Construction World March 2015

COVER STORY

“ ... the Avianto precinct will be one of our most successful and definitive projects with the aim to take the entire development off the grid.”

The Cat TH414C has a maximum lift height of 13,7 m and maximum forward reach of 9,2 m.

Ongoing construction at Northlands Deco Park runs in parallel with preparations for the launch of new industrial projects, as well as the current development of the multi-million Avianto mixed-use precinct.

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At Deco Park, Northlands is currently busy with a 40 000 m² extension, which commenced in 2013 for scheduled completion in August 2015. BELOW FROM LEFT: Northlands contracts manager, Graham Bower; Barloworld Equipment Cat sales professional, Jane Shaw;

3 000 kg with the stabilisers down. The load at maximum reach with the stabilisers up is 350 kg, and 1 150 kg with the stabilisers down. In the meantime as work progresses at Deco Park, planning is under way on the roll-out of the Northlands Retail Park, a new commercial property that will be constructed on a 60 000 m² site bordering Malibongwe Drive, a strategic economic corridor that interconnects the Northern Suburbs and Randburg with Lanseria International Airport and the N14 highway. “Aside from the location, the chief advan- tage of this type of development is that it enables businesses to centralise their opera- tions by combining retail, office and storage space all under one roof at highly competi- tive rentals,” says D’Oliveira. Construction is

estate featuring upmarket residential homes. “We have now secured an additional 3 000 000 m² of land surrounding the existing Avianto Estate, which is zoned for develop- ment. This new venture, with an anticipated project roll-out of around 10 years, will be a mixed-use precinct on a majestic scale,” D’Ol- iveira explains, “and is expected to unlock some R3,5-billion of future construction.” Central to the future precinct is the Maragon Private School at Avianto. North- lands completed the first phase at the end of 2014: a 4 000 m² school that caters for Grades 000-0 (pre-primary) and Grade 1 (the first year of primary education). Further phases will see the construction of an adjoining primary and high school. As on other Northlands projects, Phase One at Maragon Avianto incorporates green building features that lower the carbon foot- print, such as double-glazing, plus roof and wall insulation. On top of this is the incorpo- ration of an innovative water-heated under- floor system throughout the school, which is believed to be the first school installation of its kind in South Africa. D’Oliveira will develop Avianto in pockets, each phase with a maximum construction period of three years. This will include the building of a Frail Care hospital, a retirement estate, as well as office and commercial nodes. Zoning makes further provision for

and Darin D’Oliveira, head of Northlands.

expected to start during 2016. Avianto Estate in Muldersdrift

some 2 000 residential units, ranging from freehold stands to clusters and sectional title. Some 250 low-cost government grant houses will also be constructed at Avianto. Adds D’Oliveira: “As a further advance on our mixed-use model, I’m confident that the Avianto precinct will be one of our most successful and definitive projects with the aim to take the entire development off the grid.”

As these and other projects unfold, D’Olivei- ra’s most ambitious venture so far is already taking shape at their existing Avianto Estate in Muldersdrift, Gauteng, which is situated within the Kroomdraai Valley and adjoins the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage site. The current site at Avianto features a four star hotel, a conference centre and wedding facility, and an interconnecting lifestyle

CONSTRUCTION WORLD MARCH 2015