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10
CONSTRUCTION WORLD
JUNE
2016
BOTH PHOTOS:
Cape Peninsula University of Technology students pave the
courtyard at the Matthew Goniwe 2 residence on the Bellville campus during
the Corobrik-CPUT Construction Week. Photos: Christine Price.
Corobrik partnered with the
Cape Peninsula University
of Technology (CPUT) for
the third time in the highly
beneficial CPUT-Corobrik
Construction Week.
CPUT
STUDENTS
BENEFIT
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MARKETPLACE
During this educational programme, some 80 landscape tech-
nology students, from foundation level through to second-
year, participate in specialised lectures, workshops and
demonstrations, ending with a hands-on landscaping project.
This worthwhile partnership developed in 2013 when Corobrik
assisted CPUT by delivering lectures for architecture students, after
which they were approached for the donation of building materials.
“After meeting with the university we agreed to, not only donate
building materials, but get involved in the training as well,” explained
Christie van Niekerk, Corobrik manager for the Western Cape. “We feel it
is vital for students to get some real-world experience and, through this
programme, they are afforded the opportunity to interact with manu-
facturers, industry members and professional bodies at the workshop,
after which they put this newfound knowledge to practical use.”
Construction Week was held at the CPUT nursery on the Bell-
ville Campus where students were treated to a series of lectures on
paving techniques, all facilitated by Corobrik representatives. Coro-
brik’s training co-ordinator, Ismail Rothman, compiled lectures while
Corobrik’s architectural representatives, Werner Oelofse and Siyanda
Mapekula, assisted with organising and lecturing.
Focus was placed on both hard and soft landscape construction
which included paving and hard landscape surface treatments such
as ornamental gravel, tree and groundcover planting and tree staking.
Students had the opportunity to learn about technical construction
which incorporated material and plant specifications, construction
detailing, drawings and documentation.
Corobrik donated 3 500 units of Meadow Paver PB as well as
3 600 units of 50 mm Constantia Paver PB for the paving practical. To
complete the project, students worked in groups to design the paving,
always in consultation with the lecturers.
“In addition to helping develop students through this hands-on
training experience, we want this project to also benefit the rest of the
CPUT students while enhancing the urban environment of the university
with our natural clay pavers,” explained Van Niekerk.
To this end, a very particular site was chosen for the paving
project. OLYMUA is a student non-profit organisation based at CPUT
which established a successful vegetable-growing pilot project in the
courtyard of the Matthew Goniwe 2 residence on the Bellville campus.
The aims of OLYMUA include promoting healthy eating habits while
alleviating students’ financial constraints by growing healthy, organic
vegetables for its students.
In an effort to contribute to this initiative, students participating in
the Corobrik-CPUT Construction Week were tasked with designing
and installing the hard landscaping framework, including paths and
raised planter beds, for the vegetable garden. Initially the students
worked a full week on site followed by a successive five Monday after-
noons until completion.
“Corobrik is so pleased to be a part of this fantastic initiative,”
continued Van Niekerk. “There is such a need for continued skills and
developmental training, even among professionals. Construction Week
allows for interaction with experts in the field as well as skills training
between students in different years.
“The end result really goes to show that a lot has been gained
during the week and students will be able to enjoy this space for
years to come.”
Commenting on the successful partnership, Gerhard Griesel,
lecturer from CPUT’s Landscape Technology Programme said: “It is a
privilege for CPUT to be in partnership with Corobrik. This interven-
tion has provided students with exciting and unique practical learning
opportunities. Without Corobrik’s generous contribution we would not
be able to expose students to hard landscaping construction at this
scale. Ultimately the Corobrik-CPUT Construction Week has far-reaching
effects as students are empowered in terms of skills for future work
environments as well as contributing to the community.”
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