KV Architecture Portfolio 2014 1/1 | Page 28

MCB St Jean CASE STUDY 22 The Mauritius Commercial Bank St Jean is the newly constructed office of the oldest and largest bank of the Island of Mauritius. The Mauritius Commercial bank was founded in 1983 and it comprises to date of 40 branches scattered over the country, with a continuing international expansion. August 2011 saw the completion of its latest office, the MCB St Jean branch located next to the St Jean Round about. Situated in the centre of the island, the building sits on six acres of landscaped gardens and right next to the information technology park, Ebene City. It can boast being the most high technology and avant-gardism building of the country. The building not only stands apart with a unique elliptical shape but also as the pioneer in the implementation of sustainable design in Mauritius. The building is designed for the accommodation of 750 members of MCB staff and has a maximal capacity of 1100 individuals. It features two auditoriums which seat 275 and 20 respectively and benefit from acoustics engineered for speech and audience interaction. The entire building is acoustically designed for the reduction of noise from the motorway and noise from power plants. The ground floor houses a kitchen which serves a canteen seating 250 whilst the fourth floor, dedicated to training purposes, seats 100 trainees and staff. 265 parking bays and additional parking space for coaches and bicycles are found on the site. The building power plants are found on lower levels in order to liberate the roof. Without the heavy machinery, the roof is light, allowing large spans of 15 to 18m. Column free spaces hence created allow for improved flexibility and for natural light to enter through the roof via five glass rings. THE PROJECT TEAM Client: Architect: Structural Engineer: Facade Engineer: MEP Engineer: Quantity Surveyor: Project Manager: Main Contractor: Steelwork Contractor: Facade Contractor: Detailers/Detailing Company: The Mauritius Commercial Bank Francois Koenig Architects Arup (Pty) Ltd (Johannesburg) and ArupSIGMA Ltd Arup (Pty) Ltd (Johannesburg) Arup Group Ltd and Proburo Ltd Hooloomann and Associates Ltd ArupSIGMA Ltd General Construction Company Ltd Cadcon (Pty) Ltd Geustyn & Horak (Pty) Ltd Mondo Cane Detailing and Design Services Kurvin Virahsawmy Mondo Cane, Somerset West 2012 Precast Concrete Slab Mondo Cane, Somerset West 2012 Column spacing and transfer beam Steel Structure Architecture Portfolio 2014