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CONSTRUCTION WORLD
DECEMBER
2015
2 15
BEST
PR
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JECTS
Project information
• Company entering: Aurecon
• Project start date: October 2012
• Project end date: September 2014
• Client: Atterbury Property Holdings
• Main contractor: WBHO Construction
• Architect (heritage): MRA Architects
• Architect (retail): LPA Architects
• Architect (principal): dhk Architects
• Principal agent: Metrum Project Management
• Project manager: Metrum Project Management
• Quantity surveyor: Norval Wentzel Steinberg
• Structural steel detailer: BSM Baker
• Structural engineer: Aurecon
Newtown Junction is situated in the cultural district of the
suburb Newtown, in the heart of Johannesburg, next to the
Museum of Africa and the striking 1913 Edwardian building
that was redeveloped into the popular Market Theatre. This
multilevel development offers a vibrant 36 000 m² shopping centre,
30 000 m² of office space, gymnasium and four basement levels
providing a total of 2 400 parking bays.Developed by Atterbury Prop-
erty Holdings, Newtown Junction signals both the growth of Johan-
nesburg’s city centre, as well as the renewal and revival of the city in a
way that preserves its heritage and history.
Three major challenges were encountered during the refur-
bishment: maintaining the integrity of the ‘potato sheds’ structure;
Newtown Junction
careful consideration of heritage structures and the
inputs of multiple stakeholders; and accommodating
existing steel structures. The design team adopted a
hybrid approach consisting of partial restoration, partial
replacement and partial additional strengthening.
The R1,3-billion development is backed by the
Johannesburg Property Company (JPC) and has seen the
SAHRA inputs carefully considered, due to the historic
nature of the site.
The building is partly situated under the elevated
M1 highway, which required a very unique geometry in
order to accommodate the existing highway piers. Some
sections of the structure’s roof are only 3-4 m below the
structure of the M1 highway. Furthermore, the floor level
of the lower retail level is up to 3 m below the founding
levels of the highway piers and columns. This meant the
project team had to isolate construction while building
around existing highway piers and columns.
Also, the project team had to design lateral support systems to protect
the bridge piers, ensure that the safety of motorists was not jeopard-
ised, as well as design a roofing system that caters for stormwater
flooding from the highway in these areas.
Construction on the project commenced in October 2012 and was
successfully completed at the end of September 2014, with the devel-
opment’s office component being awarded a 4-Star Green Star Office
Design V1 rating from the Green Building Council of South Africa.
Newtown Junction is now a unique and bustling hub that is
bringing new life to the surrounding precinct. Coupled to this, the
heritage-inspired design will make it a go-to destination for the
people of Johannesburg as well as tourists.
The new Newtown Junction mixed-use development successfully
retains the magic of the past, blending it with the excitement of the
future and breathing new life to the surrounding precinct.