Architect and Builder Magazine South Africa September/October 2014 | Page 30

Ernst and Young building part of
Franki Africa’s Sandton Magic

F

ranki Africa, part of the Keller
group, has received widespread
acclaim for its foundation and
general geotechnical work on a host of
different basements in the Sandton area
in Gauteng, South Africa. Three of the
most important contracts include the
buildings of: Ernst and Young, Sasol and
Webber Wentzel.
Ernst and Young
Franki’s scope of works included
130,000m³ of excavation - 15,000m³ in
rock; 5,600m² of lateral support consisting
of 150 No. soldier piles, 150mm thick
gunite arches, strand anchors and rock
bolts; 30 No. structural piles ranging
between 900mm and 1 350mm Ø to an
average depth of 8,0 meters.
One of the challenges on this project
was the discovery of a Diabase dyke
on Rivonia Road which necessitated a
re-design with 3 additional rows of strand
anchors. Another w