Concor Buildings was well positioned to take on the
challenging construction of Oxfords Parks Phase I which commenced in February
2019 after their successful completion of the BP Building in 2018.
This phase comprises five buildings: four mixed-use premium
office and retail buildings, and a fifth building which will house a hotel
designed to 4-star standards with special emphasis on art and business.
Construction work of 6 Parks Boulevard (also known as the
Arup Building) started in February 2019 and handover is scheduled for end
January 2020.
Initially designed as a three-storey structure with the
ground floor dedicated to retail space, plans were modified to the requirements
of the tenants, Arup and Sony. This resulted in another slab being added to
accommodate a private entertainment area ad recording studios on the fourth
level.
A portion of the site is located directly above the
Gautrain tunnel, necessitating 20% of the foundation for the basement to be a
raft foundation as the bottom of the excavation was situated just above the
Zone of Exclusion.
The rest of the foundation was constructed with traditional
piles and pile caps. Concrete used in the construction of the basement levels
was a standard 25MPa, while 30MPa concrete was specified for the floor slabs.
The visual impact of this building will be in the architectural
façade where a special pattern was printed on the glass panels. This
application will create a forest-like graphic, reinforcing the urban green
theme of Oxford Parks. This paint technique will yield thermal and anti-glare
properties to address the green star requirements of the building.
Concor Buildings’ contract for this structure includes
construction and total fitting out of all services. Despite some unforeseeable
delays during construction of the basement, the schedule was back on track by
the time the first-floor slab was cast and the team is confident that the
building will be ready for tenants in February 2020.
The building on 8 Parks Boulevard, or Building 3, has
recently been added to Concor’s portfolio in this precinct and is currently
being constructed as a five-storey mixed-use office and retail facility.
The ground level of this building extends onto a cantilevered
slab which forms the new Parks Boulevard, providing access to service and
delivery vehicles. Both the Arup building and Building 3 face onto Parks
Boulevard, which is currently presenting the contractor with an added challenge
which requires meticulous planning of sequences for access of the various
construction vehicles on this newly constructed cantilevered road.
The scope for Building 3 is to deliver the shell structure
as future tenants will be involved in the fit-out of the building. The scheduled
completion date is June 2020.
The building on the north-eastern corner of the precinct,
also currently under construction, will be the new head office of Life
Healthcare. Eighty per cent of the first-floor slab of the five-storey building
is finished, on schedule for completion by October 2020. A common design
protocol governs all these buildings, but this building will incorporate an
auditorium, as specified by the tenant.
The fifth building, a Radisson Red hotel, has been designed
as a seven-storey facility to 4-Star standards and will have 222 guest rooms. A
gym and a swimming pool will occupy the roof terrace. The first two levels will
be constructed using conventional slabs, with post-tensioned concrete being
used from the third floor up. The hotel will be ready to accept guests at the
beginning of 2021.
Oxford Parks Phase 1 is testimony to meticulous coordination
to ensure that concurrent construction of the different buildings runs smoothly.
Three tower cranes are on site, necessitating a special resource-linked crane
study to optimise rental time. The large workforce required for the
simultaneous construction of the various structures means that there can be no
compromise on safety. Daily planning and safety meetings and weekly review
meetings ensure that progress remains on schedule.
Martin Muller, the Concor Buildings contracts manager, says
being awarded Phase 1 of the Oxford Parks development is a direct result of
Concor Buildings’ achievement during the construction of the BP Building, 199
Oxford Road, ahead of time and within budget.
More information
at www.concor.co.za
