African Design Magazine ADM #37 February 2018 | Page 14
As the first building to be constructed in a larger developmental master plan for the vacant
land between the Centurion Mall and John Vorster Drive, the BCX headquarters makes a
bold statement. The building can be accessed from both Lenchen Avenue and South Street to
allow staff, visitor and delivery access to be assigned to different entrances, thus providing
an efficient vehicular flow. Pedestrians gain access at either of the two entrances.
The building can be accessed from both Lenchen Avenue and South Street to allow staff, visitor and
delivery access to be assigned to different entrances, thus providing an efcient vehicular ow.
Pedestrians gain access at either of the two entrances.
According to Taryn Landman from architects, SVA International, the site presented a number
of challenges due to underlying dolomite in the area. Two large category 7 sinkhole areas
located close to the main road intersections of John Vorster and Lenchen Avenue as well as
Lenchen Avenue and South Street, meant that the building needed to be located towards the
back of the site.
This resulted in a design which is characterised by angular geometries as the building 'wraps'
itself around these sinkhole zones. The remaining portions of the site allowed for pockets of
parking to be separated into visitor and staff parking areas, which in turn influenced the
entrance locations to the buildings.
To provide for the required engineering compliance, a specialist foundation design that
would support the building entailed compaction of the box cut under the building and roads
with high energy impact compaction; provision of an additional 1.5 m deep soil ma ress of
G6 gravel under the building foundation; and the construction of a reinforced concrete raft
structure designed to span a 5 m loss-of-soil support. continue to page 16
14 africandesignmagazine.com