Construction World January 2018

PROJECTS & CONTRACTS

Innovative engineering for TOURISM DEVELOPMENT Pie in the sky. That is what the architects and engineers thought when approached about the possibility of constructing a viewing elevator down the Graskop Gorge cliff face, which has a sheer drop equivalent to around 16 storeys. N owhere else in Africa can a lift like this be found, so all role- players had to tackle some fairly groundbreaking stuff. But when asked what stands out for them, rather than list the technical challenges, the professionals who worked on the project cite the very fact that it happened at all. Eric Dixon, the director of LEW Consulting Engineers, said that when first approached four years ago to do the services report, he thought the project would not get off the ground. “The fact that it did happen is very exciting,” he says, adding that it is a testament to the developers’ tenacity. LEW was appointed to do the structural and civil designs of the R40-million Graskop Gorge development on Mpumalanga’s scenic Panorama Route, which includes the viewing elevator, a network of elevated walkways and suspension bridges at the foot of the cliff, and a restaurant, bar and shops on the plateau. LEW’s structural engineer, Janine Fourie, explains that their involvement included the design of the 51 m high steel lift shaft, with associated works; the design of all structural elements of the building; as well as the design of the parking area and entrance, storm water, water and sewer reticulation and sewer pump station. A highlight of the project for Dixon was seeing the lift shaft rise to level, with no problems in the manufacturing or erection of the structure.

Reiner Förtsch of Förtsch and Associates Architects used Dixon’s exact phrase – ‘pie in the sky’ – when asked what he considered the most remarkable thing about the lift. “Clients come with grand ideas that are often nothing more than pipe dreams.” Developer Campbell Scott, who has made a name for himself in adventure tourism across Africa, says the overall challenge of creating a unique visitor attraction to showcase the natural landscape, the gorge and forest is what excited him most about the project. The Graskop Gorge lift is one of only two of its kind globally. “It represents the capacity and willingness of South Africa to move with the times and to show we can build world-class attractions not just for our foreign visitors but, most especially, for our growing domestic market,” says Scott. He and fellow developers James Sheard – who was responsible for the opening in 2016 of Africa’s only rail toboggan, also on the Panorama Route; and Oupa Pilane, a local businessman with solid experience in the tourism sector, agree that with this not being an ‘off the shelf’ project, getting all the detail right, on time and on budget, has been challenging. “We have rolled up our sleeves and dived in but we have also had a great team prepared to do the same,” says Scott. He says they have had excellent support from the Thaba Chweu municipality and the greater tourism community, as well as the National Empowerment Fund (NEF). “The NEF has been excellent; I am honestly not sure we would have been able to achieve what we have without them. They bring a lot more to the party than just funding and they have lots of experience with regard to large- scale developments.” The developers have a long-term lease with the Thaba Chweu municipality, which owns the land, and obtained funding through the NEF. The rest of the shares are privately held.

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CONSTRUCTION WORLD JANUARY 2018