Nihon University Taps Penetron for New Overseas Campus in Australia

EAST SETAUKET, N.Y., March 10, 2022 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Tokyo-based Nihon University welcomed the first students to its new international campus in Newcastle, Australia in January 2022. PENETRON ADMIX, a crystalline waterproofing admixture, was specified to protect the new concrete structures from high groundwater levels and the climate.

With over 70,000 students, Nihon University is the largest private educational institution in Japan. Originally founded in 1189 as the Nihon Law School, the University now comprises 16 colleges, 20 postgraduate schools, and 32 research institutes. The Newcastle campus is the University's first overseas location.

"The Newcastle campus on the Pacific Coast in New South Wales is about 160 km north of Sydney and serves as a hub for international exchange programs between Australian and Japanese students," adds Jozef Van Beeck, Director of International Sales & Marketing for The Penetron Group. "The campus' new curriculum will also extend to the nearby University of Newcastle."

Combining Legacy with Modernity

Built on the site of the former Newcastle Courthouse, a heritage-listed courthouse completed in 1892, the $41 million transformation was designed by Azusa Sekkei, a Japanese architectural and engineering firm. The three-year project comprised complete restoration of the original courthouse, including the original retention cell. More recent additions to the courthouse were demolished to make room for two new four-story buildings that flank the renovated courthouse, which house classrooms, and student facilities.

"During the extensive renovation and restoration of the 1890s courthouse building – including the repair of extensive water damage – the construction team needed to stabilize the site, which revealed the remains of an old coal mine connected to a coal seam about 20 meters below one of the demolished buildings," adds Jozef Van Beeck. "Several tons of grout were used to stabilize the area before construction of the footings of the new building could progress."

Protection from the Subtropical Climate

Penetron Australia was asked by by Northrop Engineers, the project's engineers, to supply a concrete waterproofing solution to protect the below-grade and exposed structures from high groundwater levels and the humid subtropical climate typical for the Australian east coast, with its rainy season in late autumn. Supplied by Boral, the project's ready-mix concrete supplier, the concrete for the below-grade foundation slab, retaining walls, elevator pits and roof slab structures were treated with PENETRON ADMIX.

"Numerous lab tests and field trials have confirmed that PENETRON ADMIX can add up to 60 years to the service life of concrete by markedly decreasing permeability and enhancing overall durability," concludes Jozef Van Beeck. "This substantially increases the life cycle of concrete treated with PENETRON ADMIX - and has far-reaching consequences for all concrete structures like the new Newcastle campus."

The Penetron Group is a leading manufacturer of specialty construction products for concrete waterproofing, concrete repairs and floor preparation systems. The Group operates through a global network, offering support to the design and construction community through its regional offices, representatives, and distribution channels.

For more information on Penetron waterproofing solutions, please visit penetron.com or Facebook.com/ThePenetronGroup, email [email protected], or contact the Corporate Relations Department at 631-941-9700.

Media Contact

Corporate Relations, The Penetron Group, 6319419700, [email protected]

SOURCE The Penetron Group