Architect and Builder Dec 2017 / Jan 2018 | Page 101

FACTORY AND WAREHOUSE CATEGORY
265 Sydney Road
This project entailed the redevelopment of the old
Dunlop Factory at 265 Sydney Road in Congella, Durban.
Perfectly positioned close to port operations, the aim was
to provide large warehouses with suitable yard space on
the historic site.
The emphasis was on redeveloping an old and
antiquated site into a modern, user-friendly facility with
ideal yard spaces lending themselves to high, large span
warehouses suitable for a wide range of tenants. Some
of the challenges included tying into old structures.
Trying to get the roof sheets rolled onsite and then lifting
and installing them 160m across the roof presented a
challenge, especially in the wind.
Structural framing for the large span (120m) warehouses
includes lattice trusses with spine girders and internal
columns to optimise clear areas and spans for tenant
usage. Special considerations included erection of the
frames, and consideration of truss behaviour in sections
during the rigging process.
Steel Awards
The original design had over 70 columns and an eaves
height of 4.5m. Cousins Steel provided an elegant solution
transforming the facility in a way that maximised space
for its tenants, using 18 columns and achieving a clear 12
meter eaves height. The result is a modern facility for very
little extra in terms of cost. Finishing the project well, and
overcoming steel supply challenges to do so, provided a
tremendous sense of satisfaction to the project team.
Client: JT Ross
Architect: Peter Ries Architects
Structural Engineer: Cousins Steel International
Quantity Surveyor: MLC Quantity Surveyors
Project Manager: JT Ross
Main Contractor: Rubro Building
Cladding Manufacturer: Safal Steel
Cladding Supplier: Global Roofing Solutions
Corrosion Protection: Voight & Willecke
Corrosion Protection/Paintwork: Insimbi Coatings
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