Construction World April 2017

Maerua Mall begins interior upgrade Maerua Mall, established in 1990, is Windhoek’s original shopping centre. Close to the heart of Namibia’s capital city and bordering the eastern suburbs, it welcomes over nine million shoppers every year.

Carel Fourie, newly appointed CEO of Oryx Properties, the owner of the centre, describes it as “more than a shopping experience, from convenient shopping to a fun, family dining opportunity”. This year, the well-known and vibrant mall will undergo a complete facelift, bringing both its look and its offerings up to date. New tenants are joining, with the first John Dory’s in Namibia set to open its doors, Queenspark, Cappellos and Checkers Liquor. The phased upgrade offers everything under one roof, from entertainment and dining to leisure and shopping. Public areas and walkways will be upgraded in keeping with the new, contemporary look, while a timber-slatted ceiling suspended with liquid-crystal light hoops will be installed. The food court will be redesigned over two levels, making space for great new restaurants. An outside eating area will offer close proximity to the family entertainment centre “We’re excited to be introducing a trampoline park, glow-in-the- dark putt-putt, bowling alley, a climbing wall and much more,” says centre manager Thea Thornley.

Four entrances and ample parking, including dedicated parking for the disabled and elderly, as well as moms and tots make access a breeze. The mall is named after the trees that surround it. Ringwoods (Maerua schinzii) are a protected species

resonates with our ethos,” says Fourie. The mall’s commitment to sustainability is evident in its NAD17-million 1 MW rooftop solar-power plant, which generates about 20% of the centre’s electricity. The 1 407 MWh generated by the plant during the 2016 financial year reduced the mall’s CO 2 emissions by 1 128 tons.

in Namibia. “The tree is symbolic of sustainability and vitality, and this

Rui Santos, managing director of the company which is now part of the Southern Palace Group, says the company is thrilled to have secured this prestigious project which is being built within the existing Skukuza Rest Camp in the Kruger National Park (KNP). Santos says the 128 bedroom three star double storey hotel, which maintains the KNP typical architectural theme, is designed in a figure eight configuration with bedroom wings on either side of a centre double volume area. The scope of work includes a thatched public facility with lounge, restaurant, kitchen and rest rooms. It will offer a four star service to wildlife conference attendees using the adjacent SANParks conference facilities. The bedrooms look inwards to inner courtyards on each wing with a pool and landscaped areas. Construction also includes single quarters for hotel and visiting staff. The project site was handed over on 21 February 2017 and completion is scheduled for June 2018. Skukuza safari lodge project Murray & Roberts Buildings has been awarded the R200- million contract to construct the new Skukuza Safari Lodge for the South African National Parks Board (SANParks).

13,5 m to the underside of the eaves which offers efficiencies of scale and an FM2 floor which provides a solid platform for the erection of racking and easy movement of mechanised machinery with a 38 m yard. It also provides a secure park environment with 24 hour security, a central gate and electric fence and a fire system with central pumps and tanks that will serve the entire park. Green building best practice is incorporated via features such as low maintenance indigenous landscaping that is fully irrigated and buildings that can accommodate photo voltaic cells for the production of electricity. However, the key draw card remains Louwlardia’s prime location with excellent highway visibility and accessibility to road, rail and domestic and international air freight hubs. “It is well situated adjacent to the N1 highway between Johannesburg and Pretoria with access from the N1 via Brakfontein and Nellmapius Roads. It is also well connected to two major alternative routes (the R21 and N14) and provides easy access to both the OR Tambo and Lanseria Airports as well as major centres,” he explained. He added that the N1 frontage was a prime location with excellent highway visibility for signage and branding. 

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CONSTRUCTION WORLD APRIL 2017