt emulsion modified with a blend of synthetic rubbers and special additives that when sprayed on forms a monolithic, highly flexible membrane that cures fast. Designed as a waterproofing and vapor retardant membrane, it can be applied to concrete, CMU, wood, and/or metal. Barricoat’s flexible nature and strong waterproofing elements allow it to be used in a variety of applications including decks, foundations, and retaining walls. Its excellent elongation and recovery qualities along with its solid tensile strength and exceptional bonding make it a product that performs exceptionally well over concrete. The Barricoat system enables concrete contractors to create a seamless, fast-curing membrane without the use of primers. Prior to the concrete and coating applications, over 125,000 cubic yards of earth was excavated to begin construction. The initial groundbreaking involved digging holes 35 feet deep and drilling nearly 2500 soil nails, followed by four inches of shot crete application. A 120-mil layer of Barricoat was sprayed to the shot crete and an epoxy-coated rebar system was then installed on top of the Barricoat waterproofing system, suspending to the soil nails. A final eight inches of shot crete was applied, encapsulating the entire below-grade system. his blind-side application was completed in less than two months, with the Glendale Arena scheduled to open December 27, 2003. The arena’s below-grade basement, containing 85,000 square feet of loading dock space, basement space, storage, locker rooms, and offices, provided some challenges for the many construction workers at the site. As with any coating system, climatic conditions can cause complications, specifically Arizona’s hot weather and lack of humidity. “The wall was hot in the afternoon, so we had to start at about 4:00 am,” said Tim Pierce, vice president and project manager of Charles Court Construction Inc., based in Phoenix, AZ. “By 11:00 am, the walls would reach temperatures of 120 degrees, but we were able to adjust the application formula.” Three spray pumps were used; one for tie-back detailing, the second for monolithic applications, and a third as a spare. Barricoat and a calcium-laced water carrier was sprayed mixed with the Barricoat fluid. Depending on the temperature, the ratio of the calcium-laced carrier could be adjusted to prevent melting and speed the curing process. “Aside from the climate challenges, the production was excellent,” said Pierce. In addition to the fast rate of production, applicators sprayed from 275-gallon totes rather than drums, eliminating waste from this large project. “We can clean and reuse the totes, alleviating disposal of many drums,” said Pierce. The coating was initially delivered in 350-gallon cardboard shipment totes and then transferred to the 275-gallon totes for application. Two lifts were used to safely and easily apply the spray-applied Barricoat membrane. “The Barricoat product is user-friendly and Carlisle’s technical support made things go smoothly.” The new arena, replacing the much smaller America West arena, was constructed in a timely manner, despite the magnitude of the project. “The application of Barricoat went very quickly and helped the general contractor keep within a very tight construction schedule,” said Ron Weller of Section 7 Marketing. “We are very pleased with the performance of Barricoat,” commented Tim Eorgan, director of technical support for CCW. “We have found that it has excellent performance qualities as a vapor barrier and waterproofing membrane. Our contractors are able to apply it to green concrete, damp surfaces, and EPS forms. The fact that it is non-flammable and solvent-free is also very popular.” Over the next 10 years, developer Steve Ellman, plans to surround the $150 million arena with an entertainment district, offices, retail stores, restaurants, residential lofts, and apartments. The area stretches 223 acres for new development. Although timely schedules and unfavorable weather conditions caused challenges for construction workers, the coatings professionals at the site surpassed both obstructions with simple solutions. “Carlisle Coatings and Waterproofing sent technical reps to assist us with any questions or concerns,” said Caba. “Between the technical support and the dedicated coatings professionals working on the arena, everyone has been able to successfully move this project one way - ahead.”
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