33
December 2013
CONSTRUCTION WORLD
Building Contractors
A
2
SPECIAL MENTION
Telesure headquarters project
(recently named Auto & General Park)
T
he new Telesure Headquarters, now named Auto & Gen-
eral Park is based at the eastern entrance of the Steyn City
development in River Glen, Fourways, northern Johannesburg.
The scope of work includes the building of:
• Four storey building comprising of 32 000 m
2
of office space;
• 25 000 m
2
of basement;
• 6 500 m
2
of open deck parking space; and
• Amphitheatre, indoor sports field, attenuation dam and
associated site works.
The Telesure HQ is an office park comprising of four separate double
storey office blocks, all connected to a central public core, or eye
shaped, quadruple volume atriumwhich houses the functions com-
mon to all. The three basement parking levels which are staggered
below the double story offices also connect to the main core and
thus allow easy flow between all levels.
The central eye or core, which is the focal point of the building,
required the construction of two radii concrete walls adjacent to one
another, each spanning 75 m long and over 20 m high. These walls
formthemain entrance feature andwere cast to degree accuracy one,
off shutter concrete.Thewallswere also cast with long andwide open-
ings for glazed windows, doors and recessed architectural features.
The new building is the first commercial development on the
Steyn City property and will be an icon and main attraction point for
the entire development.
The project was tendered on a 16 month duration, to start mid
April 2011 and be complete by mid August 2012. The initial reason-
ing of such a tight programme was to focus on achieving a practical
completion by the end of August and allow the remaining months
of the year to target uninterrupted works completion and final
completion status.
The platforms were handed over to Aveng Grinaker-LTA mid May
2011, which allowed works to commence. The project went through
some scope changes, increasing the value of the works by almost
30% from tender stage.
Practical Completion as awholewas grantedon 7December 2012,
allowing the tenant full access to the premises as per tenant/landlord
contractual handover agreements.
The development sets itself apart from other developments on
twomain levels; it is aworld-class development in terms of infrastruc-
ture, technology, aesthetic and spatial treatment. It redefines the
previous office block stereotype that was effectively cold and sterile
environments for working, and transformed them intomore humane
environments filled with natural light and air. Comfort, convenience
and delight has been reintroduced to this call centre scenariowithout
compromise to efficiency or cost effectiveness.
Project information
• Name of project: Telesure headquarters project (recently
named Auto & General Park)
• Company entering: Aveng Grinaker-LTA
• Project start date: 12 May 2011
• Project end date: 7 December 2012
• Client: Steyn City Properties
• Principal/main contractor: Aveng Grinaker-LTA
• Project manager: Metrum Project Management
• Principal agent: Metrum Project Management
• Architects: DBM Architects
• Consulting engineer: Bigen Africa
• Quantity surveyor: QS Bureau
• Subcontractors: Edison Power – electrical, Luft Technik –
mechanical, Aveng Grinaker-LTA Façades – external façades
and glazing, RVV – exterior and interior tiling
• Contract value: R389-million
Also entered category A1 and B
