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CONSTRUCTION WORLD
MARCH
2014
Just one of the many attributes
contributing to this prestigious
rating is the approach taken to
the design of the parking facilities.
“The parking design for Portside has been
developed to promote the use of Fuel Efficient
Transport, using the Green Building Council of
South Africa’s technical manual credit criteria
as a guideline”, says David Talbot, associate at
dhk architects.
Motor vehicles in general – and private
cars in particular – are responsible for a large
percentage of carbon emissions, through fuel
consumption and oil production required to
produce fuel.
The building design encourages alterna-
tive methods of transport by providing pref-
erential parking, ease of access and support
facilities for alternative methods of transport.
This is aimed at reducing the large amount of
energy and fuel used by vehicles which leads
to greenhouse gas emissions that are so detri-
mental to the environment.
Hybrid/alternative fuel vehicle
parking
“Approximately 70 parking bays within the
Portside are dedicated solely for the use of
hybrid or alternative fuel vehicles. Around
20% of these hybrid/alternative fuel vehicle
bays are fitted with electric car charger points,
with an additional 35% wired to facilitate the
future connection of chargers. These bays are
all located in preferential areas closest to the
lifts and lobby access” says Talbot.
Bicycle parking
In addition, Portside has secured bicycle
parking for approximately 220 bicycles for
staff located within the building. A cycle route
is clearly marked and signposted to facilitate
safe and easy access to the parking spaces.
An additional 30 community bicycle parking
bays are located outside on the Portside
entrance plaza. All of these bays are provided
with racks so that bicycles can be securely
locked. Shower and change facilities are also
provided for cyclists, with lockable lockers,
some of which are fitted with cycle battery
charge facilities.
According to Derick Henstra, head of
dhk architects, “The design innovations and
environmental considerations incorporated
into the design of the Portside project is one
of the first buildings in Cape Town to provide
such futuristic parking facilities. The design
was sensitive to both the environmental
and aesthetic requirements of the building.
We believe that we have successfully balanced
the two imperatives whilst laying down the
blue print for similar eco-sensitive designs in
the future bringing benefit to the City of Cape
Town and all its citizens.”
Liviero’s new undertakings are
for clients that include SANRAL,
Growthpoint Properties and
Mangosuthu University of Technology,
he adds. The contractor is building a new
multi-storey private hospital in Durban
that is scheduled for completion in the
latter part of 2015.
Also in KwaZulu-Natal, new student
accommodation is being built by Liviero
at the Mangosutho University of Tech-
nology in Umlazi, and alterations and
extensions are being undertaken at an
industrial park in Pinetown. In southern
Gauteng, the company is undertaking
a R300-million upgrade to a regional
shopping centre.
On the civils side, Cloete explains that
Liviero’s new contract for SANRAL in the
Free State entails the construction of a
new interchange at Botshabelo, on the
N8 motorway.
“These awards are a welcome boost
to our order book and provide a solid
platform from which we can continue
to expand operations in a focused and
controlled manner,” he concludes.
PROJECTS AND CONTRACTS
>
Liviero celebrated the start of 2014 with an R800-million
improvement to its order book. The group’s new contracts
are spread between the provinces of Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal
and the Free State, reports CEO Neil Cloete, and they include
building and civil engineering projects.
Liviero’s new contracts include extensions and alterations to Trafford Road Industrial
Park in Pinetown.
BIG BOOST
INNOVATIVE AND GREEN PARKING
In 2013 Portside office
building in Buitengracht
Street, designed by dhk
architects, was awarded
a five-star Design rating
under the Green Building
Council of South Africa’s
(GBCSA) Green Star rating
system for offices. This
acknowledgement makes
Portside the first five-star
Green Star SA certified high
rise office development in
South Africa and in Africa.
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