AXIM Admixtures Utilized in Award Winning Project

Project:
Milwaukee Art Museum

Location:
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA

Owner:
City of Milwaukee

Concrete Producer:
Central Ready Mix

Architect/Designer and Engineer of Record:
Santiago Calatrava Valls

Products:
CATEXOL 3500 N
CATEXOL A.E. 260
CATEXOL 1000 SP-MN
CATEXOL 2000 Ni

Situation:
Internationally recognized and award-winning Spanish architect, Santiago Calatrava Valls, was commissioned to build the $121 million, white concrete Quadracci Pavilion for the Milwaukee Art Museum. The structure was designed with a moveable, wing-like brise soleil, which opens up to a wingspan of 217 feet during the day and folds over the tall, arched structure at night or during inclement weather.

Challenge:
This complex and intriguing design required a high-strength concrete foundation, columns and pylons. The new structure would jut out into Lake Michigan and need to have durable concrete to withstand the extreme Wisconsin climate.  Due to the massive amounts of steel reinforcing required in the concrete for the pavilion, a 3/8-inch stone aggregate was needed for the concrete instead of the standard 3/4-inch aggregate. A 3/4-inch stone would not fit between the tightly packed steel reinforcing bars. The job used roughly 20,000 cubic yards of concrete at a weight of 81 million pounds.

Solution:
The concrete producer, Central Ready Mix, used several AXIM admixtures to overcome the many challenges presented in this unique structure. Mid-range water reducers CATEXOL 3500 N and CATEXOL 2000 Ni were used to increase strength and durability. AXIM's Superplastizer, CATEXOL 1000 SP-MN, was used to increase strength and improve flowability and CATEXOL A.E. 260 was utilized for its stable air-entraining properties.

Highlights:
This multiple award-winning museum addition is an interaction between structure, form and art. Its location on the waters of Lake Michigan and an 80 meter footbridge provide for even more intrigue and interest. The architect drew his inspiration from the skeleton of a sperm whale with huge teeth, creating a dramatic, nature-inspired structure.