Construction World December 2016

COVER STORY

AFRISAM and

WBHO carve a niche for the

Accommodating specialised project requirements is one of the strengths that AfriSam brings to its customer partnerships. An excellent example is its ongoing involvement in the V&A Silo District project where specialised readymix concrete is being supplied to the historic Grain Silo Project.

BHO is making steady progress on the redevelopment of the 100 year old Grain Silo which will house the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (Zeitz MOCAA). Once completed, it will be a flagship project for the building contractor, which was also involved in the prestigious Clock Tower, and later, the highly acclaimed

No 1 Silo and No 2 Silo developments. Associated with the V&A Waterfront development from the outset, WBHO has remained the building contractor of choice for this development for a number of reasons. This includes the work it performed at the challenging No 1 Silo and No 2 Silo projects, as well as the super basement that supports mixed use No 3 Silo, No 4 Silo and No 5 Silo developments. However, Bruce Keytel, WBHO contracts manager responsible for the Grain Silo project, believes it is the contractor’s hands-on approach on all its building projects that has played a very important role in the

AfriSam is supplying specialised readymix concrete to the historic Grain Silo Project which is being constructed by WBHO.

company’s long legacy in the precinct. “We are known for our ability to undertake complex structural projects, whilst being able to meet the expectations that we have created for our clients,” Keytel says. An intimate understanding An intimate understanding of the V&A Waterfront working environment also bodes well for WBHO and has certainly given it a significant head-start in executing acclaimed architect Thomas Heatherwick’s unique vision for the Grain Silo, the most challenging of all the builds in the precinct. In executing Heath- erwick’s design, WBHO has carved away sections of the internal silo bins to form a large oval shaped cavity that will comprise the atrium of the structure. It resembles a large grain of corn that will connect the completed asset to its historical past. This unique space is surrounded by the galleries of the Zeitz MOCAA museum, which is also being built inside the silo bins on the perimeter of the structure. The majority of the inner silo bins have been removed in their entirety to create these unique internal spaces. Keytel says one of the biggest challenges on this project is the extensive demolition and deconstruc- tion activities, which commenced shortly after the contractor took ownership of the site in April 2014. Top-down and bottom-up demolition activities have continued unabated even while the main concrete cutting and shaping of the atrium, as well as other works, are underway. The original concrete façades of the elevator building were demolished from the roof level down to the top of the silo bins, 32 metres above sea level. These were replaced with the unique ‘pillowed’ windows which will dominate the skyline of the silo district and act as a glowing beacon at night for the museum. The roof structure of the elevator building, which has been transformed into the new Silo Hotel, incorporates a roof top bar and swimming pool. In addition, the core of the structure was disman- tled down to the second basement level, more than four metres below sea level, while the existing track shed was also deconstructed and taken away for future refurbishment and reinstatement. WBHO saved some time with the early removal of the conveyor shed during the No 1 Silo phase of the development. It was removed from site and was dili-

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CONSTRUCTION WORLD DECEMBER 2016