Cemex provides solution to UNESCO World Heritage Site

The Plaza de Armas in Zacatecas is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Mexico’s most emblematic spaces. The recent renovation work performed on the site is an example of Cemex’s tailor-made building solutions.

Located in the historic centre of the Zacatecas state capital and bordered by the government palace and the cathedral, the square became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1993 due to its historical and architectural heritage. One of the key objectives of the renovation was to raise the sunken surface of the square, allowing for a more accessible and functional design for its more than two thousand daily visitors.

With the aim of providing a solution to these challenges, Cemex proposed filling the surface area of the square with an innovative fluid fill product.

Unlike locally common materials like tepetate – a volcanic stone traditionally used to build foundations and the contractor’s initial option for the filling stage – this particular type of concrete does not require compacting or vibrating during application, eliminating the negative impact of the use of heavy machinery. Therefore, pouring nearly 2000 m³ using boom pumps and ready-mix trucks posed no harm to the protected buildings.

Since the self-levelling and self-compacting properties of the material did not require special equipment or additional labor, Cemex’s solution reduced the logistical complications that would have arisen from having to transport different traditional materials.

Despite the presence of adverse weather conditions, Cemex contributed to a reduction in the initial work program, which had been projected to take more than 45 days.

Edited from source by Joseph Green. Source: Cemex

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/the-americas/21122015/cemex-provides-solution-unesco-world-heritage-site-222/