Eskom Matimba Office

Lephalale, Limpopo Province, South Africa

BACKGROUND

The Eskom Matimba Power Station is situated in Lephalale, Limpopo Province. Many of the existing buildings at the power station were constructed using asbestos-containing material, which was common practice in the early 80s.

Research has shown that there is a significant link between exposure to asbestos and lung cancer. Asbestos was subsequently banned in 2003. With ongoing pressure from environmental groups, as well as the startling evidence of disease contracted from minimal exposure to asbestos, this project was commissioned. Eskom has decided to remove asbestos-containing materials from nine of its buildings and to construct a new office building and various other structures.

SERVICES RENDERED

The project entailed the following:

  • Remove asbestos-containing material from buildings
  • Construct a new double-storey office building
  • Refurbish the existing administration building
  • Construct a new canteen
  • Construct a new gatehouse
  • Construct an office and ablutions
  • Construct a washbay
  • Renovate contractor office
  • Provide vehicle parking
  • Provide services to the new Cresco site.

Eskom required three conceptual designs for the new double-storey building.

The building had to conform to Green design principles, which specifically included:

  • Double-glazed windows
  • Skylights
  • Solar power
  • An energy-efficient building management system
  • An optimized waste and grey water management system.

The project included external roads, parking and landscaping. The landscaping had to accommodate walkways, garden seats, smoking areas and water features, and had to fit in with the semi-arid climate conditions of Lephalale. Security aspects that had to be considered are access control, alarm systems, and interior and exterior CCTV cameras. The parking area had to accommodate 440 covered car parking bays fitted with photovoltaic panels to generate power.

The canteen and kitchen had to form a separate building and had to accommodate up to 600-seated people. The building furthermore had to be multi-functional allowing it to be used as a function hall for mass meetings of up to 800 people. The dining area had to have two separate areas, one catering for office employees and the other for overall-clad workers.

The design of the project has been completed but construction has been placed on hold temporarily due to budget constraints.

CLIENT NAME: Eskom

LOCATION: Lephalale, Limpopo Province, South Africa

PROJECT DURATION: 9 Months

START DATE: June 2013

END DATE: March 2014

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