BAY WEST MALLThe new mall in Port Elizabeth will comprise two levels of shops and more than 3 200 parking bays
Construction company Murray & Roberts Buildings has started work on the Bay West Mall in Port Elizabeth, in the Eastern Cape, for property development company Abacus Asset Management and property development and investment company Billion Group.
The mall is central to the development of the greater Bay West City project, for which the developers have earmarked 300 ha.
As the primary contractor for this R2-billion project, Murray & Roberts Buildings is responsible for the construction of Phase 1 of the mixed development. The Bay West Mall development will incorporate a light industrial sector. During Phase 2, the office blocks will become an integral part of the Bay West City precinct. Other plans include the development of 7 000 residences and apartments, as well as retirement homes and a medical centre.
The construction phase of the mall will create about 10 000 jobs, of which 3 000 will be through direct employment. After completion of the mall, a further 1 500 permanent jobs will be created to staff the retail outlets in the 9 ha shopping centre.
Murray & Roberts Buildings is deploying several tower cranes and other large equip- ment to facilitate construction. A dedicated concrete readymix batch plant will also be erected on site to supply about 57 000 m3 of concrete that will be used in the construction of Phase 1.
The Bay West Mall will have two levels of shops, with parking for more than 3 200 cars on the periphery of the centre. The structure comprises columns, suspended coffer and flat slabs brick panels and a structural steel roof, cladded in sheeting.
The tenant mix for the 264 shops will include anchor tenants, national chain stores and 12 cinemas.