Sika Watertight Concrete protects development

Approximately 3000 cubic metres of Sika Watertight Concrete incorporated into Highcross Leicester, a GBP350 million shopping and leisure destination in Leicester city centre.

Planned to open in Autumn 2008, the development will absorb the existing Shires shopping centre to form a vibrant new complex of over 100,000 square metres and will include three department stores, a multiplex cinema, 120 contemporary apartments and 3,000 parking spaces.

Highcross Leicester, with its architecturally designed open streets and squares and top name fashion retailers is destined to become the contemporary new heart of the city.

The Sika Watertight Concrete concrete supplied by CEMEX has been utilised at various stages of the project to provide Grade 3 (BS8102) protection from potential ground water ingress.

The concrete was modified using the proven Sika Watertight Concrete System, which involves a two-phase admixture modification process to the ready-mixed concrete.

This includes the addition of Sika 1+ capillary water resisting additive and Sika Viscocrete 10 Superplasticiser to further improve the durability and strength of the structural concrete.

The Sikaswell jointing system was also used in conjunction with this to offer further protection to horizontal and vertical construction joints The watertight concrete was placed by Solihull based company Hillstreet Construction on behalf of the main contractor Sir Robert McAlpine .

The use of watertight concrete on the project enabled the construction of structures such as tunnels, lift pits and plant rooms to be completed without the use of more traditional systems, such as membranes.

This in turn helped to accelerate the construction program by eliminating the need for more complicated waterproofing details.

Back to top