The Civil Engineering Contractor July 2019 | Page 10

CONTRACTORS ON SITE
An innovative design-and-build
solution for the USD220-million
Japoma Sports Complex in Douala,
Cameroon, has seen integrated
infrastructure delivery company
AECOM slash two years off the
traditional timeframe for such a
mammoth project.
The Japoma Sports Complex
consists of a 50 000-seat multi-sport
stadium, an aquatics centre with an
Olympic-sized pool, a 50 000-seat
multi-sport hall, outdoor training
facilities, and transport hubs and site
infrastructure. Ground was broken
in 2017, with the formal opening
anticipated in June. AECOM’s scope
of work encompassed a comprehensive
scheme design for all engineering
and architectural services, including
master planning, and a design
guardianship role as the project moved
into production on-site.
From a blank slate with no
masterplan in place to a fully
operational stadium normally takes
three to four years. However, the
original timeframe was even tighter,
with practical completion aimed
for by October 2018. Adding to the
complexity was the fact that the bulk
of the labour, materials, and elements
had to be imported from main
contractor Yenigün’s home country of
Turkey. Thus, shipping delivery lead
times required precise planning and
logistics.
Constraints faced in this regard
meant that many of the early trades
were eventually carried out on-site.
A batch plant produced readymix
concrete for all of the precast elements
to be cast on-site which, in turn,
required a massive production yard
for storage and handling. nn
8 | CEC July 2019
Concor builds safari lodge at Skukuza
AECOM cuts
stadium design-and-
build to a record two
years at Japoma
The western terrace overlooking the function area.
Concor
Buildings
recently
completed a new three-star safari
lodge at Skukuza camp. Planned and
constructed as a ‘green’ building,
Skukuza Safari Lodge boasts
128 units, including 87 standard
rooms, 20 family rooms and 13
universal rooms with easy access for
wheelchairs.
Work began in February 2017,
with the team leaving site at the end
of March 2019. According to Concor
Buildings’ site agent, Christopher
Martin, the environmental focus
was taken on board by the team
and applied with commitment in
various ways.
In line with green building
requirements, the two-level
structure does not protrude above
tree level, minimising its visual
impact. Architectural timber is a
prominent feature of the lodge,
with laminate saligna beams used
for long-span trusses. Thatched
roofing and grass ceilings add to the
natural ambience, along with design
elements from local cultures.
While making every effort
to be non-intrusive, the lodge is
a substantial construction with
5 200m 2 of decking. More than
3 600m 3 of concrete has been poured
over 150t of reinforced bar, and
1.8 million bricks have been laid.
The coverage of roof thatching
measures over 3 600m 2 , while
5 000m 2 of sheeting has been used.
In recognition of the authentically
wild surroundings of the lodge, an
important use of the concrete was
in the bases of the game fence.
The fence has been built all around
the lodge, with substantial bases
measuring in size from 1.5m x 1.5m
to 1m x 1m.
The site itself presented a few
challenges, with much of the
infrastructure dating back many
decades and not all precisely
recorded in terms of location.
Further investigation through radar
technology and even geographic
positioning systems (GPS) was
sometimes necessary to identify
underground services. Most services
such as fresh water, grey water and
sewage had to be re-routed in line
with the needs of the new structures.
An ongoing challenge was the
distance between the site and the towns
from which products and services
were sourced. Being two hours from
Nelspruit, for instance, added to the
logistical burden and lengthened
lead times, especially considering the
road speed restrictions within the
Kruger Park. nn
www.civilsonline.co.za