The contractor is undertaking a R350-million contract that forms part of the 30-year-old mall’s facelift and expansion. It comprises some 12 000 m2 of extensions, including the relocation of the food court and restaurants, upgrades and extensions to some of the existing shops, as well as the addition of new retail space and renovations to some of the entrances. A new, single storey parkade will also be constructed. John McLaughlin, contracts director at Grinaker-LTA Building Inland, reports that working in a “live” shopping centre is one of the most challenging elements of the project. “Working close to the public in a well-established retail environment means there must be an increased emphasis on safety. Keeping noise and dust pollution to a minimum has been a priority, and the demolition work takes place early mornings,” he notes.

To date, Grinaker-LTA has completed the entrance 1 structure, together with 85% of the composite slabs for the piazza roof. The challenging concrete work for Eastgate’s new “eye” skylight, has also been completed.

McLaughlin elaborates: “The ‘eye’ skylight is the main feature of phase 1 of this contract, and its casting was very complex in design and execution. We cast the beams and slab and supported the formwork over an existing structure with no backpropping. We hired an external specialist to design the steel I-beam support to carry all the wet loads imposed.”

The completion of the casting of 85% of the composite slabs (3 400 m2) was also an enormous challenge, he adds. “After this, we had to apply approximately 4 000 m2 of a torch on waterproofing product to protect the centre from rain ingress during the festive season break,” he explains.

The elements of the contract that are currently underway include the steel structure, screeds and the remainder of the concrete composite and mezzanine slabs. “The food court building is comprised of a steel structure, and this is currently 40% complete” McLaughlin reports. “The screeds have now commenced in the piazza area.”

The contractor’s next major task will be the removal of the old lifts and the creation of bigger lifts over the existing food courts. “This is a particularly testing portion of the contract, particularly as it happens over an operational shopping mall,” stresses McLaughlin. The new lifts will be completed by August 2009.

Grinaker-LTA’s contract at Eastgate is being undertaken for Liberty Group Properties, a division of Liberty Group Limited with focus on property development, property management and asset management, and whose shopping centre portfolio also includes Sandton City Shopping Centre, Nelson Mandela Square and the Liberty Midlands Mall in Pietermaritzburg.