South African construction major, Concor has been appointed as the principal contractor on the Public Investment Corporation (PIC)’s Trevenna basement project in Sunnyside, Pretoria. The basement project is a precursor for A-grade office buildings in the Trevenna Office campus.

 

According to Martin Muller, senior contracts manager at Concor, the contract is part of a multi-phase development at the Trevenna Campus and will begin as soon as the major earthworks are completed. The company will carry out the first and second phases of the project, which comprise the five level 68,000 square metre super basement with all services, lobbies and finishes.

 

The large basement extends some 20 metres below ground level, and will be constructed with post-tensioned concrete slabs. The scope of work also includes extensive underground services such as sewer and stormwater infrastructure, electrical reticulation, lifts to the ground floor and access control.

 

“It is likely that the fast track project will deal with challenging rock conditions and water ingress from surface and groundwater. We are, however, ready to deal with any of these challenges,” Muller says.

 

Phase 1 of this 11-month project began in March 2022 and will be followed by Phase 2, planned to start in June this year. The third phase, which is yet to be awarded, will comprise four A-grade office buildings some five storeys high, making up almost 43,000 square metres to be constructed above the super-basement.

 

In line with local procurement principles, the project will rely heavily on local subcontractors, suppliers and labour, with a considerable workforce of 500 to 600 people expected to be active on site. Among the key subcontractors will be specialists in excavation, formwork, concrete, post-tensioning and reinforcing.

 

Space is at a premium, as the footprint of the basement extends across almost the entire site and Muller notes that dealing with the challenges of congested urban environments is one of Concor’s many strengths.

 

Concor will deploy five tower cranes on the site to facilitate the fast pace of construction required, ensuring the safe and expedited movement of steelwork, formwork and other construction materials. Readymix concrete will be pumped in-situ for the post-tensioned slabs.

 

“This is the first contract that we will undertake for the PIC, and we look forward to delivering excellence and demonstrating our extensive capabilities,” says Muller.

The first half of the Trevenna basement under construction.

The second half of the Trevenna basement under construction.

Construction of the bases and columns underway at the Trevenna basement project.

Construction underway at the Trevenna basement project.