Alistair McNair, business development director at Grinaker-LTA Building East, reports that the new centre has been well received by the local community. “There are no other formal shopping centres in the area, so residents are extremely excited about the one-stop shopping destination that Philani Valley represents.” The single-storey mall is approximately 14 000 m2 in size.

Job creation and training are priorities for the contractor on all their sites, McNair states, and local labour and sub-contractors were employed wherever possible. A total of 250 workers were employed at the contract’s peak.

The Philani Valley Shopping Centre consists of two properties on either side of Echwebeni Avenue in Umlazi. The main mall on the lower site has been designed as an enclosed, internal mall with Spar as the anchor tenant, and features a barrel vault roof with exposed structural members throughout, as well as barrel entrances. The centre offers a diverse tenant mix, from regional and national chains to independent retailers and service providers. The development of the upper site includes a 3 000 m2 “Build It” outlet and a service station adjacent to the main entrance.

More than 408 tons of structural steel was used in this project, along with 24 000 m2 of sheeting and cladding