Construction World December 2016

C

Professional Services

AECOM’s first task orders (from 1 July 2014 to 31 March 2016) were completed on time (2016 academic start) and within budget (cumulatively R750-million) for the first three building projects and associated infrastructure. To date, about 12 people from the Construction Services business line have participated in the completed projects. The cumulative value of the programme (all projects completed to date as well as projects currently underway) is standing at approximately R1,5-billion. The team earned high praise from the client, and AECOM’s extended contract up to May 2018 is testimony to the client’s satisfaction and faith in the AECOM team. AECOM team’s commitment, effort, drive, ability to sort out design issues and getting consultants to commit, being able to assist with the contractors’ commitments to deliver, managing socio-economic commitments in a difficult environment, and overall professional conduct while always considering the interest of the programme first on this challenging NEC target cost framework contract all contributed to the overall success. While a 5 Star Green Rating on the Sol Plaatje Uni Project was not opted for, there were some innovations with regards to environmental considerations. While the design specifications for wet services were not explicit, the main emphasis was on sustainability and best practice. The initial construction phase consisted of three main buildings, handed over at the beginning of April 2016, with the aim of building several more residence and lecture buildings over the next few years. A centralised services building supplies the residence and academic buildings. It houses the potable water pump set, the grey water treatment system, hot water generation plant and pump set, and chillers for the TABS system. The arid Northern Cape receives an average of 202 mm of rain a year, which resulted in the specification of two 125 000 litre galvanised sectional steel potable water storage tanks. Adjacent to the services building precinct, the tanks are fed by the municipal potable water supply, before being reticulated around the campus by means of a 150 DN ring main. Black water is collected in a sump outside the services building and pumped into the municipal sewer line by three submersible macerating pumps. The sump overflow is also directed into the municipal line on Scanlan Street. SOL PLAATJE UNIVERSITY In May 2014, the University of Witwatersrand appointed AECOM to provide project management services relating to the development of the Sol Plaatje University precinct in Kimberley.

60

Construction WORLD

DECEMBER • 2016