Construction World April 2016

PROJECTS AND CONTRACTS

R200-MILLION CENTURY CITY HOTEL OPEN

The 125 room Century City Hotel, the sixth hotel at Century City, opened in the burgeoning precinct last week.

City which is now home to more than 4 000 residential front doors and 500 businesses. The office component at Century City alone exceeds 300 000 square metres making it the third largest commercial precinct in Cape Town. General manager of the new hotel, Walda Meyer, says it has been designed to be out of the ordinary with a great emphasis having been placed on room efficiencies for both business and leisure travellers. “The only thing traditional about it is the laundry shoot.”Among its iconic features is a GreenWall comprising more than 3 500 living plants that forms a backdrop to the reception area. Paolo Viotti of Vivid Architects, says every city should have at least one public square that offers a dynamic, vibrant and safe environment for the public to enjoy. “Century City Hotel is one of three buildings that now form the new Century City Square, a beautifully proportioned space that will offer users the opportunity to socialise, relax, dine and be entertained. The hotel expe- rience within this environment is further enhanced by the introduction of the extended canal systemof Century City and the bold landscaping themes that frame this development.” He says the urban design and planning of the this precinct has ensured and encouraged pedestrian connectivity and hierarchy of that over the motor vehicle, a comfortable and safe human environment and a seamless interface between building and square. “The hotel architecture has employed the maximum use of glass at the ground floor plane to ensure transparency between inside and out while the developer’s brief has ensured that restaurants, coffee shops and hotel public areas spill out onto the square to ensure there is a constant buzz of activity, life and energy.” Meyer says the multi-purpose Square Café and Wine Bar on the ground floor of the hotel have been designed to be part of the public square on to which they flow and to welcome not only hotel residents but also non-residents. The square, which will host community and cultural events, is also fronted by the neighbouring Century City Conference Centre, offices, restaurants and apartments with this entire development representing a private equity investment of more than R1-billion. The other hotels at Century City, which will also benefit from the new Century City Conference Centre, are the 180 room African Pride Crystal Towers Hotel & Spa, the 165 room Stay Easy, the 68 roomColosseum Luxury Hotel and two boutique hotels Manhattan Suites and Island Club which have 28 suites and 23 rooms respectively.

Built at a cost of R200-million and located adjacent to the new Century City Conference Centre, the Century City Hotel will cater for both business and leisure markets and brings to 600 the number of rooms now available in Century City. Greg Deans, a director of Rabie Property Group, says the development was a response to the growing demand for hotel accommodation at Century On hand to greet staff in front of the reception area with the backdrop of a living wall comprising more than 3 500 plants were, from left, Winson Nyoni (restaurant manager), Walda Meyer (hotel general man- ager), Michelle Presting (executive housekeeper) and Michael Rentzke (front office manager). >

30

Lategan explained, adding that a tower crane and a mobile crane will be accommodated on site so as to position the materials and equipment that is needed. The contractors are also making use of temporary lateral support gunite walls to retain the sides of the basement excavation whilst the concrete retaining walls are being cast.

also have its own security fingerprint access lock. Other facilities will include gymnasiums, entertainment areas, laundry facilities, bicycle sheds and ample parking comprising 258 parking bays spread over three levels. The almost 16 000 m 2 building situated on 4 404 m 2 property has posed its own chal- lenges. “The site is very restricted and there is very little working space around the building,”

Each unit features a kitchen, Wi-Fi, fully furnished bedroom units and security systems with 24 hour monitoring. The security provi- sion is paramount. “Parents and students want to be sure they are safe and do not need to worry about safety while concentrating on their studies,” said Lategan. In addition to fencing and monitoring of the building, each room will

CONSTRUCTION WORLD APRIL 2016