Featured Projects

We’re Proud of All of Our Projects

THE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER PROJECT OF KANSAS CITY

After 16 years in the making, the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts in Kansas City, MO broke ground in October 2006. The building designed by renowned architect Moshe Safdie covers approximately 285,000 square feet with its two performing venues. The construction cost of this project was approximately $413 million.


J.E. Dunn awarded two subcontracts to S&W Waterproofing for the foundation and building, plus joint sealant and expansion joints. The waterproofing installation started in May 2007. Some of the challenges included various foundations being placed in different locations which required three hot-applied waterproofing kettles being used simultaneously. Daily coordination meetings with J.E. Dunn took place to keep the schedule running smoothly and everyone working together. The work was often difficult to access with the site being limited on space to maneuver equipment between the wall and excavation. J.E. Dunn had a stringent safety program which helped keep all of our workers safe. The work continued from May 2007 through mid-year 2009.


The above-grade air barriers and building waterproofing behind precast started in July 2009 and was completed in early 2010. The horizontal waterproofing deck behind the concert hall and proscenium theater began June 4, 2010 and was completed in late July 2010. The joint sealants work used numerous widths, profiles, and fire-rated joint systems. The following provides a partial list of the materials used for this project. S&W Waterproofing is proud to be part of the Kauffman Center for Performing Arts project and contribute to our downtown community legacy.


Approximate Lineal & Square Footage of work completed:


  • Hot Rubberized Asphalt Waterproofing (over 1-1/2 football fields)
  • Foundation: 35,000 sq. ft.
  • Horizontal: 56,000 sq. ft.
  • Bentonite Waterproofing: 6,000 sq. ft.
  • Air Barrier: 6,500 sq. ft.
  • Joint Sealants: 95,000 lin. ft. (over 18 miles)
  • Expansion and Fire Rated Joints: 8,000 lin. ft. (over 1-1/2 miles)
  • Graffiti Sealer: 10,000 sq. ft.

BLACK AND VEATCH GREEN ROOF PROJECT

Location: Overland Park, KS

Contractor: JE Dunn Construction Co.

S&W Waterproofing Project Manager: Matt Dierks

Description: The Black & Veatch green roof project is an addition to their world headquarters, a 614,000-square foot building that underwent a massive rebuilding and renovation.

S&W was contracted to build the green roof as part of their “Innovation Pavilion,” a separate structure that includes other sustainable features such as a solar garden with photovoltaic panels and a geothermal field that uses the earth’s consistent soil temperature to increase heating and cooling efficiency in the building.


The design of the pavilion was very unique – full of sharp angles and curves which made our work slightly more challenging, but ultimately very rewarding. Safety, as always when working on a project like this, was a primary concern for our crew as the roof had low walls around the perimeter. We had to take extra precautions at all times to protect our workers from falling off the roof. We accomplished this by installing a clamp-on guardrail system around the perimeter of the roof.


When creating a green roof, the most critical step is laying down the roof membrane with zero mistakes. In this case, the membrane protects hundreds of thousands of dollars in high-end furniture, fixtures, and finishes in the multi-million dollar structure below. We began by installing a hot-applied rubber roofing membrane over the existing concrete roof deck. 


A 215-mil, reinforced, hot rubberized asphalt membrane has distinct advantages over a conventional roof membrane. This roof is typically installed at 3 to 4 times the thickness of standard roofs and has been detailed several times during the installation, thus eliminating future problems. It is also the only membrane designed and promoted to last for the life of the structure. 


Once the membrane was installed and double-checked for quality and effectiveness, we layered it with insulation, a drainage layer, and finally a filter fabric. Our landscape contractor put in the irrigation, soil, and plantings, which offered the owner a system warranty or a warranty from the top of the structural concrete to the top of the landscaping. It is installed directly to the structural substrate with the insulation, soil and plantings set up over the top. That greatly reduces both the thermal movement and stresses of typical membrane roof assemblies. Additionally, the system warranty is not affected by “ponded” water on the system. 

One of the other challenges we had to address during the project concerned unusual and project-specific detailing. The building addition that makes up the pavilion was built adjacent to the main building but is separated by an expansion joint. Our work involved installing flexible flashing from the addition to the main building, making it watertight but still allowing for independent movement of the two structures. Our expert field technicians did an outstanding job with this part of the job.



The finished product has received rave reviews from the client as well as other companies, clients, and consultants that have seen the building in Overland Park. Our finished product stands out not only for its beauty, but for the benefits it provides Black and Veatch and the entire metropolitan area. 



For Black and Veatch, the green roof helps contribute LEED credits for storm water design and heat island effects. Despite some cynicism in some parts of the business world about the efficacy of green roofs in the past, over the last five to ten years, there is more than enough data to show the incredible cost savings a properly installed green roof provides. 



S&W WATERPROOFING, INC. SOLAR PANELS

Location: Kansas City, MO

Contractor: KCP&L Solar

Project Manager: Matt Dierks 

Description: Instead of highlighting a job that S&W did for another company, we’re going to discuss a project done at our own facility—the installation of a solar panel system!

Saying that the “time was right,” S&W owner and president, Bob Svoboda, okayed the installation of solar panels at the S&W facility in an effort to save money and also to “slow down or stop emissions and pollution for us, our children, and grandchildren,” said Bob. S&W’s installation of green roofs for our clients over the years has proven the positive effect going green can have on businesses. Not just from a moral standpoint, but from the enormous impact on the bottom line.


Taking point on the project, Bob contacted the city and Kansas City Power and Light (KCP&L) to begin the application process to have the solar panels installed. Ironically, “the application process probably took the longest amount of time,” Bob laughed. “Once the city inspected and approved the installation, KCP&L was then notified to switch out the meters and we went live. I would say that from the initial planning to design, through installation and final inspection of the panels, to installing new meters and then going live took between 4 and 5 months.”


