Architect and Builder Dec 2017 / Jan 2018 | Page 72

with a gas fired hob). Leak detection and fire
signal interfaces were provided to automatically
shut-down either the specific leg of the system,
or if a fire occured in the garage where the main
gas pipe runs, to lock down the whole system
at its main incoming valve.
• There are two emergency power generator
plantrooms on this site that are dedicated to
1 Silo with its 5 generators and the other (located
in the parking garage) belonging to the V & A
Waterfront and serving only the residential block
and the large parking garage. Where required, to
maintain the integrity of the emergency power
to life safety equipment, these cables were fire
proofed as they cross spaces not protected from
the effects of fire on them.
CIVIL & STRUCTURAL ENGINEER’S COMMENT
Basement Parking Component
For the development parking, Sutherland were
tasked with the enormous challenge of engineering
a solution to accommodate a 2 level basement
whose excavations were not only within 15m of
the operating V & A harbour jetties (in historically
re-claimed land) but, more importantly, were up
to 5.45m below MSL.
The solution to support the excavations in
both the temporary and permanent phases of
the project was a key aspect, coupled with the
critical issue of solving the substantial drainage
requirements in both phases being so close to
and so deep below sea level. Heritage buildings
constructed in the 1920s, together with operational
basements, were underpinned to allow the
construction of basements beneath them, thus
maximising income generating area.
During the operation, the neighbouring Nedbank
office block, as well as the Clock Tower Precinct,
continued to operate despite the heavy machinery
and complex operation which was underway
literally within metres.
Office Block Component
The incredible attention to detail that was
effected by the architects to achieve a clean
uncomplicated light structure called for some
avant garde structural design. ‘Floating’ glass box
breakaway rooms were cantilevered 6m off the
main structure and very slender 16m structural
steel bridges, together with cantilever staircases,
provided linkages between levels within the huge
volume central atrium. The external glass façades
were supported by a 1,000m 2 space truss matrix.
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No 1 Silo