TERRA-PETRA ELD

The Use of Electronic Leak Detection (ELD) on Waterproofing Membranes over Concrete Surfaces

Waterproofing membranes are a key element in building enclosure systems—a key element that ultimately gets covered up by a variety of finish materials including landscaping, green roofs, topping slabs, pavers and so on. As most of us know, excavation to expose a failed waterproofing membrane for repairs can be prohibitively expensive and in some cases impossible. For this reason, many designers are choosing to specify integrity testing to verify that the waterproofing membrane is free of discontinuities and penetrations through the membrane prior to the installation being permanently covered. When integrity testing is not specified, many contractors are often performing this type of testing voluntarily to avoid future problems or “call-backs.”

The most common integrity testing method is the flood test. Flood testing is typically performed by flooding waterproofed horizontal surfaces with at least two inches (50 mm) of water for a period of up to 48 hours. Temporary dams are often constructed to partition the test areas, provide an up-turned plaza edge and control the depth of the flood testing. During the flood test, access to the underside of the flooded areas is necessary for a visual inspection of water leakage. However, in the case of a membrane failure (leak), flood testing indicates only where water is penetrating through the entire assembly within the test area, not the location above where water is breaching the membrane. In addition, flood testing cannot be performed on vertical surfaces or at locations where the underside of the slab is not accessible.

The aforementioned restrictions and lack of conclusive data associated with flood testing has enabled Electronic Leak Detection (ELD) to gain momentum as a viable alternative to traditional flood testing. This article will focus on the different types of ELD and the applications where ELD is or is not well-suited.

READ FULL ARTICLE HERE

Terra-Petra ELD information

Waterproofing Inspections on the Hollywood Argyle Hotel by Terra-Petra

Terra-Petra Waterproofing Division is performing the waterproofing inspections for the Hollywood Argyle Hotel project. Here's an update via UrbanizeLA.com – by STEVEN SHARP:

After nearly one year of construction, exterior work is in full swing for Hollywood's Argyle Hotel.

Located at 1800 N. Argyle Avenue, the project consists of a 16-story hotel featuring 220 guest rooms, restaurant space, and ancillary features such as meeting rooms, a swimming pool and a parking garage.  1800 Argyle Avenue Archive (Urbanize LA)

hollywoodkimptonhotel

Mixed-use project, called Metropolis, is unprecedented for Downtown L.A.

If you travel down through the Downtown LA area on a regular basis, you have probably noticed the every-changing skyline. As an environmental engineering firm, Terra-Petra is taking part with many of these new projects. One of which is called the Metropolis (you can't miss this large mixed-use community steadily growing along the 110 freeway). The Terra-Petra Waterproofing Division is consulting on the building envelope waterproofing system for the Metropolis project and inspecting all of the waterproofing as it gets installed. 

Read more about Metropolis and other projects currently being led by Chinese developers in Downtown Los Angeles.

Screenshot 2016-08-31 at 10.19.27 PM

Terra-Petra’s Abode Communities and Mercy Housing Project to Break Ground in Wilmington, CA

Terra-Petra has been honored to be a part of this incredible development in Wilmington, California. Abode Communities and Mercy Housing will celebrate their Vista del Mar and Camino del Mar Groundbreaking on September 14, 2016.

Terra-Petra Adobe Communities project, Wilmington CA 2016

Terra-Petra designs subterranean waterproofing on DTLA Oceanwide Plaza

Working closely with Oceanwide Plaza, LLC Vice President Peter Lai (featured in the video below), Terra-Petra designed the subterranean waterproofing  (which Terra-Petra is also still currently inspecting).on the walls of Oceanwide Plaza project site – easily seen via the aerial camera shots in the video. Lendlease, an international property and infrastructure company, recently announced the completion of the initial mat foundation pour for the Oceanwide Plaza development in Downtown Los Angeles to allow for vertical construction of the project to begin. Read the article here

Read the full article here.

