Construction World February 2015

PROJECT PROFILE

Project information • Client: Imvelo Concessions Company • Main contractor: Aveng Grinaker-LTA KKC DEA JV • Architect: Boogertman + Partners • Principal agent: Aveng Grinaker-LTA • Project manager: Aveng Grinaker-LTA • Quantity surveyor: Pentad QS • Consulting engineer: Mott MacDonald PDNA • Project value: R653 636 000 (excluding VAT) Health and safety Health and safety is a core objective at Aveng Grinaker-LTA. The Aveng group and Grinaker-LTA H&S policies took precedence. Awards • 2 nd Place H&S Award in the MBA North Regional Awards for projects over R500-million. • Achieved 1 000 000 LTI-free man hours, on a project site with more than 1 000 employees. Quantifiable time, cost, quality The PPP project consisted of a fixed time and fixed price design and construct subcontract. The D&C subcontractor (Aveng Grinaker-LTA Keren Kula DEA JV) accepted all the risks involved in this R653 636 000, 22 month fixed price contract. It was to be a 22 month fixed time contract, but extended to 15 July 2014. The contract facilities specification set the benchmark for which the project had to meet, and all national building legisla- tion had to be closely adhered to. A quality assurance team ensured that designs and construction adhered to all specifications and any non-concordances were remedied. This PPP project also entailed the appointment of an independent external engineer to inspect and sign off the works in accordance and ensuring compliance with the contract specifications.

The new office was to communicate an architectural language that reflects the Department’s environmental and sustain- able ideologies. The proposed building was to, through its architecture, express to the public as well as the building users the core values of DEA and its willingness to live up to its environmental values through clearly demonstrating aspects of sustainable design, energy and resource. Due to the size of the building site it was possible to distribute the floor space relatively evenly to create a general height of only three storeys, which is comfortably accessed by stairs. Each office wing includes a central atrium with internal planting at ground level and clerestory windows above the roof to enhance natural light into the building. This also encourages natural ventilation using the stack effect and night flush ventilation. The building concept comprises three distinct elements: the central reception building, the office wings and the bridge structure connecting the elements together. The nautilus shell concept as one of nature’s timeless shapes was used as inspiration for the design of the central arrival space and ministerial wing. The main offices comprises three wings to the south and two shorter wings to the north of the site, the regular form and repetition improved constructability and minimises potential wastage. The structure is expressed externally in the form of a concrete frame that provides shading, with off-shutter finishes intended to reduce maintenance and introduce an aspect of dematerialisation by means of reduced finishing required. Decorative screens on the façade serve a dual func- tion as aesthetic and functional solar shading devices, supporting energy effi- ciency through reduced thermal loads in conjunction with glazing placement and envelope design.

• 60 candidates received general life skills training in basic literacy, money management. SMME development • More than 3% of payroll spent on black employees; • More than 50% of capital expenditure was allocated and spent on black enterprises ; • More than 10% of capital expenditure was allocated and spent on black women owned enterprises; and • 2% of procurement cash flow spent on Qualifying Small Enterprises (QSE). Poverty alleviation The Imvelo Consortium has provided its detailed Local Socio Economic Development Plan (LSED Plan) to the Department. The plan focuses on the development of youth in the City of Tshwane. The aim of the programme is to foster self-reliance and empower unemployed youth with specific skills being computer based skills, entrepreneurial and life skills to enable them to become part of the economically active population and participate in the mainstream economy. Architectural design The new departmental headquarters for the Department of Environmental Affairs which is located in the Arcadia, Pretoria (City of Tshwane). In the design of the building, the key considerations were to respond to the spatial and organisational brief of the client, to provide an environmentally sensitive and sustainable architecture, and to design a functional yet memorable and beautiful building to inspire generations to come. The site location is regarded as a gateway to the Tshwane inner city therefore the archi- tect was expected to design a facility with suitable prominence that reflects its impor- tance even to international visitors.

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CONSTRUCTION WORLD FEBRUARY 2015

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