Architect and Builder November/December 2015

WINNER FACTORY AND WAREHOUSE CATEGORY: Value Logistics Distribution Centre The judges said of Value Logistics’ new Distribution Centre, in Kraaifontein, Western Cape that “this is one of those projects in which one can see that the structure was well-designed, that the team worked closely to make the programme work and that the architects could fulfil their vision of an aesthetically pleasing facility.” The installation consists of two warehouses, one for Value Logistics (about 13,000m²) and one for Freightpak (about 7,000m²), as well as support facilities. As one would expect, these warehouses are massive, with columns spaced far apart with the double pitched roof (the Kliplok roof sheeting was, of course, rolled in long lengths on site) supported on light transverse roof trusses which, in turn, are carried by long span longitudinal lattice girders between the columns. In this instance, the lower sections of the columns are made using tilt up concrete columns. “The substantial clear height inside the buildings takes you by surprise, until you notice the very high racking storage areas. Of course, such buildings, by their very nature, need height for storage and for handling operational vehicles,” the judges said. “And then there is a little architectural gem tucked away on this otherwise very functional and industrial site,” the judges said. “We have come to expect a two-storey rectangular box that houses the offices for such a project. Not so in this case! This beautifully detailed structure, with exposed steel extending to the glass-fronted reception area, transforms this good industrial project into a truly deserving winner of B & T Steel’s Factory and Warehouse Category for excellence in the use of steel,” they concluded. Client: Loudon Property Investments Architect: Loudon Perry Anderson Architects Structural Engineer: Sutherland Structural Engineers Quantity Surveyor: JMHT Quantity Surveyors Main Contractor: Group Five Coastal Steelwork Contractor, Detailers: Union Structural Engineering Works Cladding Contractor: Scheltema Roofing Painter: Nu Nation Protective Coatings WINNER MINING AND INDUSTRIAL CATEGORY: Medupi Power Station-Air Cooled Condenser In 2007, GEA approached A. Leita and Kentz to submit a bid for the Medupi air cooling structures. A. Leita teamed up with Cadcon and Boksan Projects and formed the ABC Joint Venture. When one visits the site, because of the enormous boiler houses which stand close to the air cooling units, one is surprised to learn that each unit has over 4,000 tons of steelwork. “To grasp just how big a project the air cooling actually is, it was necessary for us to drill down into what makes these units tick,” they said. There is an air cooling unit for each of the six boilers; the radiators sit on a structural steel support structure; floor beams are covered with 4mm floor plates; an A-frame structure is fabricated ou وX]

Architect and Builder November/December 2015 | Page 68