Projects
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11/10/2023
Mirabel Towers
Building this huge residential complex entailed the use of Mapei products within an area covering 8,268 m² altogether
Building this huge residential complex entailed the use of Mapei products within an area covering 8,268 m² altogether
The name “Mirabel” stems from the Latin word mirabilis, meaning “wondrous” or “of wondrous beauty.” When developer Marcon Construction in 2017 chose that name for its twin-tower condominium project that is located within the West End section of Vancouver, the bar was set high. The corner of Vancouver’s Davie and Broughton streets had been the site of two aging apartment buildings. By 2021, the site’s transformation into a complex with two neighboring 18- and 19-story buildings – comprising 153 luxury units and 68 social-housing units – was complete. The project entailed the use of Mapei products within an area covering 8,268 m² altogether. “Many different Mapei products were used on this project,” Dave Randall, Mapei Inc. Business Development Manager for Western Canada, said. “This twin-tower design is very modern and greatly improved the neighborhood.
Mirabel towers is a residential complex with two neighboring 18- and 19-story buildings completed with Mapei products.
Concrete restoration systems on the job
Once the main structure was erected, Marcon’s crews used products from the Concrete Restoration Systems line, that are manufactured and distributed on the Canadian market by Mapei Inc., to prepare concrete slabs and help form exterior balconies. These products included TOPCEM PREMIX screed mortar, MAPECEM QUICKPATCH concrete patch, PLANITOP X repair mortar and PLANIGROUT 755 construction grout. The concrete slabs were verified to an International Concrete Repair Institute (ICRI) concrete surface profile (CSP) of #2. Areas needing leveling were then coated with PRIMER L acrylic latex primer to enhance the adhesion of NOVOPLAN 2 PLUS high-strength, cement-based self-leveling underlayment.
In order to ensure adequate sound reduction to maintain a peaceful living environment, the next step was to
install Mapei’s “3-in-1” answer for crack isolation, waterproofing and sound reduction: MAPEGUARD 2.
MAPEGUARD 2 not only helps to prevent existing or future floor cracks, but also reduces the transmission of impact sound and airborne sound through floors when installed under ceramic tile, stone or wooden floor coverings.
MAPEI SM PRIMER was used to ensure a quick installation of MAPEGUARD 2 membranes onto the leveled substrates.
Waterproofing wet areas
MAPELASTIC AQUADEFENSE ready-to-use, ultra-quick drying, flexible liquid waterproofing membrane was applied
over substrates in the bathroom to create a thin, continuous barrier to protect adjacent rooms and floors below from water damage.
The subtrates in the bathrooms were waterproofed with MAPELASTIC AQUADEFENSE flexible membrane.
Installation systems for the stone and ceramic floors
Interior designer Alda Pereira specified natural marble for wall and floor tiles in the condominium units, which were
installed using KERAFLEX SG polymer-modified mortar The ceramic floors in the lobbies were bonded with ULTRAFLEX RS rapid-setting thin-set mortar. All grouting operations were completed using polymer-modified ULTRACOLOR PLUS FA grout. Finally, MAPESIL T silicone sealant was used for the expansion joints.
Natural marble and ceramic tiles for walls and floors in the condominium units were installed with Mapei adhesives.
Certified solutions for a wondrous beauty
As an added benefit, all products used in this project were third party tested and third-party certified for low
VOC emissions. As a result, the products achieved Indoor Advantage Gold certification from SCS Global Services
to meet California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Standard Method v1.2-2017. The testing of these products
is the most stringent type of testing that is available in North America.
NOVOPLAN 2 PLUS is also Red List Free, having been verified per the most current Red List on the Website for the
Living Building Challenge (LBC), an international sustainable building certification program created in 2006 by
the non-profit International Living Future Institute. The new towers are truly an upgrade over the low-rise apartments that they replaced. Their “wondrous beauty” is a sight to behold – almost as much as the striking views of the Rocky Mountains that they provide to their new residents. All the products mentioned in the article, except for MAPELASTIC AQUADEFENSE, are manufactured and distributed on the Canadian market by Mapei Inc.
"All products used in this project were third party tested and third-party certified for low
VOC emissions"
