Download LATICRETE Products and Expertise Called Upon For Amazing

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LATICRETE Products and Expertise Called Upon
For Amazing Water Feature at Three Gorges Mansion.
June 14, 2013. LATICRETE, a manufacturer of globally proven
construction solutions for the building industry, was specified for
its products and expertise in a magnificent water feature project
at Three Gorges Mansion in Chendu, China. A state-owned
Chinese power company, the China Three Gorges Corporation
planned its new southwest regional headquarters to include an
exterior architectural feature to reflect the company’s most
important project to date: the Three Gorges Dam. The dam,
placed into operation in 2008, is the world’s largest hydroelectric power plant.
Three Gorges Mansion headquarters was an 800-million Chinese Yuan ($128 million U.S.) investment that lies in the
southern portion of the Chengdu high-tech zone. The project consists of two buildings, a 19-story north tower and an 18story south tower, that are connected at the base of the building. Company leadership envisioned a wall of water between
the buildings that would flow much like the water rolls over the Three Gorges Dam. To fulfill their vision, Three Gorges
turned to Los Angeles-based architectural firm Water Entertainment Technologies, also known as WET Design, to create a
masterpiece worthy of the surrounding scenery.
WET Design is best known for its nine-acre Fountains of Bellagio in Las Vegas, and the company has designed more than
200 fountains and architectural water features around the world, pioneering many technologies that have become common
in architectural fountains, including laminar flow fountains that arise from the pavement instead of from pools, fountains
powered by compressed air instead of pumps, and fountains that employ sophisticated underwater robots. Hallmarks of
WET Design fountains are that the water itself is the focus.
Globally Proven Construction Solutions
LATICRETE International, Inc. ▪ One LATICRETE Park North, Bethany, CT 06524-3423 USA ▪ Tel +1.203.393.0010 ▪ Toll Free 1.800.243.4788 ▪ Fax +1.203.393.1684 ▪ www. laticrete.com
This was certainly the case for the Three Gorges Mansion. Innovative modeling
created a three-story “water curtain” in the open space between the two towers.
The architects specified LATICRETE installation materials and LATICRETE
team expertise to help them construct a water feature that would last
generations. The waterfall feature was 650-feet long, 32 feet high and its
installation was difficult. Cement board was affixed to a steel structure using
LATAPOXY® 300 Adhesive, a chemical-resistant, epoxy adhesive that will bond
to most sound, clean surfaces. A second layer of cement board was attached to the first, and the team used LATICRETE®
4237 Latex Additive combined with LATICRETE® 211 Powder to bond reinforced fabric onto the cement board. Due to the
expanse of the feature wall, the installation team set 3 mm expansion joints every 19 feet using LATICRETE® 9235
Waterproofing Membrane to protect the structure from cracks.
The final finish was an exterior wall of Basalt mosaic, a surface that is uneven, difficult to grout, and would be exposed to
thousands of gallons of water per hour. The team specified LATICRETE HYDRO BAN®, a thin, load-bearing waterproofing
and crack isolation membrane and LATAPOXY 300, knowing that usage of this product would ensure that the mosaic would
not fall off. According to Judy Xie of LATICRETE, "There was no tile grout specified because the stone mosaic surface is
very uneven and therefore, extremely difficult to grout. This very precise tile
installation process, took approximately twenty days to complete."
Today, the Three Gorges Mansion is a beautiful area attraction that not only
honors the surrounding scenery but also functions as the dispatching center
of Jinsha River area of the China's Three Gorges Corporation.
LATICRETE International, Inc. provides globally proven construction
solutions for the building industry. LATICRETE® products are manufactured and distributed worldwide in the commercial
and consumer channels. The company’s philosophy of innovation and technical expertise has led to an unparalleled
reputation and commitment to superior quality, performance and customer service. Engineered and produced in state-of-theart ISO 9001:2008 certified facilities, LATICRETE offers a broad product portfolio including an extensive line of
independently certified low VOC sustainable products. LATICRETE®, LATAPOXY®, SPECTRALOCK®, HYDRO BAN®,
DRYTEK® and PERMACOLOR® are registered brands of LATICRETE International, Inc. Corporate Website:
www.laticrete.com