Terra-Petra Environmental Engineering Helps Developer with Pico Gateway Apartments Project Success

Terra-Petra designed the environmental engineering designs and waterproofing systems for this multifamily property in the Pico-Robertson neighborhood just sold for $22.4M a few years back. As always, Terra-Petra is quite proud to be a part of the revision and revamping of land that was up until today, unusable. The revitalization of the LA Basin continues with environmental engineering being a key component of developers' success stories. So now, in what is becoming to be known as an increasingly popular Westside area, this building is being described as a “very high-quality property in a great location." 

This Week's LA Deal Sheet

The fully occupied Pico Gateway Apartments location offers 48,275 SF of rentable space, including 7,500 SF of ground-floor retail, 39 apartments and more than 135 underground parking spaces. Just two blocks from Beverly Hills, which is also a draw, apartment amenities include double sinks for preparing kosher meals, maple hardwood floors, double-paned windows to block out street noise and appliances. 

There is also an optional Shabbat elevator for residents to use on the Jewish Sabbath. Projected growth in the area is making the neighborhood increasingly popular. A recent study shows the population on the Westside could grow by 3.4% over the next five years. 


Read the full story about this properties sale at: Bisnow.com

Terra-Petra Supports Los Angeles Micropolitan Project General Contractor

Terra-Petra supported Frymer Construction to successfully ensure the environmental integrity of the Micropolitan at Urban Lights Multifamily Community project — located near the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the up-and-coming LA Metro Purple Line station in Downtown Los Angeles.

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The Micropolitan is situated near the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and is within a two-minute walk of the Los Angeles Metro Purple Line station, which will soon debut.

The Micropolitan is situated near the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and is within a two-minute walk of the Los Angeles Metro Purple Line station, which will soon debut.

LOS ANGELES — A private 1031 exchange investor has purchased The Micropolitan at Urban Lights, a 45-unit multifamily community in the Miracle Mile submarket of Los Angeles, for $27.1 million. The community is located at 739 S. Ogden Drive.

The Micropolitan was built in 2015. It is situated near the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and is within a two-minute walk of the Los Angeles Metro Purple Line station, which will soon debut.

Ron Harris and Paul Darrow of Institutional Property Advisors represented the seller, Micropolitan, a subsidiary of Psomas, in this transaction.

 

Terra-Petra Worked on Residential Component of Huntington Beach’s Pacific City

Colorado based UDR Inc, called upon Terra-Petra environment engineering in 2011 to work with the Bernards (a UDR contractor) in-house design team on Pacific Park, a $135-million shopping center and residential (mixed-use) development in Huntington Beach, California. At the onset, Bernards was faced with an unusual challenge; how to embrace the city’s proud identity as "Surf City" without descending into surfing kitsch. Terra-Petra was tasked to make sure that challenge was met, and it was.

Details about the status of this project has been reported on Terra-Petra's web and other media sites over the years, including the “a Terra-Petra photographic journal” of the Phase I Borrow Soils excavation for the Pacific City project in 2014 – courtesy of David L. Lucero. Terra-Petra is extremely proud of this project and what this development has become today. 

Read more below.

As reported on Urbanize.LA 

Residential Component of Huntington Beach's Pacific City Underway

The project – which was designed by MVE & Partners – is currently rising from a 17-acre site at 21002 Pacific Coast Highway.  Plans call for the construction of six low-rise structures arranged in a crescent shape.  Each building will consist of four levels of wood-frame construction above a concrete podium and an underground parking garage.  Bernards is targeting either LEED Gold or Silver certification for the project.

In total, the development will create 516 residential units, as well as a 12,000-square foot amenity center featuring a swimming pool, a gym and an entertainment center.  The amenity center will also abut a public park.

The residential community – which is being developed Colorado-based UDR, Inc. – is one component of the larger Pacific City complex, which spans 31 acres on a former oil field near the Huntington Beach Pier.  An official website states that Pacific City's retail center will include over 190,000 square feet of shops and restaurants, office space and a 400-key hotel.

For further details about our work with Bernards and the Pacific City project in Huntington Beach, California, please contact Justin Conaway 

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