Bakers Transport Cato Ridge
SAFINTRA METAL CLADDING CATEGORY WINNER , FACTORY & WAREHOUSE CATEGORY WINNER
The architects were commissioned to provide a distribution warehouse of 25,000m 2 and an office building of 3,000m 2 on a sloping site alongside the N3 Freeway .
Warehouse Steel cladding is the main aesthetic of the large , steel sheeted warehouse . The site is relatively remote , so the use of lightweight elements of great strength was the obvious choice . Carefully edged and defined office and ablution elements are strategically cut into the large steel box to contrast and enhance it while defining clarity of purpose . White edging contrasts with the dark colour of the sheeted box which is further enhanced with lighting .
The main warehouse structural frame comprises interconnected trusses and lattice girders supported on a column grid of 24m by 24m . For economic and practical reasons the lattice girder trusses comprise I sections and angle sections and the trusses comprise angle sections . The canopies comprise triangular tubular trusses for aesthetics where required and I sections and angles sections elsewhere for economical and practical reasons .
The use of steel structure allows for wide spans to achieve the required uncluttered interiors essential for large scale economical storage . The steel structure is split along the center with a sloped polycarbonate ridge line step to allow light to enter . The structural engineers were able to maintain continuity of the main perpendicular trusses through the ridge step in order to allow for improved design efficiency of the structural steel . Dark grey coloured steel compliments the red fire water supply pipes and the white underside of the insulation blanket , so the structure is celebrated as the main event .
The warehouse structure is clad with dark grey concealed fix steel sheeting and opaque white translucent sheeting . The translucent white sheets were positioned to coincide the sloped apex ridge step and sloped gable step with a horizontal eaves strip thereby forming a narrow starkly contrasting white frame against the dark grey background .
Office The simple trio of concrete boxes in the office block contain large vertical steel louvres that dominate the aesthetic of the freeway elevation . These over-scaled steel elements are framed in coloured steel and filled with punched aluminium panels . They perform their sun control function and consciously celebrate the steel material connection with the warehouse . Steel allows for the subtle connection to the concrete frames being only at the top and bottom .
Client / Developer : Growthpoint Properties Architect : Ries Shaw Architects Civil & Structural Engineer : Kantey & Templer Electrical Engineer : EG Africa Mechanical Engineer : I-Mep Fire Engineer : National Fire & Safety Quantity Surveyor : Kantey & Templer Project Manager : Growthpoint Properties Main Contractor : WBHO Construction Steelwork Contractor / Erector : Paragon Steel Structures Cladding Manufacturer / Supplier : Safintra South Africa Cladding Contractor : MJC Industrial Roofing Corrosion Protection : Sigma Coatings Paintwork Contractor : Insimbi Coatings
58 Steel Awards