Name and Location
Baywest City development project, Eastern Cape, South Africa.

Client
The development of Baywest City is a joint venture between Abacus Asset Management and Billion Group.

Project Description
Baywest City is a 320 ha ‘city within a city’, which is expected to be developed over the next 15 years and will comprise 6 000 residential units, secure office parks, private schools, hospitals, a light industrial node, parklands and conservation areas.

The Baywest Mall is the catalyst for the Baywest City development and will involve the construction of a regional shopping centre, with 250 retail outlets, a Fun Factory, an ice rink, a food court and designer stores.

For ease of access, four main entrances will be constructed and double-level structured parking will surround the mall, providing ample parking close to the entrances.

Infrastructure in the area will also be overhauled. This includes a multimillion-rand road network upgrade, which will link Walker drive with Old Cape road, and the construction of a brand new interchange on the N2, at the doorstep of the mall. This new road network will bring any household in Port Elizabeth to within 20 minutes of the Baywest Mall.

The Baywest Mall and surrounding Baywest precinct will be monitored using the latest camera security system.

Linked with a fibre-optic network, the alarm, detection, scanning, infrared and recognition platform will secure all aspects of precinct life.

Value
R6-billion.

The mall will cost an estimated R1.7-billion to build.

The Baywest roads development project is estimated at R300-million.

Duration
The Baywest Mall officially opened its doors in May 2015.

Latest Developments
Construction has started on a three-storey four-star green office block in the Baywest City development.

The building, which was expected to open towards the end of 2016, is the first green-rated commercial office block for the Eastern Cape.

The new office block will have an aluminium façade, which will mimic the outline of the Port Elizabeth coastline.

Architecture firm Activate project director Edward Brooks has added that the demand for green-rated buildings is growing globally.

The office block will include a 40 kW roof-mounted solar photovoltaic system, a rainwater harvesting system and highly insulated walls, roofing and flooring to maintain a moderate internal temperature in spite of fluctuating external temperatures.

The solar system will provide 15% of the building’s energy requirements. Further, as a requirement for the green rating bicycles, motorcycles and energy-efficient hybrid vehicles will be given preference in basement parking.

An indigenous landscaped garden around the building will be maintained using harvested rainwater.

Baywest City MD Gavin Blows has noted that the green office block is the first of many to be developed in the precinct.

He has also added that the developers are focused on positioning the development as ecofriendly, having set aside 20% of the 320 ha Baywest City site for the protection of rare and indigenous fauna and flora.

Meanwhile, a landmark deal between Baywest and Vodacom has resulted in the installation of the country’s largest greenfield fibre-optic network, securing Baywest City’s future as an interconnected smart city.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
Mawethu Civils (civils work) and Basil Read (road construction).

On Budget and on Time?
Not stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
Baywest Mall, tel +27 21 886 5262 or email info@baywestmall.co.za.
Mawethu Civils, tel +27 41 363 0862/7, fax +27 41 363 0962 or email admin@mawethu.co.za.