The first of six towers at Cape Town’s largest and most ambitious new mixed-use precinct has “topped out” on the 23rd floor, 95 meters above ground, just 30 months after breaking ground in January.
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According Amdec Property Developments, Managing Director, Nicholas Stopforth, this development is reaching the highest point of Tower 1 at Harbour Arch and it represents a significant milestone in their construction journey.
He added that the development has picked up swiftly, despite an unforeseen delay following the outbreak of Covid-19 in 2020. The development plans are on track and scheduled for completion in May next year, as per BusinessTech.
With several significant structural-engineering challenges, the main contractor, WBHO had to face several significant structural-engineering challenges, including deep ground-rock drilling and excavation required for the precinct’s 3-level super-basement, 11 meters below ground.
Dale Blanchard, Contracts Director at WBHO, explained: “Working within a restricted space and access, 65 000 cubic meters of earth and 5 000 cubic meters of rock had to be removed during the excavation process.”
Weather conditions like the wind also played havoc with their construction program, particularly the higher they went up. “In one of the windiest years in Cape Town’s history, we’re thrilled that the team were still able to top out a structure of this enormity on time,” Blanchard said.
With just under a year to go till completion, it has also taken around three million man hours to get this far, with tens of thousands of people – including unskilled labourers, builders, tradesmen, technicians, engineers, and architects – working to bring this iconic landmark to life.
The ambitious R16 billion development will comprise double-volume glass-fronted retail space at ground level – designated for exclusive motor dealerships, coffee shops and further retail space on the eighth floor which will house restaurants with indoor and outdoor seating.
Cutting an impressive figure against the Mother City’s skyline, Harbour Arch will create a new gateway to the Mother City. The completed precinct will comprise 6 towers with usable space accommodating commercial offices and corporate headquarters; an urban park and shopping galleria at street level; an 8th floor open-air piazza lined with restaurants, coffee shops and cocktails bars; 2 Marriott branded hotels, with conferencing facilities; a flagship health and fitness club, and the largest selection of residential apartment in the CBD.
Stopforth concluded by saying: “A multi-billion rand project of this magnitude requires the technical skill, expertise and dedication of a highly specialised multi-disciplinary team.” He acknowledged the professional team who has proven to be up for the task, while WBHO was an automatic first choice, having successfully constructed and delivered the Amdec Group’s R1.4 billion Yacht Club development back in 2017.
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Picture: Harbour Arch/ Facebook