Though Bob personally kept watch over the entire process “I was the proud PM, negotiator, special inspector and the one who wrote the checks!” said Bob, S&W contracted the design and installation through KCP&L Solar, which was an independent company from KCP&L. KCP&L Solar utilized independent sub-contractors for their design and installation.


And now that they’re installed? Bob reports that they expect to save at least 25% in energy costs annually and that the project should pay for itself within 12 to 14 months. Between available incentives from both the federal government and KCP&L – and a business credit from KCP&L for the energy they don’t use because of the panels – Bob is thrilled with the results.


“It’s an investment in our future” he said.

FLINT HILLS DISCOVERY CENTER PROJECT

Location: Manhattan, KS

Contractor: McCown Gordon

Description: 35,000 sf science center exploring geology, biology, and cultural history of the Flint Hills.

S&W’s Scope of Work: foundation waterproofing, crystalline waterproofing, building air barrier, exterior and interior building caulking, green roof/plaza deck waterproofing with engineered soil and a pedestal paver system. 


Challenges: The specified waterproofing material for the foundation was to be an asphalt-based dampproofing. Challenges arose when application was to begin, and the material was not capable of being applied in colder temperatures. S&W worked with the McCown Gordon and Verner Johnson, Inc. Architects to provide a solution. A two-component, synthetic rubberized, cold vulcanized, fluid applied membrane was selected. This solution gave the owner a single source warranty between the waterproofing and air barrier and allowed the owner to have a seamless waterproofing system for the exterior building envelope. With their equipment, S&W was able to apply material in colder weather to keep the schedule moving. The foundation consisted of a series of concrete cells that were 20 feet deep in some locations. Access to the cells was achieved by climbing from cell to cell with ladders and hauling spray hoses in and out of the work area. 


S&W’s final phase of construction consisted of installing a green roof system using a hot applied rubberized asphalt waterproofing, followed by installation of pedestal pavers, precast planter walls and engineered soil in planter boxes located on 2 separate plaza decks. The green roof terrace is positioned beneath the first and second floor exhibition areas and designed with free form limestone retaining walls and elaborate native plantings. The third-floor office section provides a backdrop for the south and west sides to create a terrace for beauty and recreation. Upon entering Manhattan over the Kansas River Bridge, an eye-opening view displaying the attractive terraced green roof with ramps and pathways snaking through are a sight to behold. 


When installation began on the serpentine precast panels, each measured 18” tall, 8” wide, and 3’ long, weighing approximately 300 pounds each! With the use of the construction drawings, manufacturer’s shop drawings, and layout by S&W, the challenge was met by piecing together the serpentine pattern for the planters. Once completed, S&W figured the layout for the pedestal paver system which covered the field for the two plaza decks. Many pavers were hand cut to create a custom match against the planter walls. S&W’s craftsmen made it look easy, but it took a lot of measuring and ingenuity to bring it all together. 

Finally, when the paver system was complete, the delivery of 300 cy of engineered soil needed to be placed into the precast planter boxes on the plaza decks. A 150-ton crane began hoisting 2000 lb bags of soil over the roof of the building and into place. All work on the plaza decks was completed in December 2011 and consisted of 16,000 lbs of waterproofing, 1,500 sheets of 60 psi insulation, 1,800 pedestals for the paver system, 1,300 precast concrete pavers, 120 serpentine precast planter pieces and 300 cy of engineered soil and 2,300 man-hours. The final product is breathtaking and must be experienced personally to fully appreciate what native Kansas prairie landscaping is capable of.

CROWN PLAZA HOTEL REPAIRS

Location: Kansas City, MO

Contractor: S&W Waterproofing

Project Manager: Matt Dierks 

Description: This project was a challenge on many levels (figuratively and literally). 

  • S&W was called in to work on the Crowne Plaza Hotel in downtown Kansas City, Missouri. Located near the Convention Center at 1301 Wyandotte St, the hotel is a 28-story concrete framed structure with 99 suites and 385 guest rooms, plus other facilities used for business meetings, conferences, and more. 


  • The property owners asked for our help due to a large number of areas on the building façade where the concrete is deteriorating. Unfortunately, it was deteriorating to the point where the concrete was falling off and creating a safety hazard. As one of the premiere hotels in the city in the heart of the business and entertainment district, this was a problem. 

We were hired to make the concrete repairs and replace sealant around the windows. 


We performed this work using hanging scaffolding, with three scaffolds set up, allowing a crew of up to 7 workers when fully utilized. The concrete repairs involved chipping and removal of deteriorated concrete, cleaning and applying corrosion protection to exposed steel reinforcing, and patching back with repair mortar. 


The main method used to patch back was “form and pour” where we attach formwork and fill it with a pourable mix of repair mortar. On smaller repairs we hand patch using trowels. Our original estimate called for over 700 bags of repair mortar to complete the job.


The height of the building created some challenges. Windy days made it unsafe to work and anyone that has lived and worked in the Midwest during the fall and winter months knows that there are always windy days– especially 20+ stories up in the air. 


Safety is always a primary concern on any project, but on one like this, it becomes even more paramount. Our technicians worked carefully to prevent debris from dropping, using fine mesh netting on the scaffolding to prevent injury to the techs or people below. 


Another challenge was working on a hotel which is in operation. “We couldn’t just show up at 7 am and start making noise like we would on a typical jobsite” said S&W project manager, Matt Dierks. “We had to coordinate with the hotel management on the issue of noise and also where on the building we were working and what rooms needed to be taken out of service.”

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