Service Area Façades The service area façades were equally important because of future residential development to the north . The façade was designed with mezzanine office opportunity for the tenants in the rear of their stores with glazing out onto the future residential . The service area is seen as an active area where the business-end of the operations can be visible without being negative spaces . The structural steelwork design for the building is such that no concrete ring beams were required and the tonnage per square metre is very low .
Efficiency All materials were used very efficiently ; this does not only make for a building that came in under budget but lessens its impact on the environment . The walkway floors are polished surface beds and the materials used are all maintenancefriendly with a natural feel . The architects chose to use a dark coloured roof for its reduced visual impact on the predominantly denser residential developments proposed around it . Roof insulation was upgraded to achieve more than the required SANS specification . Water attenuation and polishing , including floating bio havens , are combined with a landscaped interface with the future residential area .
The face brick detailing and overall quality achieved by the contractor shows that there is still skill in the building trade in South Africa ! The level of flexibility and service offered by the brick supplier is commendable ; we had a choice of modules and special bricks at a very costeffective rate . This project was completed in less than eighteen months with a main construction period of only twelve months .
Although the average architectural website is not likely to feature strip centres daily , it is something to strive for in life to make the unremarkable worthwhile - quality design has no prejudice .
Mechanical and Fire Engineers Comment The mechanical services at Sandown Mall for the Checkers Hypermarket and lineshop components were designed by Bam & Associates . Services covered are air conditioning and ventilation , smoke ventilation , sprinklers , hydrants and fire hosereels as well as the fire detection installation .
Services have been designed to be invisible from the general public , with low profile roof fittings and minimal penetrations of the roof fabric . The air conditioning plant is hidden from view . Servicing has been centralised to plant areas as part of the design philosophy .
Sandown Crossing 373