Construction World October 2016

PROJECTS AND CONTRACTS

CONSTRUCTION WORLD

SEPTEMBER

2016

Within walking distance of the University of Pretoria’s main

campus, the new development will welcome students stud-

ying at any tertiary institution in the city.

“The redevelopment of Hatfield Square is focused on

meeting the needs of students, while providing a rejuvenated space for

the public. It’s with this in mind that we briefed Paragon Architects to

design a safe, accessible environment where students can live, study

and play,” says Craig McMurray, CEO of Respublica, the developers

driving the new development, along with Redefine Properties through

their joint venture, Respublica Student Living.

This approach means that each of the four buildings in the develop-

ment is designed to create smaller neighbourhoods within the precinct,

with common areas in and around each building to encourage inter-

action and movement. Intimate courtyards offer more private, smaller

spaces, while an abundance of breakaway rooms and study areas offer

the peace and quiet that is necessary for serious study times.

With accommodation for 2 200 students, Hatfield Square offers five

accommodation formats to suit the needs and budget of every student.

However, regardless of their individual space, every student will have

access to all of Hatfield Square’s premium facilities, which include a

gym, recreation rooms, laundry facilities, computer and study rooms,

swimming pool, and unlimited WiFi broadband.

The four main buildings in the residence complex are built using

Hebel Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (AAC), a revolutionary material

offering a unique combination of strength, light-weight, thermal insu-

lation, sound absorption, unsurpassed fire resistance and an unprec-

edented ease of construction. Cut and shaped like wood with simple

hand tools, AAC block’s naturally smooth surface only requires a skim

coat thus eliminating the need to plaster conventionally.

This system has contributed to the clockwork-timing of Hatfield

Square, as a two-man team working with AAC blocks can build up to

25 m

per day – allowing for the speed of construction that is 2-10x

faster than that of conventional building.

The entire Hatfield Square precinct will feature a complete intel-

ligent wireless network that will allow each user to connect multiple

devices, offering easy access to online courses, distance learning, social

media and video streaming. The building also features an IP networked

biometric access control system to ensure students’ security, comple-

mented with a CCTV system that will monitor entrances, exits and the

precinct’s perimeter.

As a ground-breaking project that sets new standards in student

accommodation, Hatfield Square will feature energy efficient lighting

and control systems fitted with LED lighting. All common areas are

fitted with occupancy sensors to switch lighting on when movement is

detected. Installed generators will provide lighting and run all essential

systems throughout the buildings in the event of a power outage.

Students will have easy access to the variety of retail outlets in

approximately 2 700 m

of purpose-designed space for sit-down and

quick service restaurants, fashion outlets and technology stores in the

Square, that have been carefully chosen to ensure that students will

not have to travel far to meet their basic needs.

The redevelopment of the 11 740 m² site, which pays homage to

Hatfield Square’s heritage of being at the heart of Pretoria’s student

culture, will cover more than 90 000 m

of gross building area on

completion of phase two. The first phase of the development, which

includes the retail component, will be ready for occupation for the

2017 academic year, with the remaining phase expected to be ready for

occupation for the 2018 academic year.

Respublica’s portfolio of residences includes Saratoga Village and

The Fields in Doornfontein, which provide accommodation for Univer-

sity of Johannesburg, Central Johannesburg College and University

of the Witwatersrand students. Yale Village, Respublica’s newest 1 330

bed development in Empire Road across from WITS is set to open in

early 2017. In Midrand, Pearson Village services students from Pearson

International (formerly MGI). In Pretoria, West City, Urban Nest and

Eastwood Village accommodate students from Tshwane University of

Technology and University of Pretoria.

STUDENT ACCOMMODATION

in Pretoria on track

The Hatfield Square redevelopment is on

track to open its doors in January 2017,

offering Pretoria’s student community a

mixed-use precinct that will include state-

of-the-art student residences, retail and

leisure facilities.

Architecture

The redevelopment of Hatfield Square has been designed around

the concept of a village, promoting a strong sense of community.

The design acknowledges the multiplicity of being a student – the

need to socialise and interact with other students, and the need to

study. Each room has maximum access to air and light, following

various sun studies.

The precinct includes four buildings, separated by courtyards.

Each building is defined by a colour theme. The four buildings

offer five modular units for a variety of rental options.

“However, regulatory requirements are being addressed, with

Mozambique, for example, being close to ready for development. Unfor-

tunately, the low oil price is stalling many developments at the moment.

It will also be interesting to see how international oil companies will

decide to develop new reserves in Africa, and how the cost of creating

enabling infrastructure here compares with other parts of the world,”

Du Rand elaborates.

South Africa currently has little proven oil-and-gas reserves, and there-

fore remains a net importer of these resources. There is great interest in

shale gas in the Karoo, as well as other potential oil-and-gas reserves on

and offshore of South Africa.

“The current regulatory environment is not friendly to investment

in exploration, while there are a lot of environmental challenges to

overcome. Significant development of the industry in the short term is

probably unlikely. Programmes such as the gas-to-power initiative by

the Department of Energy may stimulate development going forward,”

Du Rand predicts.