From Realtà Mapei n° 28 - 7/1/2020
Culture, architecture and urban design collide to produce a city on the cutting edge, which could well describe Atlanta. MAPEI’s wide-ranging systems of products have been used to waterproof, level, strengthen and add elegant finishes to five fabulous new projects in Atlanta and the rural suburb of Canton.
Overview: The Arbor at BridgeMill is a luxurious senior living community newly constructed in Canton. The expansive campus offers several state-of-the-art residences totaling 28 private cottages, 130 resort-style apartments and on-site amenities including a theater, hair salon/barber shop, pool and spa, bistro café, restaurant, private dining lounges, fitness center and more. MAPEI’s extensive selection of installation products helped to fast-track installations and remedied failures caused by moisture intrusion.
The overall concept of The Arbor is for residents to “age in place.” As their care needs change, they can progress to alternative living options within the complex.
There are three levels of living at The Arbor: Independent living apartments or cottages, Assisted Living, and Total Care. Aspire Development Partners designed the community to accommodate retiring baby boomers, empty nesters and previous homeowners who would like the assistance that senior facilities provide without losing the essence of independence. Each of the spacious cottages features an open-concept floor plan, resort-style living rooms and walk-in closets. The multi-entryway bathrooms feature “zero-entry” (barrier-free) walk-in showers to eliminate incidence of falls or slippage.
In the bathrooms, the team used Mapelastic AquaDefense to waterproof shower pans along with Mapelastic CI for crack isolation on the floors. The same two products were utilized in pool areas. To set the sand-colored 13" x 13" (33 x 33 cm) Daltile Cove Creek tiles in the showers, Ultraflex LHT was used, providing premium performance for a non-sag, nonslump installation. To grout the shower walls, Pro Floors installers used Ultracolor Plus FA in the “Pewter” color for its efflorescence-free application. Throughout the living rooms and kitchens of the freestanding cottages, Ultrabond ECO 962 was used to set 3" x 36" (7.5 x 91 cm) Floorfolio luxury vinyl plank. In the kitchen, the glass tile backsplash was set with Adesilex P10 Mosaic & Glass Tile. In the commercial kitchens, 8,000 sq. ft. (743 m²) of 8" x 8" (20 x 20 cm) quarry textured tiles from Daltile were set with Ultraflex LHT and grouted with Kerapoxy CQ. In commercial areas, Ultrabond ECO 711 and Ultrabond ECO 575 adhesives were also used. Along the way, failures caused by moisture intrusion were solved by using Planiseal MSP, a moisture-control membrane and self-leveling primer with fast-track technology. And differentials with foundation walls in pool areas were resolved with Mapecem Quickpatch.
Overview: Hanover Buckhead Village is a premier, ultra luxurious high-rise apartment building in Atlanta’s affluent Buckhead district. MAPEI’s systems for surface preparation, installation of flooring/tile and grouting were used throughout the modern collection of residences.
Adjacent to the historic Buckhead Theatre, this new residence is also within walking distance of top-tier restaurants and The Shops Buckhead Atlanta. The luxuriously curved tower was developed by the Houston-based Hanover Company and designed by architect Solomon Cordwell Buenz of Chicago.
The lobby’s grand entrance features a traditional marbled staircase, and white and gray marbled walls and floors in the foyer. Ultraflex LHT was used to set large 24" x 48" (61 x 122 cm) white and gray marbled Calacatta Thorntree tile on the walls, floors and grand staircase. To accomplish the marbled floor installation in the lobby, the crew prepared the subfloor with Mapeguard UM. In the corridors leading to each unit, carpet tile was also installed using Ultrabond ECO 185, which was ideal for ultra fast grab and superb bond strength.
Each residential unit features a stunning panoramic view. To ensure that the view of the city remained the focal point of the open floor plan, monochromatic colors were used throughout each room. Along with the distressed wood-look tile, 12" x 24" (30 x 61 cm) EuroMarmo Calacatta porcelain tiles were set with Ultraflex LHT and grouted with Ultracolor Plus FA in “Frost” color on the bathroom walls, bathroom floors and kitchen backsplash. In lieu of natural lighting, modern track lighting was installed above the kitchen island and counters. Additionally, in a unique and unconventional move, the entire complex utilized Ultraflex LHT mortar to set the condo number markers outside of each room.
MAPEI installation products for floor coverings and tile were used throughout the common areas, the main entryway, elevators and the lobby, as well as the 20,000 sq. ft. (1 858 m²) area of the 6th floor pool deck and pool-side cabana. The newly built high-rise emanates elegance and is sure to deliver the sophistication that residents of Buckhead have come to expect.
Overview: In the heart of downtown Atlanta, various MAPEI products for surface preparation, tile/carpet installation and sealing were used in building this sophisticated apartment complex on Midtown’s vibrant Peachtree Street.
At the epicenter of Atlanta’s revitalization is the historic Peachtree Street. Many of Atlanta’s most prominent buildings and landmarks are located here. Nine15 Midtown Apartments fits right into the walkable landscape of the mixed-use developments in downtown Atlanta. The design of Nine15 emphasizes green living with its energy-conserving stainless-steel appliances, clean lines, wood-style flooring and polished aesthetics. Nine15 is also on track to becoming LEED-certified, due in part to the use of MAPEI products.
As part of the green living vision, Nine15 includes its own dog-friendly, 1/2-acre (0.2-hectare) private park with secluded grilling areas. Residents can enjoy a full view of the park from the comfort of their homes, or can view the Atlanta skyline from the outdoor skydeck. Further integrating the lush outdoors into the interior, elements of nature are strategically incorporated throughout the building. Limited use of interior walls allows kitchens to seamlessly merge into living rooms. Floor-to-ceiling windows, airy cloud-colored walls, wood-look tile and glass mosaic backsplashes transform the combined space into a breathable indoor-outdoor experience.
This project called for a wide variety of products. For surface preparation, MAPEI’s 4 to 1 Mud Bed Mix was used in the showers in conjunction with Mapelastic AquaDefense to waterproof the tub surrounds and showers. Ultraflex 2 was used to set bathroom tiles from Shaw Floors’ Elegance collection, resulting in a glossy and sleek finish that allows the modernized rainfall shower head and chrome accessories to be the focal points in the bathrooms. Adesilex P10 Mosaic & Glass Tile mortar was used to set the translucent Random Linear Mosaic tiles by Elysium in the kitchen and bathrooms. For the finishing touch, UltraCare Grout Sealer provided protection against common stains without altering the color of grout joints. Ultrabond ECO 360 was used underneath carpet tile, from Mannington’s Connected collection, which filled offices, common areas, closets and bedrooms. Nine15 Midtown is now open to residents.