Photos: Edward Menashy
DETERIORATION ISSUES
The memorial, which is located on a half-acre site overlooking the
Hudson River, first opened in 2002 but shortly afterwards, cracks
and leaks were noticed in the structure.
Water was escaping into the electrical space underneath the
memorial where glass display cases and lights were installed.
These leaks led to efflorescence staining on the glass display
panels and discoloration of a partially cantilevered slab as well
as the skirt of the slab. Some of the cladding panels on the
limestone base had also been stained.
After unsuccessful attempts to correct the issues, a major
restoration project was launched in 2016 involving Battery Park
City Authority (BPCA), CTA Architects, construction manager The
LiRo Group, and roofing contractor Nicholson & Galloway.
The restoration began with a photographic survey of every inch
of the Memorial’s elements, including each stone. These were
numbered and stored on site so they could be put back in the
correct place and position. Soil was also stripped from the site
and saved for reuse.
Liquid waterproofing solution
To resolve the waterproofing issues, the original roofing and
ineffective waterproofing system was removed, and the concealed
core walls and substrates had to be reconfigured and reinforced.
Kemper System’s Kemperol 2K-PUR liquid waterproofing system
was specified by CTA Architects as the new solution. A total
of 2,000 sq ft of the Kemperol resin was applied over all the
exposed core walls and substrates providing a seamless and
highly-durable waterproofing membrane.
To provide additional protection. the Kemperol was also wrapped
around the edge of the slab. Although this encapsulation
ensured a highly robust solution, the memorial’s artist raised
some concerns as it made the waterproofing membrane visible
on the edge of the slab. To address this, a mineral surfacing
system which matched the finish of the concrete, was approved
by Kemper System and incorporated into the membrane. This
completely hides the waterproofing ensuring that it is visually
consistent with the original slab.
Stuart Hicks from Kemper System said: “The original construction
only featured Kemperol on the flashings. When problems
began to occur, it was clear that the waterproofing had failed
everywhere except where the Kemperol had been applied.
“The 2K-PUR provides a much more robust and reliable solution,
which will ensure the memorial remains watertight for decades.
Cold-applied, it is installed using a reinforcement fleece, which
is laid directly into the wet resin. More resin is then immediately
applied on top to completely saturate the fleece. This provides
a visible guarantee that the right depth of coverage has been
achieved avoiding the risk of weak spots or application error.”
Speaking about the renovation, CTA’s project manager for the
Memorial, Frank Scanlon, AIA, who grew up in Ireland, said:
“We were thrilled to be able to provide a solution to keep the
Memorial open year-round for years to come.”
www.kempersystem.co.uk
The renovation took two years to complete enabling the
memorial to open its doors in 2018.