Constructing a state-of-the-art children’s hospital was conceptualised by the late Nelson Mandela who wished to make world-class healthcare available to the children of Southern Africa. Through the creation of The Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital Trust this vision became a reality.

Designed by Sheppard Robson International, John Cooper Architecture, GAPP and Ruben Reddy Architects the hospital is one of only five dedicated children’s hospitals on the African continent. Lead contractor Group Five Construction began construction in April 2015 and the tender to manufacture and install the façade louvres and integrated static shading was won by Robertson Ventilation Industries.

RVI provided a design solution that specifically catered for both the airflow requirements as well as the rain defense needed to create the perfect working environment in the building without unsightly steelwork. The vertical multi-coloured louvres were specially manufactured for the project as were the customised integrated static shading boxes.

The manufacturing of the multi coloured façade louvres, which have a vertical 100x50 RHS mullion extrusion centered at every 1.5 metres with a multi coloured 50x50 SHS horizontal extrusion, required specific powder coating to suit the design prerequisites.  When it came to the integrated static shading boxes, RVI needed to deliver a customised solution that was both cost-effective and aesthetically suited to the building.  The integrated static shading boxes were made from an internal structure of 20x30 RHS extrusion and 1.5 mm aluminum sheet cladding.

RVI anticipates concluding their installation by 29 February 2016 with the final completion of the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital expected by the end of March 2016 says Pierre van der Merwe, Senior Contracts Manager at RVI.  “It has been a privilege being involved in this project as the hospital is not only the realisation of Nelson Mandela’s dream but because it will deliver specialised paediatric care and medical services to the children of Southern Africa irrespective of their economic status., states Chris Edwards, MD of RVI.

RVI is a specialist contractor operating in the disciplines of smoke and fire ventilation, industrial ventilation, solar shading, natural ventilation and window automation. RVI has been trading in South Africa for the past 50 years and has installed both natural and mechanical ventilation throughout the world to thousands of industrial and commercial structures.