PROJECT 37
Representing one of the most significant industrial investments in South Africa in recent times , the project included office , laboratory , warehousing , and production spaces , with a total gross area of 6 435m2 .
Situated on a highly visible Greenfield site along the busy Longmeadow Boulevard , the facility also overlooks the picturesque Modderfontein reserve .
PASA Architect Benjamin Chihota points out that industrial buildings tend to be large monolithic structures , and that the intention on this project was to humanise the scale of the facility while maintaining a simple and coherent architectural language .
The best means to achieve this was by using dynamic forms to reduce the overall scale . For example , breaking up large masses into smaller forms resulting in fragmented roof and façade forms and heights . This de-emphasises the scale of the facility within a largely under-developed landscape , while making use of high-quality and robust materials that are easy to maintain .
“ The brief for an integrated pharmaceutical plant made for a complex typology because there are so many layers before you even get to the architectural design itself ,” comments Chihota . Instead of a typical industrial facility , PASA was determined that the result be a signature project that not only complements the surrounding business park aesthetic , but which also expresses the corporate identity of B . Braun itself .
“ As a multinational , there is obviously an existing brand image that we needed to maintain . This meant developing a specific design language for the exterior , interior and the landscaping , but obviously keeping within a South African context . Being one of the few new projects of this type and size built in South Africa to-date , it really gave us an opportunity to showcase what we are capable of in the industrial sector ,” elaborates Chihota .
The design process began in 2018 , based on extensive consultation with the client and tenant . Construction commenced on-site in January 2019 , with practical completion achieved in April and works completion in November 2020 . Despite a delay due to the restrictions imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic , PASA saw the project through to its successful conclusion .
Planning and coordinating the functionality of the facility was perhaps the biggest challenge . Apart from the office and laboratory component , there is also warehousing space for incoming raw materials and outgoing products . Changerooms for workers to change in was also critical , in addition to the production component itself , which is the heart of the facility .
“ In terms of the actual architecture , firstly we had to keep the client in mind and the highly specialised nature of this facility and its specific requirements . We also had to adhere to the development guidelines of the business park itself , while at the same time staying true to the design ethos of PASA and what makes us unique as a practice ,” highlights Chihota .
The design process involved fragmenting the vertical and horizontal extents of the facility to reduce its scale . To give depth to the building mass , elements of the roof and façade were pulled out . To give the building envelope a rhythmic pattern , the roof sheeting and façade cladding ’ s contrasting colours stepped-in sections allowed for fluid connectivity that merged with the walls and wrapped around the windows . “ That comes across in different ways in both the office and the warehouse . With most projects , you start out with an initial idea that invariably goes through different iterations , but ultimately it is a concept you stay true to right up to the final design ,” stresses Chihota .
The major engineering challenge was coordinating the different services . Most projects require standard wet , electrical , fire and HVAC services .
November 2021 Volume 27 I Number 9 www . plumbingafrica . co . za