As the readymix concrete supplier of choice, AfriSam will supply approximately 17 500 m3 of readymix concrete for the construction of various structures of the Infinité Apartments
Tri-Star works with AfriSam on top-drawer Infinité apartments
A glittering new residential development featuring fluid spaces, transparency and the spectacular use of glass is under construction in the suburb of Bedfordview, east of Johannesburg, with Tri-Star Construction as lead contractor and AfriSam supplying the readymix concrete.
Developed by Fatasy Property, Infinité is a luxury ten storey block of 198 high specification apartments, most ranging in size from 40 m2 studios to 79 m2 two bedroom units. Eighteen of the units will be the exclusive penthouses, complete with double volume areas to further enhance the sense of spaciousness and elegance.
In one of the largest pours that the contract will require, AfriSam delivered and poured 590 m3 for a basement slab during September 2017
Infinité will be the first high rise residential offering in the Bedfordview area, boasting both north facing and south facing apartments. The generous facilities will include two levels of underground parking, meeting rooms, a gym, an outside pool and a club house.
Glass balustrades all around the building and on every floor add to the modern design which, according to the architect Adrian Maserow of AMA Architects, “embodies the ambition of contemporary architecture”. The style is further enhanced by light colours with muted hues of charcoal, stone, brushed steel, oak and iceberg white.
Construction
Numbers of workers on site will peak at about 460, including sub-contractors and their staff
With earthworks kicking off early in 2017, Tri-Star Construction was on site to start piling work in May 2017 and full construction activities began in July the same year. The company will take the building right through all the construction phases to final finishes.
“We are building in three sections – west, centre and east,” Tri-Star Construction contracts manager Daniel van Jaarsveld, says. “While these are being done almost concurrently, we will advance with the core section – where the lifts are situated – slightly ahead of the east and west sections, which will then follow together.”
The partnership with AfriSam on this project began with the supply of readymix for the over 110 pile caps – each taking between six and nine cubic metres of concrete – and the foundations for the building. AfriSam will supply some 17 500 m3 over the course of the project, according to AfriSam sales consultant Liza Rossouw, supplied from the company’s Prolecon and Spartan plants.
The size of the project also requires substantial quantities of reinforcing steel. Over the duration of the construction period, about 2 700 tonnes of reinforcing bar will find its way into the concrete elements of the structure
Construction of pile caps, columns and basement floors is followed by the transfer slab on the first floor. The concrete specified for the 1,5 metre by 2 metre beams is 50 MPa, while the columns demand 40 MPa strength. In one of the largest pours that the contract will require, AfriSam delivered and poured 590 m3 for a basement slab during September 2017.
The size of the project also requires substantial quantities of reinforcing steel. Over the duration of the construction period, about 2 700 tonnes of reinforcing bar will find its way into the concrete elements of the structure.
Where special concrete mixes are required – such as for the swimming pool deck – AfriSam will create the required mix at the plant and deliver to site. In the case of the pool, the roof and some areas on the first floor where garden areas are planned, a chemical admixture will provide the concrete with improved waterproofing qualities by reducing its porosity.
“Concrete quality is, of course, high on our agenda and we test every pour ourselves, as well as make use of the services of a well-respected and independent service provider,” says Van Jaarsveld.
Infinité will be the first high rise residential offering in the Bedfordview area, boasting both north facing and south facing apartments
“AfriSam conducts tests for our own purposes,” says Rossouw. “This is a crucial element of the quality control for which we are well-known in the readymix concrete sector, helping customers to safeguard their own standards and effectively manage their risk.”
The main structure will be completed by June 2018, while brickwork will continue until October; about 4,3 million bricks will be laid in the building of Infinité, along with the consumption of 38 000 bags of cement which will be batched on site mainly for bricklaying and plastering purposes. The maximum height of the building is scheduled to be reached in September 2018.
“With our focus on the quality of our work and the safety of everyone on site, we place high importance on working with sub-contractors with experience, in whose ability we have the highest confidence,” says Van Jaarsveld. “High quality finishes are non-negotiable in a contract of this nature, as the client and end-consumer will be expecting flawless results in every aspect of their living area.”
The quality finishes include Bosch and Hansgrohe appliances and fittings. Large windows open each living space to expansive surrounding views.
The sub-contractors will be responsible for applying 63 000 m2 of plaster on the walls of the building, all to the high standards expected by the contractor – as well as 180 000 m2 of paint. Numbers of workers on site will peak at about 460, including sub-contractors and their staff.
Among the challenges when building this scale of project in a residential suburb, he says, is the potential disturbance caused by construction noise.
“It is therefore vital for us to engage continuously with residents of the area, so that we can do all we can to accommodate them, while maintaining our construction schedule,” he says. “There are particular demands of the building process, however, that can make this difficult. When pouring large slabs, for example, we still need to power float the concrete for some time to achieve the desired finish and this may extend well over normal working hours.”
The main structure will be completed by June 2018, while brickwork will continue until October 2018. The maximum height of the building is scheduled to be reached in September 2018.
What is important, he notes, is to communicate with residents well in advance, and to keep the noise levels as low as possible and within working hours as far as can be arranged.
“We work to provide a highly professional and hands-on service to our clients and stakeholders, whether the project is large, small, simple or complex,” says Van Jaarsveld. “We therefore rely on the consistently stringent standard of readymix concrete delivery from AfriSam, as they complement our own commitment to quality, safety and best practice.”
AfriSam may be contacted on: 0800 141 141