The total construction area of 30 183 m2 consists of a four-storey office block and a three-level parkade, explains Rankin Burger, contracts director at Grinaker-LTA Building East. The project is scheduled for completion by 5 November 2010.

This upmarket office complex will boast high quality finishes, and Burger says that the design of the building incorporates various features that form part of the client's goal to develop a 4-Star Green Building while meeting the specifications set out by the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA).

Burger elaborates: "Grinaker-LTA is responsible for approximately nine points of the total 45 points needed to achieve 4 "Green Stars". These nine points fall into six different 'categories'," he explains. These include the Environmental Management Plan, which sets out regulations that the contractor must adhere to. Recycling is another category, Burger says, and Grinaker-LTA will reuse or recycle 70% of all construction waste generated on site. "All rubble on site is being crushed and used as a base layer for roads and surface beds on other projects," he states. Plans are underway for all scrap timber to be chipped and used as a mulch layer on the project's landscaped areas. The contractor is also required to preserve and reuse all topsoil on site.  A further specification is that the majority of Grinaker-LTA's materials are sourced from within 50 to 400km from the site.  "All paints and adhesives conform to the required Volatile Organic Compound levels (VOC), supplied by the Green Building Council, of which Grinaker-LTA is also a member."

He says a further initiative that could contribute to achieving the 4-Star "green" grading is to replace the precast concrete façade panels originally specified in the development's design with “resocrete” panels, which are made of a resin composite that is sourced locally. "These panels are far lighter than pre-cast concrete, thereby reducing haulage and lifting costs, and they are much easier and quicker to install," he explains.

A total of 13 601 m3 of concrete will be used in this construction project, along with 1 261 tons of reinforcing steel, 700 000 bricks and 58 798 m2 of formwork. A total of 550 piles will be sunk.

Burger says the team on site is working to an extremely tight contract duration. Adding to this is the complexity of the concrete structure, which, Burger notes, includes architectural hanger beams, intricate slab details and off shutter concrete on a number of stair cores. There are also an additional six large steel raking columns which form a major feature of the building.

It's a testing project, but Burger reports that Grinaker-LTA is on track, with the bulk earthworks and piling completed and the concrete structure nearing half-way. Approximately 6 500 m3 of concrete has been poured to date.