The CANALSIDE commercial development in Buffalo, New York serves to revitalize the former site of the Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, adjacent to Lake Erie. The Auditorium was constructed in 1940 and founded on steel H-piles driven to limestone bedrock. After decades of professional sport and entertainment events, the "Aud, " as it was locally known, was closed in 1996. It sat vacant until it was demolished in 2009, at which time plans were made to revitalize the area with shops, restaurants, and a historic replica canal.
The only portion of the Aud that was left intact was a subbasement boiler room. The subbasement was renovated in 2014 and has since been used to house water and ice making equipment for the historic replica canals, which boast recreational ice skating in the winter. The subbasement floor was about 10 feet below groundwater and the Lake Erie water level. The floor consisted of an approximately 4-foot-thick layered inverted waffle slab system, with reinforced concrete grade beams and concrete infill between the grade beams. A waterproofing membrane was located near the base of the slab. There were no major seepage issues in the subbasement, so the existing waterproofing membrane was assumed to be intact and performing adequately.
Subjects: None provided.
Author: Mary C. Nodine, P.E., M. ASCE, Paul Eggers, P.E., M. ASCE, Michael P. Walker, P.E. and Donald E. Aubrecht
Publisher: DFI