Construction World March 2015

To fast-track project completion at Deco Park, Northlands recently expanded its earthmoving capabilities with the addition of a Cat TH414C telehandler.

Northlands ramps up MIXED-USE ROLL-OUT

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ver the past 20 odd years, the built environment within Gauteng has expe- rienced construction on a scale that is unprece- dented, with extensive

This includes cross-border projects in Mozambique where Northlands has devel- oped two coastal boutique lodges in Inhambane province, namely the 19 room Castelo do Mar, completed over the past two years, and the 34 room Massinga Beach resort, commissioned in 2011. Massinga Beach is a nominee for the 2015 World Luxury Hotel Awards. Deco Park in Northlands At Deco Park, Northlands is currently busy with a 40 000m² extension, which commenced in 2013 for scheduled completion in August 2015. Industrial units in this phase range in size from 500 m² up to 1 200 m², with one 5 000 m² building designed to meet the expan- sion requirements of an existing tenant. As on other developments, Northlands is the main contractor and deploys its own dedicated Cat® earthmoving and allied equipment fleet. Committed to sustainable construc- tion practices, the Deco Park extension places the environment first with a number of eco-friendly features. These include the installation of double-glazing (with a heat- treat seal on the outer glass), plus polystyrene insulation in the brick work. Polystyrene ISO board is also installed under the steel roof sheeting sections, which acts as an excellent thermal insulator. These and other energy saving materials

significantly reduce the load on conventional HVAC (heating, ventilation and air-condi- tioning) systems, translating into measure- able reductions in electricity consumption. Additionally, the roofs on the Deco Park extension are all designed to carry solar panels. Existing developments like the neigh- bouring Northlands Corner site have been equipped with solar panelling, with R4-mil- lion spent there to date. “Solar power is the future and all new Northlands projects will be designed with this renewable energy source top-of-mind,” D’Oliveira stresses. To fast-track project completion at Deco Park, Northlands recently expanded its earthmoving capabilities with the addition in January 2015 of a Cat TH414C telehandler, supplied and supported by Southern African Cat dealer, Barloworld Equipment. “We needed a machine with excellent lift and reach capabilities for tasks ranging from water pipeline installation to delivering building materials to second and third storey structures. After extensive market research, the Cat TH414C, with its maximum lift height of 13,7 m and maximum forward reach of 9,2 m, proved to be the optimum choice and is now an indispensable part of our building team,” says Northlands contracts manager, Graham Bower. The load capability at maximum height is 1 750 kg with the stabilisers up, and

tracts of land progressively transformed into vibrant residential, commercial, and indus- trial space in key growth nodes that include Randburg, Midrand, and Sandton, creating niche opportunities for developers in a market where demand continues to outstrip supply in prime locations. Northlands in North Riding, Randburg, is a classic example. Development first began in 1999 and construction continues to this day on a precinct that houses interconnecting industrial and commercial parks. Northlands Industrial Park, Deco Park, and Northlands Business Park form part of the Northlands precinct. So far more than 700 000 m² of building under roof has been completed. “From the onset, our strategy at North- lands Business Park has been to offer the market something distinctive: an up- market development enclosed within secured perimeter boundaries featuring high-level security throughout,” explains Darin D’Ol- iveira, Pr Eng (Civil Engineering) and head of Northlands, a multi-faceted company with extensive mixed-use design and con- struction experience.

CONSTRUCTION WORLD MARCH 2015