The Civil Engineering Contractor June 2018 | Page 18

ON SITE
The proximity to nearby buildings poses a challenge on the tight site, which is void of laydown area.
rain, which causes all construction to
be halted until the downpour passes.
“Also, to achieve an A-grade finish
of the building entails very strict
specifications. We have to produce
a quality product in a narrow time
frame.
“We were fortunate not to encounter
any groundwater on site as this would
have severely impacted the founding
conditions for the piles as, if there
had been significant groundwater, we
would have had to bring in dump-rock
to create a drain aquifer, as well as a
platform on which the big machines
would work.”
He refers to the lack of space on
the confined site and explains that an
arrangement was made with a nearby
office to use their boardroom for
meetings and their parking area for
their cars.
Devan continues: “The piling
operation will continue for another
16 - CEC June 2018
“Previously, dry Shotcrete
was used. This new wet
Shotcrete is an innovation; it
reduces wastage massively
and also produces a more
consistent mix.”
Dan Alford, Mega Pile
three weeks and then Mega Pile Inland
would have completed their scope of
works as a specialist subcontractor
responsible for the piling and lateral
support contract. The main contractor
to undertake the superstructure and
complete the buildings, is recently
appointed Tiber Construction, due to
start in May.” (Ed's note: the interview
took place in April.)
The value of the development is
in excess of R120-million to R130-
million, Devan says, and adds that
the project is aiming to optimise
the ‘green’ effort. “We are at the
early stage of the design development,
so we have brought Solid Green on
board to advise us on how best to
optimise green building principles.
We have commissioned a borehole
on the site and with respect to water
reuse, there will be subsoil drains to
catch any water generated by seepage,
for recycling. It will be a function of
how much is generated, as well as the
quality.”
Bulk earthworks commenced after
the builders’ break in January 2018,
with the intention to complete the
entire project by July 2019.
Devan has only praise for the
interaction the project has had with
the authorities: “Surprisingly, the
municipality has been extremely
cooperative in respect of permits and
so too, JRA has been collaborative
with regard to truck movement in a
congested area,” Devan stresses.