Architect and Builder Magazine South Africa March/April 2015 | Page 10

NewsWatch

the latest news and products from the building industry and allied professions

NEWSWORTHY

WSP AND PARSONS
BRINCKERHOFF JOINING
FORCES IN AFRICA

WSP and Parsons Brinckerhoff have
announced their new Managing
Director in Africa for the newly
formed company, following WSP’s
acquisition of Parsons Brinckerhoff
last year. The company will be led
by Mathieu du Plooy, who took
over the role of managing director
for WSP and Parsons Brinckerhoff,
Africa from March 2015.
The two companies share similar
values, and a commitment to technical expertise and excellent client
care. This means the combined
organisation’s people and its clients
remain its top priority as it manages
the change that will be necessary in
combining its operations.
WSP’s acquisition of Parsons
Brinckerhoff was completed in
November 2014, creating one of the
largest pure-play multidisciplinary
consulting firms worldwide, with
combined revenue of $4.8 billion
($3.8 billion net) and approximately
32,000 employees in 500 offices
across 39 countries. This joining of
forces is an opportunity to leverage
the strength of both brands, and the
solid client relationships developed
in Africa, to create an organisation
that is the envy of its competitors.
www.wspgroup.com
10

SAISC CALLS FOR STEEL AWARDS
2015 ENTRIES
The Southern African Institute of Steel Construction
(SAISC) has called for entries for the 2015 Steel Awards and
photo competition.
SAISC communications manager, Renee Pretorius, says
that after the high standard of the 2014 Awards, there has
been extraordinary expectation throughout the steel construction industry in relation
to this year’s awards.
Although the judges decide on the categories and winners based on the actual entries
received, the following awards and categories will definitely happen: Overall Winner,
Tubular Category, Light Steel Framing Category, Factory and Warehouse Category and
a new category for carbon steel based cladding related issues.
There are several factors that are considered when judging. These include: the
importance of steel as a structural component of the project, benefits achieved by
using steel construction, aesthetic appeal, environmental/ sustainability consideration,
innovation in design, fabrication or construction, technical prowess required for realising
the project, engineering expertise, exceptional quality of workmanship, tubular content,
cladding: workmanship, innovation, special solutions, size, speed, architectural finish
etc. and more.
“In short”, says Pretorius, “the primary criterion for Steel Awards is: Does the project
illustrate what can be achieved with steel?”
The best photograph of any entry al