Main contractor Murray & Roberts Buildings is making good progress on the new Dainfern Square Shopping Centre, north of Johannesburg, being developed by Abacus Asset Management. This upmarket mixed-use retail development on the corner of William Nicol Drive and Broadacres Drive is expected to start trading from April 2015, with a number of national retailer anchor tenants joining other South African chain stores, together with banks, restaurants and original local shops. Above the ground floor, the retail section on Level 1 of the development features lettable offices and an upmarket gym.Although there will be surface parking on the ground level, the bulk of shoppers’ vehicles will be accommodated on two levels of super-basement parking, with a total of 1246 parking bays serving the shopping centre.

The development is formed around the perimeter of the site creating a unique arrival experience into its centre, giving access to internal and external retail blocks, as well as the restaurant and dining areas. The retail and office blocks are separated by large roof lights creating covered walkways, which give access to an external mall to the north and a covered mall to the east. The walkways are all interlinked to create a modern village feel that makes for a relaxed shopping experience and work environment. The development will be characterised by the use of polished concrete floor finishes and decorative concrete in other areas.

The Dainfern Square contract is part of a three-development package awarded to Murray & Roberts Buildings by Abacus, the other two projects being the Matlosana Mall in Klerksdorp, which opens its doors in October 2014, and Bay West in Port Elizabeth, scheduled to begin trading in March 2015.

Construction work on the Dainfern Square development commenced in September 2013 with the establishment of the two parking basements. This was followed by casting of the decks for the ground floor and roof erection is beginning in August this year. Being constructed on a site approximately 60 000 m2 in size, the footprint of the structure is 52 000 m2, with a gross lettable area comprising 14 952 m2 of retail space and  7 835 m2 of offices and gym in Phase 1.

Fanie Stadler, Murray & Roberts Buildings’ contracts manager, says one of the biggest challenges on this project has been the lack of power supply to the site until July 2014, which required significant use of generators. Also challenging has been the roadworks taking place along William Nicol (R511) in the Dainfern area, which poses a major constraint to timeous delivery of construction materials that is likely to continue throughout the duration of the project. In mitigation, the concrete mix has been adjusted to enable sufficient workability after the extended travel time. Concrete pours are also being scheduled very early in the mornings or on weekends.

At project peak there will be more than 700  personnel on site. The Murray & Roberts Buildings team is mentoring two emerging contractors who are doing bricklaying, as part of the Murray & Roberts Enterprise Development Programme. Site labour is being recruited through a black women-owned company that employs labour from the local community.

A stringent safety programme has ensured zero Lost Time Injury hours to date. The programme, based on the Murray & Roberts Group STOP.THINK.ACT 24/7 safety philosophy, involves daily safety inductions and mass toolbox talks, as well as competitions for best safety supervisor on site and best safety performance by a labourer, which take place a month by month basis.

On the environmental side, owing to the proximity of residential complexes, the key issues requiring special management are dust and noise. To mitigate the effects of noise from the construction site on the neighbouring residential complexes, shifts are presently running from 6 am to 6 pm.