African Design Magazine ADM #41 June 2018 | Page 33

PEPKOR DC WAREHOUSE
“
W
e achieved
very high
natural light
levels in the warehouse
through the use of
strategically placed
translucent sheeting
in the façade of the
warehouse. The form
of the warehouse and
the roof design optimise
the natural air flow
through the warehouse.
Both of these design features make the
warehouse very energy efficient as well
as a relatively comfortable workspace.
LED lighting was used throughout the
facility. Another sustainable initiative
included harvesting stormwater for use
in the toilets, urinals and landscaping,”
Thornhill pointed out. Specified 4mm
white Alububble® 2906 radiant barrier
achieved the necessary thermal insulation
performance criteria.
A total of 2500 tons of structural steel
was erected (Main warehouse 2180 tons
and canopies / offices 320 tons), with the
erection commencing on 14 November
2016, the project was recently completed.
Roofed and cladded with a high tech,
premium grade of coated steel that
provides not only long life in service but
also an attractive finish. The building
features the innovative usage of steel on
many levels.
According to GD Joubert of EDS
Engineering Services, “The warehouse
offers a mixed use area of 82 000m 2
consisting of covered warehouse space
– 440m x 180m – also providing office
spaces of 3 000m 2 and 1 800m 2 for
companies Ackermans and Speciality and
a total of a further four node offices each
of 500m 2 each”.
“The brief called for approximately
17.35m clear height to underside of
eaves. Materials consisting of reinforced
concrete and structural steel according
to structural engineer’s design with
appropriate corrosion protection where
necessary. It was envisaged from the
outset that the warehouse would be
constructed largely of structural steel. The
main support columns of the warehouse
are concrete up to 12.6m and 17m from
FFL. The remainder of the structure was
constructed from structural steel.
Structural steel was strengthened locally
to allow for the installation of solar
panels to a roof area of approximately
15,000m 2 ”.
Roof type
“The structural system used for the
building was based on a girder truss
system carrying lateral trusses that makes
up the main elements of the roof. Various
steel profiles were used for the building,
including the structural , roofing and
cladding elements”, says Joubert.
AFRICAN DESIGN MAGAZINE © | JUNE 2018
33