32 / 64
CONSTRUCTION WORLD
AUGUST
2017
30
PROJECT PROFILE
Reddam House is part of the Inspired Group of co-educational and
non-denominational international schools. Its new Early Learning
Centre – the latest of the Reddam House facilities in Gauteng – is
situated in the picturesque Helderfontein Estate valley, surrounded
by the suburbs of Dainfern, Fourways, Lonehill and Broadacres.
The developer of the new facility is Century Property Develop-
ments, for which J.C. van der Linde & Venter Projects has worked
before on projects such as the clubhouse for The Hills Game
Reserve and Lifestyle Estate in Pretoria.
Pieter Venter, contracts director at J.C. van der Linde & Venter
Projects, says the first phase of Reddam House Helderfontein
involved the fast-track construction of a 4 500 m
2
single-storey
structure which the contractors had to complete in about 18 weeks
to have this part of the school ready for parents and pupils’ Open
Day in early November last year.
“The stringent time frame meant that we had to be on site seven
days a week from the beginning of July: we laid about 700 000 stock
bricks and 200 000 face bricks in a hectic five-week period of the
construction project.
We had to employ every time-saving measure possible, including
the use of raft foundations which are faster to construct because
they do not require deep excavations compared to strip or pad
foundations,” Venter explained.
André Luther, contracts manager for J.C. van der Linde & Venter
Projects, says the first phase of the Reddam House project included
the construction of the new school itself, with a gatehouse and
157 m long and 3 m high boundary wall.
“We had to demolish an existing asbestos cement structure
on the site where the gatehouse was built. As there are strict
environmental laws regarding asbestos fibre, we had to enlist the
help of specialist waste management company, EnviroServe, for this
part of the contract.
“Building contractors have the responsibility of properly
identifying and, where necessary, remove asbestos before
demolition or refurbishment so the risks of disturbing asbestos
and releasing airborne fibres are eliminated,” Luther stated.
For the second phase of the Reddam House project, J.C. van
der Linde & Venter Projects had to comply with South African
Heritage regulations regarding two small historic structures on
the site which had to be preserved and not damaged during the
building operations. “The developers had to obtain approval from
the National Heritage authorities before we could go on site which
caused a delay of a few months,” Luther said.
TRICKY ENVIRONMENTAL
and
HERITAGE CONSIDERATIONS
Demolishing a potentially hazardous asbestos
cement structure, preserving historic buildings, and
the meticulous reconstruction of an old concrete
dome were some of the challenges Pretoria building
contractors, J.C. van der Linde & Venter Projects,
successfully coped with in a R55-million contract for
the construction of the Reddam House Early Learn-
ing Centre in Helderfontein Estate.
An aerial view of the Reddam House Early Learning Centre in Helderfontein Estate.
The dining area.