Architect and Builder Dec 2017 / Jan 2018 | Page 95

Nyeleti developed, others remained skeptical about
the idea until the completion. However, BMW’s senior
management (both locally and internationally) were
convinced and Nyeleti received approval to continue with
detail design and tender documentation.
The working restrictions of this project had a significant
impact on progress, and some portions of the work took
longer than anticipated. The interface between the new
and existing building was more complex than expected,
and required an extensive group effort to resolve.
Value Engineering
Teichmann Structures proposed two value engineering
options to the design concept which were adopted.
Instead of assembling the columns in sections from the
ground up, the columns – 600x600x16mm steel square
hollow sections, each 12.8m long – were fabricated as
a complete unit and lifted onto the roof structure. Each
column was rolled horizontally into position, using a trolley
on temporary rails on top of the roof structure. Once in
position above the foundations, the column would be tilted
90˚ to a vertical position, and then lowered through an
opening in the roof onto its foundation. The proposed
working platform would have been a temporary structure
spanning across one of the internal roads. This was revised
to be a permanent (pre-cast concrete) structure located
one bay westwards of the original position.
Steel Awards
The plant was programmed to commence vehicle
assembly in the last week of January 2017. The entire
team had to work 24-hour shifts over the December
(during the construction fraternity break!) to meet the
handover-deadline to the H-EMS contractor. Practical
completion was achieved at the end of December
2016 and the assembly of vehicles started on time. The
completion of the interface between the new and existing
roofs took longer than anticipated, but operation of the
assembly line was unaffected.
Today BMW has an assembly plant that conforms to
their specifications with an assembly process that is ready
to start manufacturing the new X3-series in January 2018.
Client: BMW South Africa
Structural Engineer: Nyeleti Consulting
Temporary Works Engineer: ARQ
Consulting Engineers
Main Contractor: Teichmann Structures
Steelwork Supplier: Boksan Projects
Steel Erectors: Teichmann Structures; Valoworx
Cladding Contractor:
Roofing Guarantee Company
Corrosion Protection/Paintwork
Contractor: Dram Trading
Hyd