Architect and Builder March/April 2016 | Page 34

PROJECT FEATURE RIVERSIDE SHOPPING CENTRE RIVERSIDE SHOPPING CENTRE Bryanston CLIENT Moolman Group ARCHITECTS MDS Architecture LEASING/TENANT COORDINATOR Moolman Group Orion Project Managers (Woolworths) QUANTITY SURVEYORS AECOM STRUCTURAL/CIVIL ENGINEERS Knutton Consulting Engineers ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS Quad Africa MECHANICAL ENGINEERS Ingplan Consulting Engineers SAFETY CONSULTANTS Cairnmead Industrial Consultants MAIN CONTRACTOR Mont Blanc Construction TEXT AND PHOTOGRAPHY Courtesy of MDS Architecture R iverside Shopping Centre, a distinctive landmark in Bryanston’s suburban landscape, has undergone a refurbishment and extension and now offers 5,400m2 of GLA. The centre has been revitalised with a contemporary design which has managed to retain the village feel of the centre while attracting new shoppers and a fresh new tenant mix. MDS Architecture designed the refurbishment and extension for clients, Moolman Group, which was completed in two phases. Sean Pearce, the partner at MDS Architecture heading the project, says he is pleased with the way in which the shopping centre retained its appeal while gaining a more contemporary aesthetic. “Moolman Group wanted to preserve the charm of Riverside Shopping Centre while addressing accessibility issues and improving convenience and parking capacity,” says Pearce. Tenants needed to trade during the refurbishment and the commercial considerations associated with an existing property were weighed up in determining the best solution for Riverside. Ultimately, taking into account the yield on land value as well as a myriad of other considerations, a design began to take shape. Meeting the Brief The existing building was well placed on the site but there was insufficient parking. For this reason, MDS Architecture retained the current structure and created new parking, almost doubling the parking capacity to 225 bays. Below: Photo of Building before the refurbishment 32 Riverside