Construction World August 2021

ARCHITECTS

MDS Architecture has designed an 11 500 m 2 shopping centre in Flagstaff, Eastern Cape, for developers McCormick Property Development (MPD). The development has a massive catchment area and Flagstaff is known in the region as somewhat of a trading post, with shoppers visiting the area to buy bulk supplies. FLAGSTAFF SQUARE LIVES UP TO REPUTATION AS A TRADING POST

C onstruction commenced in November 2020 and the split-level shopping centre is expected to be completed in October 2021. Aki Savva, a partner at MDS Architecture, says that the L-shaped building includes both a covered open element and a closed mall design. “It was important to ensure easy access to both levels. As a result, Flagstaff Square has a street-facing entrance with pedestrian entrance via a bold entrance portal into the building on one side, as well as pedestrian access from the opposite direction with the same treatment,” says Savva. The building features a double-volume space with a food court on the upper level. Clerestory glass windows along the mall provide soft southern light helping to illuminate the space. On the lower level, several shops face the public realm with covered walkways, creating a comfortable interface with pedestrians. Paving patterns provide interest by evoking a bar-code in the layout design and this element is repeated with porcelain tiles indoors on the upper floor, revoking the retail aspect of a trading post with a modern twist. “The colour palette features white, grey and earthy brown tones V ehicles are an expensive and important asset in any business and the way they are used can have a significant impact on the success of a business. Managing vehicles and drivers is a complex task, fortunately solutions like Ctrack’s driver management suite can eliminate the guesswork of vehicle management and ensure optimal running of your fleet Good drivers support a positive reputation while drivers who breach road regulations not only risk their own safety but that of others. They also cause additional costs for the business such as fuel, maintenance and insurance. Ctrack offers a range of solutions to support business with driver performance and management across multiple drivers groups and vehicles.is managed with the help of front, rear and in-cab cameras. Improving the driver behaviour of your employees can benefit your business through better kilometres per litre, lower fuel bills, enhanced driver safety and reduced accident rates as well as less fleet administration and vehicle maintenance costs Data leads to change The data harvested from these systems makes it possible to upskill operators and ensure the safety of both workforce and assets. Fleet managers can provide direct operator behaviour feedback to their staff using indicators through Ctrack software applications, visible on mobile devices, as well as vehicle in-cab peripherals or electronic data sets. PRODUCTS

which form a neutral backdrop in order for the individual shops to shine,” says Savva. Robust materials have been selected and kept true to their raw state, including bricks and steel. Large voids in the first- floor mall slab allow for natural light from the clerestory windows to penetrate the mall level below. This assists in creating an airy space in the lower level and visually links the two levels. A formal taxi rank in the parking will help in making the mall a meeting place and transport node in the area. Anchor tenants are Shoprite and Roots and the tenancy is expected to include a mix of national tenants, regional traders and individual businesses. Locals will also no longer have to travel far for popular fashion brands like Truworths, Markhams and Jet, to name a few. The lack of municipal water and sewerage to the site has prompted the development team to create a self-sustaining water and sewer solution in the form of borehole water and a sewage plant. It is also an area which is very humid and has high rainfall. A large swamp-like section of the site complicated construction and the engineers created a plan to work around this challenge,” says Savva.  Innovative driver management solutions Ctrack’s driver management solutions allow companies to accurately identify, control and manage their drivers. Integration with peripherals such as breathalysers prevent access to vehicles from intoxicated drivers, and safety requirements such as the failure to wear seatbelts can also be reported. Drivers can be identified through various mechanisms such as the Dallas iButton, RF ID Cards. Driving behaviour monitoring then ensures that the correct person is behind the wheel and that your vehicle is being driven in a satisfactory manner with parameters that keep an eye on factors such as speed, harsh braking, irregular stops and many more. Various camera options, further allow live video and replays of incidents on the road, that could support and reduce insurance claims, including supporting possible litigation against your company and the driver involved in such cases. Engine performance monitoring ensures that the vehicle is driven efficiently by keeping an eye on engine speed and will also alert fleet managers to excessive periods of idling. The Driver Mobi application allows drivers to view their driver behaviour scores as well as complete their logbook by marking journeys as business or private and also conduct vehicle checks before start-ups, via their smartphone. Ctrack has industry solutions to track a variety of assets including cars, trucks, trailers, containers, generators, packages and confidential deliveries. 

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40 CONSTRUCTION WORLD AUGUST 2021