Construction World August 2017

PROJECT PROFILE

TRICKY ENVIRONMENTAL and HERITAGE CONSIDERATIONS

Reddam House is part of the Inspired Group of co-educational and non-denominational international schools. Its new Early Learning Centre – the latest of the Reddam House facilities in Gauteng – is situated in the picturesque Helderfontein Estate valley, surrounded by the suburbs of Dainfern, Fourways, Lonehill and Broadacres. The developer of the new facility is Century Property Develop- ments, for which J.C. van der Linde & Venter Projects has worked before on projects such as the clubhouse for The Hills Game Reserve and Lifestyle Estate in Pretoria. Pieter Venter, contracts director at J.C. van der Linde & Venter Projects, says the first phase of Reddam House Helderfontein involved the fast-track construction of a 4 500 m 2 single-storey structure which the contractors had to complete in about 18 weeks to have this part of the school ready for parents and pupils’ Open Day in early November last year. Demolishing a potentially hazardous asbestos cement structure, preserving historic buildings, and the meticulous reconstruction of an old concrete dome were some of the challenges Pretoria building contractors, J.C. van der Linde & Venter Projects, successfully coped with in a R55-million contract for the construction of the Reddam House Early Learn- ing Centre in Helderfontein Estate.

“The stringent time frame meant that we had to be on site seven days a week from the beginning of July: we laid about 700 000 stock bricks and 200 000 face bricks in a hectic five-week period of the construction project. We had to employ every time-saving measure possible, including the use of raft foundations which are faster to construct because they do not require deep excavations compared to strip or pad foundations,” Venter explained. André Luther, contracts manager for J.C. van der Linde & Venter Projects, says the first phase of the Reddam House project included the construction of the new school itself, with a gatehouse and 157 m long and 3 m high boundary wall. “We had to demolish an existing asbestos cement structure on the site where the gatehouse was built. As there are strict environmental laws regarding asbestos fibre, we had to enlist the help of specialist waste management company, EnviroServe, for this part of the contract. “Building contractors have the responsibility of properly identifying and, where necessary, remove asbestos before demolition or refurbishment so the risks of disturbing asbestos and releasing airborne fibres are eliminated,” Luther stated. For the second phase of the Reddam House project, J.C. van der Linde & Venter Projects had to comply with South African Heritage regulations regarding two small historic structures on the site which had to be preserved and not damaged during the building operations. “The developers had to obtain approval from the National Heritage authorities before we could go on site which caused a delay of a few months,” Luther said.

An aerial view of the Reddam House Early Learning Centre in Helderfontein Estate.

The dining area.

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CONSTRUCTION WORLD AUGUST 2017