Emperors Metcourt extension is fastest-track construction project in Gauteng
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The Urban Development division of SMEC South Africa was tasked with the full design of the civil and structural components of the project, followed by site supervision and project management, Function Manager – Buildings Marius Mostert explains.
The R112 million expansion to the select-services, three-star Metcourt will see a further 100 rooms added to the popular hotel. This will boost the hotel from a 248 to a 348-key facility, extending the capacity of Emperors Palace to 757 rooms in total.
SMEC South Africa began working on the project in July 2016, in conjunction with Boogertman + partners as principal architect. “The main challenge is that client Peermont has already taken bookings for December 2016, its busiest trading period of the year. Therefore the project has an unmovable deadline,” comments Lead Structural Engineer Brian Seston.
The consulting engineer focused on completing all of the necessary construction drawings for main contractor Boutel to begin the build as fast as possible. Cranage was erected as of July 2016, with the initial focus on pile caps, ground beams, and columns.
Seston adds that the piling posed an initial challenge, as existing services had to be accommodated. “The slabs are nominally reinforced concrete slabs, and not post-tensioned. It is a basic concrete frame construction,” he elaborates.
The main challenge associated with the design process has been to match up seamlessly with the existing structure. “The aim is for there to be no visible distinction between the new and old sections, so it resembles a continuous structure.”
Seston elaborates: “The design was fairly straightforward. We were locked in by the fact of the existing structure, which meant we have had to match all of the slab levels. We had to redesign some of the ground-floor items in order to speed up the construction process.”
The Metcourt is a contemporary, functional hotel aimed mainly at business travellers and convention centre guests. However, Peermont identified a need to be able to offer more family-friendly rooms, and also to cater for large groups travelling on a budget. The new king- and twin-bed configurations of the rooms offer stay solutions for a variety of new markets. The expanded hotel will also feature a single suite, with its own private balcony.
The 5 166 m² extension includes an addition to the existing F.L.A.G. Café, an additional lift, enhanced access to the rest of the complex, a new façade opposite the Metcourt Suites, and a 24-hour gymnasium. “While our main appointment is the hotel extension itself, we are also involved with some of the smaller works associated with these extra elements and features,” Seston concludes.
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Notes to the editor
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About SMEC South Africa
SMEC is a global consulting engineering firm providing high quality, professional services on major infrastructure projects. SMEC has joined forces with Surbana Jurong, Asia’s consultancy powerhouse in the urban, infrastructure and management advisory sectors. This partnership provides a talent pool of 10 000 dedicated people working across a network of 100 offices in 40 countries throughout Asia, Australasia, the Middle East, Africa and the Americas. SMEC’s strength in major infrastructure projects, coupled with Surbana Jurong’s expertise in urban planning, industrial development and management advisory enable us to provide critical value chain services to clients around the world.
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