Best Educational Project – 2016 Concrete Polishing Award
Desco Wins 2016 Concrete Surfaces Polishing Award
Desco is proud to announce winning the 2016 Concrete Surfaces Polishing Award.
We received recognition for the best educational concrete polishing project at NAIT CAT in Edmonton, Alberta. This marks the third consecutive year Desco has won an award, previously in 2015 and 2014 for commercial projects. Desco is the only award recipient in Canada this year.
About NAIT CAT
The NAIT Centre for Applied Technology (CAT) is a center of excellence for simulated learning.
Students experience real-world situations in controlled, safe, and cost-effective learning environments.
Simulation labs integrate leading technology, equipment, and business processes.
The flagship facility has achieved LEED Silver certification. Polished concrete flooring, a sustainable finish, is installed in high-traffic areas.
Concrete Flooring Design and Installation
The concrete floors feature radiant heating in floating slabs above a structural concrete base. Large on-site samples were constructed using various mix designs and finished to different depths and textures. These samples were cast-in-place, then removed to allow installation of the final flooring. Desco ground the concrete to expose large aggregate and polished it to a high-gloss sheen. Radiant heating required numerous control and expansion joints to accommodate temperature changes. VersaFlex SL 75 filled the control joints, and VersaFlex SL 60 filled the expansion joints, both color-matched to the concrete. Penetrating concrete dye highlighted angular architectural details in the cafeteria. The central walkway featured dyed patterns mirroring the rectilinear column design, creating a visually striking and cohesive finish.
Materials and Finishes
Desco used 98% solids urethane structural tinted grout to fill all voids and cracks.
Pentra-Sil (HD) served as a densifier, Ameripolish Surelock Dye added colored designs, and Pentra-Finish (HG) acted as a stain-resistant sealer. The grout was color-matched to the concrete floor for a seamless finish.
Polishing Challenges
Structural columns left little access between them. Desco polished these tight spaces to match adjacent flooring using specialized tooling. The work was challenging due to the narrow gaps and precise equipment required. Our craftspeople played a critical role in achieving this detailed finish.
Safety and Accessibility Features
Desco installed ADA-compliant high-traction strips at the top of a stairwell. The strips were cut by hand after polishing and filled with black oxide and 100% solids polyaspartic resin.
Concrete Construction magazine is a trade specific magazine for the residential and commercial design and construction industry. This is the sixth year the magazine has hosted the competition for the best in concrete polishing around the world. Candidates for this year’s competition came from a wide variety of places, including Australia, Canada, and across the United States.
PROJECT DETAILS
- Project Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Flooring Contractor: Desco Coatings of Alberta Ltd.
- Architect/designer: Stantec Architecture
- General contractor: Clark Builders
- Amount of polished concrete: 37,500 ft²
- Size of building/project: 555,000 ft²
To learn more about concrete polishing or contact us for a commercial project, please follow the links below.