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DECEMBER • 2016
Construction
WORLD
26
Building Contractors
A
2
Project information
• Company entering: GVK-Siya Zama Construction
• Client: Port Elizabth Opera House
• Start date: 24 March 2014
• End date: 20 November 2015
• Main contractor: GVK-Siya Zama Construction
• Architect: The Matrix
• Principal agent: The Matrix
• Quantity surveyor: Markus Burri QS
• Consulting engineer: AfriCoast
Consulting Engineers
• Project value: R24 113 559
As the only surviving example of a Victorian Theatre in Africa,
leading specialists in the construction, renovation and recycling of
buildings, GVK-Siya Zama was enlisted to ensure that it would be
preserved for future generations to enjoy.
The topography presented the contactor with tight spaces and
tricky heights: approximately 10 m x 10 m, on a 12 m slope of more
than 45 degrees. Getting big machines into that space for the
excavations was a challenge and the stability of the embankment
was always a concern. The contractor excavated from the top
down first and continuously made sure that the embankment’s
angle of repose was within reliable limits to ensure that there
was no slope failure.
Options were explored to deal with these challenges. External
consultants were called in to conduct thorough geotechnical
explorations. Borehole extractions measured not only the water
table levels but also the condition of the rock.
The contractor decided to dig an additional 1,75 m – more
than double foundation depth – and to then build back up again
with imported layer works, using soil raft foundation, so that
the floor levels of the new and existing building could meet. The
foundations were also reinforced to allow for any possible further
settlement. Once construction of the new, extended facilities were
finished, the project moved inside.
• New staircases and lifts were constructed within the shell of the
existing building
• The original staircases had to be cut out and the existing roofs
supported while that support structure was gone
As the Opera House is a heritage site, strict regulations were
applied to the design and construction work, and the architect
received official sign-off before work began.
That said, especially on such an old building, once the contractor
starts opening up, there are all kinds of surprises and the team
discovered that the drawings simply did not match what they
found inside. Despite having designs to start with, many aspects
had to be redesigned based on site conditions – and as everyone
was working in a tight time frame, there were times when pressure
started running high.
As there was insufficient leg-room for theatregoers in the
suspended Gallery, it was decided to increase the size of each step
but reduce the number of rows. There were no existing plans of the
structure, so new plans had to be drawn up.
The size of this upstairs theatre area needed to be increased
– however, the rock face is so close to the building that there
was simply no room for traditional extension supports. Instead,
innovative and modern-looking suspended clip-on boxes were
designed to provide additional room. The heavy steel support
columns, though, were found to be in the way of the new fire
escape, so they had to be shifted around until they were no longer
an obstruction. Now in place, they offer a chunky, industrial
aesthetic appeal that is in pleasing contrast to the ornate Victorian
character of the original building.
It is difficult to get a heritage building to within the Green Star
rating requirements, because the origin of material and methods
of construction are not clear. However, we are always cognisant of
environmental best practice and strived to incorporate the Green
Star guidelines in terms of our applications. On the Opera House,
the contractor used material such a concrete cement containing
extenders like fly ash, to reduce the carbon footprint.
Approximately 30% of the work was allocated to local emerging
contractors, particularly start-up construction labour contractors.
PORT ELIZABETH
OPERA HOUSE
The oldest theatre on the African continent and
in the southern hemisphere, the PE Opera House,
has recently undergone intricate renovations and
expansions. The building was transformed from a
heritage site into a first class facility.