Brand Engineering implements electrical installations for Portside B
rand Engineering SA (Pty) Ltd was awarded the contract for the electrical installations for the 139 m high landmark Portside building in February 2012 when the project commenced. Established over 40 years ago, Brand Engineering, together with its two Empowerment Companies, Besamandla (Western Cape) and Besamandla (Eastern Cape), is a leading electrical contractor in Southern Africa and throughout the African continent. An integral part of the electrical installation was the installation of transformers to feed power to all 32 floors. “The transformers feed power from the Council sub-station on the ground floor to the two main boards for the two major clients. Power is then transferred from the main boards to sub-distribution boards on each floor,” explains Herman Kriel, Group Managing Director, Brand Engineering SA (Pty) Ltd.
main contractor’s safety manager. All safety issues were comprehensively documented. Brand Engineering is proud to have been part of the efficient, forward-thinking team which successfully worked on and has almost completed a project of such magnitude.
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The different contractors and consultants worked together as a team to meet Green Star specifications, and the building has been awarded a 5 Star Green Star SA rating.
A total of 165 Brand Engineering employees worked full-time on the Portside project. Brand Engineering is completely committed to safety. “Stringent safety measures were in place and adhered to. Our employees are our number one asset and therefore safety is our priority,” says Kriel.
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Sited at the apex of a precinct housing a locational cluster of constructed and emerging future mediumhigh rise buildings, the synergies between Portside and the surrounding future developments will create a critical mass of related activities intended to revitalise and enhance this part of the city.
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A joint venture development worthR1.6 billion between Old Mutual and FirstRand Bank set to become South Africa’s first green tall building progressing exceptionally well, the forefront of innovation and sustainable design, Cape Town’s new Portside building is well on schedule to become South Africa’s (and perhaps even the African continent’s) first green tall building. As construction progresses of the 32-floor building climbing above the city’s existing high-rises, green building principles are being incorporated at every level. “With the work that began in August 2011, the City of Cape Town proactively is supporting the project by adopting a phased approval process in an attempt to
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Safety was managed by a Brand Engineering safety officer who worked full-time on site in conjunction with the Advert final.indd 1
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he impressive Portside building encapsulates the energy of a rapidly evolving world-class city, with progressive architectural design features inspired by environmental sustainability and a unique and picturesque landscape. Portside is situated at a key nodal & arterial intersection in Cape Town and has been deemed appropriate for a tall building with approvals in place for height departures up to 147m.
Located in the Central City Urban Conservation Area (UCA), the relationship with its historical context and urban ecology is a crucial consideration. The building is an urban marker and responds directly to its context operating simultaneously at three city scales: CBD, local precinct, and immediate surrounds - whilst addressing two main aspects, urban form (building massing, height, form and composition, and its relation to the urban environment) and urban functioning (movement systems, public space, land use, building interface, microclimate).
In addition to the installation of transformers, Brand Engineering also fitted massive distribution boards, extensive cabling and cable ladders. A key challenge was getting the electrical equipment to the 32 levels of the building. This was done using external hoists and three major cranes.
“All the electrical installations were done in accordance with green building principles and Green Star specifications,” states Kriel. “For example, there are checks and balances in place on each floor to ensure energy consumption does not exceed a certain level. This was largely due to the overall Led lighting installation design. Furthermore all excess wiring and waste was disposed of according to Green Star requirements.”
S.A’s first tall green star building in Cape Town Portside Development facilitate the rapid development of the site,” explained Brent Wiltshire, Property Development Executive, and Old Mutual Property. “I’m very pleased to report that we now have all the final approvals in place, so it is ‘full steam ahead’ and we are on schedule for completion of the building in March 2014. “A building of this scale has far-reaching impacts on both employment creation and the on-going revival and growth of Cape Town’s CBD. Furthermore, not only will Portside be Cape Town’s tallest building, but we have incorporated environmental considerations in the design, construction and future management of the building. Our aim is to achieve a Green Star SA Office rating for both the design and construction (‘As Built’ Rating) of the building, confirming Portside as one of the most sustainable buildings in South Africa, and certainly the first high-rise to achieve this accolade.” Half of the 50 000 square meter building is set to house 2 000 employees across First Rand, FNB, RMB and Wesbank’s provincial headquarters. The remaining 25 000 square meters of AAA premium-grade office space will be available for leasing through Old Mutual Property. “This will be our home in the Western Cape, and we are very excited about the growth in the city of Cape Town, and the opportunity to be part of a project that will form the cornerstone of the new financial district,” said Stephan Claassen, provincial head of FNB. The Green Star SA rating system incorporates measurable environmental initiatives such as management, indoor environmental quality, energy, transport, water, materials, land use and ecology, and emissions. In conjunction with the architects, DHK and Louis Karol Architects, the developers have ensured that Portside sets the benchmark in creating an exceptionally healthy working environment, while
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