This project forms part of the growth and rejuvenation of Rosebank driven by the 2010 Soccer World Cup and the precinct’s Gautrain station, comments contracts director Graeme Jones.

Grinaker-LTA’s contract entails the partial demolition and reconstruction of the hotel’s ground floor and external areas, and includes building a new feature restaurant and whiskey and cigar bar. Conference and meeting rooms will also be refurbished, and the hotel’s main entrance is being moved to Sturdee Avenue, Jones states.

In addition, the hotel is to get a new lease on life with the construction of a health spa and gym area, as well as a new swimming pool with terrace.

All of the hotel’s 318 bedrooms will also be refurbished, and brand new bathrooms installed.

Challenges for the contractor on this undertaking include those posed by the age of the Rosebank Hotel, which was built in its present form in 1974. Jones elaborates: “Comprehensive ‘as-built’ drawings of the original structure are not available, so the design has to progress and adapt to the conditions revealed by site demolition progress.”

The hotel’s old face brick facades and steel windows will be completely rejuvenated during its facelift by the application of plaster, marmoran coatings, aluminium and stone cladding and glass curtain wall elements, he explains. The new feature restaurant will be located on the corner of Tyrwhitt and Sturdee roads, on a new structural slab.

The demolition portion of the project comprises the entire ground floor structure, between the two towers of hotel rooms. “This will be demolished and replaced with a new, lightweight structural steel and concrete structure.”

The Rosebank Hotel was recently acquired by the Hospitality Property Fund, as part of its growing portfolio of hotels. Its refurbishment is scheduled for completion in June 2008.