Protecting a New Cancer Institute Against Challenging Below-Grade Water Conditions
In 2014, Cleveland Clinic engaged Technical Assurance to provide specialty waterproofing and roofing consulting services for construction of the new Taussig Cancer Institute in Cleveland, Ohio. The 377,000-square-foot facility required careful consideration of below-grade water management because of the Cleveland Clinic campus’s high-water-table conditions.
Technical Assurance provided sub-grade waterproofing consultation and commissioning along with roof design consultation, performance testing, and full-time quality observation throughout construction.
Addressing High Water Table Conditions Through Waterproofing Design
The Cleveland Clinic campus is known for a high water table, creating significant waterproofing demands for below-grade foundations and basement systems. Proper system selection, detailing, and installation were critical to reducing the potential for severe water infiltration into the new facility.
The waterproofing design incorporated a specialty inverted bentonite clay panel system beneath the concrete hydraulic slab and along vertical walls. A hot-applied rubberized asphalt system was used on upper walls and below-grade concrete roof decks to provide additional waterproofing protection at critical below-grade assemblies.
Verifying Installation and Roof Performance During Construction
Technical Assurance provided full-time quality observation throughout construction to evaluate installation of the specified waterproofing and roofing systems. This field involvement helped verify that critical below-grade assemblies were installed in accordance with project requirements before they became concealed by subsequent construction.
Roof consulting services included design consultation and review along with performance testing. Technical Assurance performed uplift and infrared testing to provide additional verification of installed roof-system performance.
Supporting Long-Term Protection of a Critical Healthcare Facility
By combining waterproofing expertise, roof consulting, performance testing, and construction quality observation, Technical Assurance provided continuity from enclosure design considerations through installation and verification. The work supported long-term protection of the Taussig Cancer Institute against the challenging below-grade water conditions present across the Cleveland Clinic campus.
