Freshmark Polokwane
BEST PROJECT LIMPOPO
Freshmark Polokwane is the latest facility in the network of distribution centres for tenant and operator Shoprite Checkers . Struggling to keep up with the evergrowing needs of the market over the last couple of years , it was time for Freshmark in Limpopo to be upgraded to the standard of its other facilities around the country .
The phase 1 build of the campus was centred around the 7,100m 2 refrigerated warehouse , serviced by 1,100m 2 of offices and 1,200m 2 of auxiliary buildings .
The architects set out to develop the next step in the evolution of industrial design . The team decided to move away from the increasingly popular curved roof design and opted for more striking straight lines , only utilising curves on key connections points and thus creating a sportier modern looking distribution centre . The project made use of particularly innovative cladding : atypical of a warehouse building , and technically challenging to achieve . The result was aesthetically pleasing , with a design element of curved bullnoses from roof to cladding .
The roof shape was adapted to the client ’ s functional requirements for racking heights , while providing a striking architectural motif that was drawn through the rest of the facility .
The gravity and lateral support structures comprised of pre-cast , reinforced concrete ( RC ) columns with a structural steel roof . The interplay between the RC and structural steel components ensured that the refrigerated warehouse was constructed to an exceptional standard of quality , while achieving the demanding programme milestones . From the jointless high performance warehouse floors , tailored for the material handling equipment , to the trafficable roof void with a support skeleton for the web of pipework and blower coils , the structure was designed to excel in providing a functional space that could be executed as required by the construction programme .
Architect : SLT Architects Structural Engineer : WSP in Africa Roofing & Cladding Provider : Safintra Steel Manufacturer : Safal Steel Steelwork Contractor : Ferro Eleganza Roofing & Cladding Contractor : Tate & Nicholson
Babanango Travellers Camp
TUBULAR STEEL | BEST PROJECT KWAZULU-NATAL
This innovative tourist accommodation is situated within the Babanango Game Reserve in northern KwaZulu-Natal . A number of interesting technical details included reconciling complex issues regarding the use of different materials of construction and geometrical factors , to achieve the project ’ s architectural objective : roofing reflecting shapes used in traditional African shields . The roofs of the main public areas consist of steelwork bridge shells made up of circular hollow sections . Each one is between 20 and 24m in height and between 14 to 18m in width . The team constructed these forms using a cementitious membrane fixed onto a timber cladded roof that was formed by the steel structure . All members of the roofs are rolled to a radius and the radius falls on the surface of a sphere . The engineers chose
steelwork and specifically circular hollow sections due to the ability to roll them to a tight radius with a fairly tight tolerance . Connections were achieved using the typical wagon wheel type connections . The entire roof structure had to be fabricated and assembled in the fabricator ’ s workshop for shipment to site . Due to the complex nature of the structure and its individual elements , there was no room for error and teamwork was essential .
Architect : Luxury Frontiers Structural Engineer : NJV Consulting Steelwork & Cladding Contractor : Rebcon Architectural Metalworkers Steel Detailer : 3Dcon Main Contractor : Town & Country
Steel Awards 95