Construction World April 2021

conditions are different from expectations, we end up losing money. For a recent project in Rosebank, for example, we planned for piles of a certain depth – but ended up needing to drill 17 m deep. We hesitate to tender for work for which there is no geotechnical information and often do our own investigation. How competitive is the piling industry now compared to when you started? Back in 1996, there were only five or six piling companies in Gauteng. At the industry’s peak, there were 14 and now there are about 10 still operating. How important is training of staff to GP? All our staff are well trained. Over the years, we have employed a lot of students – many from previously disadvantaged backgrounds – even subsidising tertiary education for a few. Some have become Gauteng Piling “stars” and have stuck with us and now run the company on the ground. Without our loyal staff, this company would not be where it is today. Your own involvement in many years of the building industry – has your personal high profile inspired confidence from the market? In which of these roles are you still active? When I started Gauteng Piling in 1996, I had already served on the committee of the Witwatersrand MBA, as it was called then, since 1986. I later was elected president of MBA North and of BIFSA (now MBSA). I have also served two terms on the cidb Board and am still chairman of Federated Employers’ Mutual Assurance (FEM) and serve on the executive committee of MBA North, of which I am an honorary life member.

I certainly think that many clients trusted Gauteng Piling, knowing my reputation and status in the industry. They knew that ethics would play a major role in all dealings with Gauteng Piling. But perhaps above all, my success is due to my family who have supported me through thick and thin, and to the Creator who gave me the skills and perseverance to steer Gauteng Piling to where it is today. What do you see as the main challenges facing the building industry now? There are three: shortage of work, getting paid for work done, as well as dealing with corruption. ▄ ‘Beautiful Living’ meets AI in Sandton’s Sky W ithout a doubt South Africa’s most future-forward hotel,

also carries through the hotel’s concept of future-forward technology. These 1 200 x 2 400 mm porcelain tiles offer luxury on an unprecedented scale, and are an Italtile Commercial exclusive import. The range was designed and manufactured to create outstanding visual impact with a phenomenally authentic marbled finish. The size, texture, full bodied print and flawless finish of Marvel Pro are testament to Atlas Concorde’s sustainable, cutting edge technology. These full bodied giants are rectified to create near seamless floorscapes and walls on a spectacular scale, with fewer, thinner grout lines. Marvel Pro XL Calacatta Lappato tiles are a massive investment in contemporary luxury and require adhesives developed specifically for these monumental slabs, as well as specialist installation by trained professional teams. Collaboration on commercial projects of this calibre push us to go beyond our best and we greatly value the partnerships that extend our abilities and experience. Please contact (name) on (contact details) to learn more about the Hotel Sky project or for a speculative chat about how we can help you finesse your next commercial build.

the already iconic new Hotel Sky at 153 West Street, Sandton, shifts the paradigms of luxury stays, high end service and the ultimate guest experience. Hotel Sky’s signature ‘unforgettable experience’ is created through various levels of beauty, luxury, indulgence, extraordinary technology and magnificent design, all curated to delight and charm hotel guests and visitors. (Hotel Sky’s next level experiences include a self-playing piano and three remarkable service assistants called Lexi, Micha and Ariel: robo-concierges) To underscore and add dimension to this design frame of top class, futuristic indulgence, Italtile Commercial’s JV Partner in Gauteng, Dale Hermanson, was invited to collaborate with Richland Properties, Paragon Architects and Archstone Construction and select appropriately luxurious, contemporary tiles for installation across 453 rooms and a spectacular floorspace. Dale chose Marvel Pro XL Calacatta Lappato porcelain tiles by Italian tile masters Atlas Concorde because the range not only answers the need for ultimate opulence and contemporary luxury; it

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CONSTRUCTION WORLD APRIL 2021