46
CONSTRUCTION WORLD
JUNE
2014
PROJECT PROFILE
A complete overhaul includes widening of the
walkways, raising of the shop front heights
to enhance the visual connection into the
stores; raising of the ceilings and the intro-
duction of feature bulkheads.
Improved lighting levels using energy
efficient fittings were implemented to make
the mall experience brighter and more airy.
In some cases, openings were cut into the
floor of the upper level mall to create better
visual connections between the two levels.
“Of technical interest is that multi-
directional carbon fibre structural rein-
forcing strips were used in strengthening the
existing concrete slabs where it was cut
away to create space for the new escalators.
This product was glued to the bottom of
the concrete slabs with Prostruct 617 NS
Structural Epoxy adhesive and bolted at the
ends, to replace the steel that was cut out,”
says Nel.
“In addition, some 14 000 m
2
was spec-
ified for the replacement of existing water-
proofing membranes on the top roof slab,
with Woolworths below this area. The finish
on top of this is a protection layer of a thick
geotextile, with sand and pavers as the traffi-
cable surface,” he says.
The project management team took extra
protection and care to limit the impact of the
construction work on the tenants’ trading
activities and to minimise inconvenience to
shoppers during this period. Hoarding was
designed and it was branded by the centre
management to keep customers informed
and safe.
The mall has a large sphere of influ-
ence due to the taxi rank close to the centre
that mainly services Diepsloot, Randburg,
Soweto, Cosmo City, Kya Sands, Alexandra,
and Kagiso. There are also households within
a two kilometre radius of the centre, in areas
such as Blairgowrie, President Ridge, Fern-
ridge, Kensington, Bordeaux and Hurlingham
Manor. With an average foot count of over
800 000 customers per month, the mall plays
host to commuters, professionals, families
and friends.
The local authority, together with prop-
erty owners, has in recent years upgraded the
public facilities in the surrounding area and
made improvements to the traffic flow.
The new Gautrain bus route and the
incorporation of the Randburg CBD into the
Bus Rapid Transport system have further
improved access to the area.
Professional team
• Client: Vukile Property Fund
• Main contractors:Legocon
Projects (Phase II, Level 5
and phase II )
Boogertman Smit Building
(Phase I and Phase II level 3)
• Project managers: JHI
Project Management, a
member of Excellerate
Property Services
• Quantity surveyor: AfriQS
• Architects: DBM Architects
• Consulting electrical
engineers: Quad Africa
Consulting
• Consulting structural and
civil engineering: L&S
Consulting
• Consulting fire engineer:
Building Code Consultants
• Consulting mechanical
engineer: Plantech
Consulting Engineers
• Consulting wet services: Wat-
Sol Design Technology
• Consulting vertical transport:
Solutions for Elevating
• Safety consultant:Comprac
