Construction World December 2022

BUILDING CONTRACTORS

AfriSam Innovat ion Award for Sustainable Construct ion

IKUSASA OXFORD PARKS T he striking new Ikusasa building has added to the overall character and appeal of the Oxford Parks precinct in Rosebank, Johannesburg. Constructed by Concor in just 12 months from start of earthworks to handover, this fast track project achieved ‘World Leadership’ level in green building standards. Construction of the four storey, three and a half basement building began in March 2021 with handover in February 2022. In its construction and operation, Ikusasa reduces water use, energy consumption, process waste and pollution to a level that earns it 6 Star Green Star SA Office v1.1 green standard in terms of the Green Buildings Council South Africa (GBCSA) certification. Achieving this 6 Star rating meant that Concor appl ied both its cl ient’s sustainable designs and its own stringent qual ity systems. The company has completed a number of buildings to 5 Star Green Star SA level , and Ikusasa was its first to achieve a 6 Star certification. The building is now occupied by blue chip company Anglo American Global Shared Services, who recognised Concor by awarding a endeavour requiring an agile approach to construction. Concor ’s own team of professionals in core discipl ines co-ordinated over 70 subcontractors on site. Concor ’s scope of work included the fit-out of the entire building, coordinating the installation of all fittings and fixtures before handover. Success was achieved through tight control over schedul ing, and by prioritising sustainabil ity and zero harm principles. Concor used innovative strategies to fast-track the project – giving the tenant Certificate Award of Excellence to the company. As a fast-track project, Ikusasa was a complex

early access in a phased approach. Using value engineered foundation piles el iminated the need for concrete bases or excavating around each pile. Instead, the design allowed the columns to be cast over the piles. Some 115 piles were cast, with columns spaced on an 8,4 metre by 8,4 metre grid to hold the suspended concrete slabs. Another innovation was to back-prop on just two levels rather than the traditional three levels. This allowed earl ier access to the lower floor plate to initiate brickwork and ‘first fix’ services such as floors, ceil ings, electrical supply cables and water pipes. The same engineering firm was used for both the structure and the façade for the curtain wall. This allowed design and manufacturing of elements for the façade to begin while the contractor was still busy constructing the concrete structure. Accurate dimensioning of the façade was possible using sophisticated software that could model the full façade around the concrete structure. These approaches meant Concor unlocked two long lead materials: the glass and façade til ing. The façade itself is a unitised system which is less labour intensive to install and does not require a full façade scaffold for installation. This also reduced cost and time. Design innovation Concor worked with Ikusasa’s developer and team of consultants to push the boundaries of sustainable design and construction. The building achieved a 6 Star Green Star SA Office v1.1 Design and a Net Zero Carbon Level 1 Base Building certification. The project is in the process of submitting the targeted 6 Star Green Star SA Office v1.1 As

38 21 st Best Project Awards 2022