Engineering and infrastructure services company AECOM is forging ahead with Phase 2 of the R800-million Sol Plaatje University (SPU) precinct in Kimberley, in the Northern Cape, and expects to complete its work by mid-2022.
Further, the company says it has also been awarded a further contract extension.
The SPU project consists of three campuses.
The project is set to be the largest tertiary education development in post-apartheid South Africa, says AECOM team lead and programme manager Toit Scheepers. He adds that AECOM’s role as the principal agent for the client means that it is overseeing 30 projects at present, from refurbishments to new-build infrastructure, all managed by the 18-strong AECOM team.
The works are divided into three categories, namely large-, medium- and small-scale projects. The major projects are assigned to two different teams of architects, engineers and contractors, while the remainder of the projects also have individual professional teams.
There are six separate teams working in tandem on the SPU precinct – all managed by AECOM.
"With Kimberley officially designated as a semi-arid area, AECOM has been diligent in incorporating the latest sustainability features at the project. These range from synthetic surfaces for the sports fields to water-saving measures such as artificial landscaping materials for the landscaping, making the SPU precinct one of the most advanced of its kind in Africa."
The biggest challenge has been the remote location, which complicated the logistics of procuring specialist materials and services, Scheepers points out.