35 / 64
33
CONSTRUCTION WORLD
SEPTEMBER
2016
operations and traffic management were
carried out in strict accordance with the
Tsogo approved hoarding permit and traffic
management plan, thereby enhancing a
healthy relationship with the city.
With space being at such a premium,
it was imperative that the two tower cranes
were carefully positioned and ready to
operate immediately. The first crane is
supported by a base that is cast inside the
structure and the second by ballasts outside
of the building.
Meanwhile, the laydown area in the base-
ment provides very limited space for storing
essential building materials. The bulk of the
building requirements need to be stored off
site and their timeous delivery to the site
is planned on a just-in-time basis to avoid
disrupting the construction programme.
“Logistics of supply is critical on this
project. We have to plan very carefully and,
often, deliveries to site have to be done
in the evening when traffic in the city has
started to subside. This has allowed for an
uninterrupted start by the various teams the
following morning,” he says.
A congested site
Adding to these complexities is the number
of subcontractors interacting with the
main contractor on this congested site.
In June, Murray & Roberts Western Cape
was interacting with just under 40 sub-con-
tractors as work continued apace on the
specialised trades.
By the time the project peaks early next
year, the site is expected to host about 500
workers, adding a new level of complexity to
the project.
However, the biggest challenge on this
project was the large transfer slab at the fifth
level of the structure that marks the end of
the podium work and the start of the main
tower that houses the hotel.
Cement pours
Pouring this 1,1 metre thick slab above
the five podium levels required extensive
HOTSPOT
The old heritage building will be integrated into the hall of the new structure.
Once the transfer slab was successfully completed, the tower section started climbed quickly, with work
“Logistics of supply is critical
on this project. We have to
plan very carefully and, often,
deliveries to site have to be
done in the evening when
traffic in the city has started
to subside. This has allowed
for an uninterrupted start
by the various teams the
following morning.”
Subcontractors start with the installation of the services components of the structure and then install
the dry-walling, ceilings, doors, tiling and skirting.