The high-availability centre includes several data halls supported by specialised ancillary services, including HVAC, fire and electrical services, notes Esrom Phaka, contracts director at Grinaker-LTA Building Inland. The total building area will be more than 27 000m2, much of it a concrete structure containing heavy rebar. Challenges for Grinaker-LTA include casting some 60 000m3 of concrete in just 10 months and the co-ordination, installation, commissioning and testing of the ancillary services. 

In addition, the project team must comply with stringent health, safety and environmental specifications.

To date, Grinaker-LTA has completed the first floor slabs for two of the data halls and the office block. The complex’s sub-station structure has also been completed, Phaka states, and the contractor has commenced the boundary wall, which will be completed by the end of June 2009. He says the project is on track for its scheduled practical completion in December 2009.
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This contract has created significant job opportunities, with a total of more than 700 people presently employed on the site. Emphasis has been placed on sourcing skills, suppliers and sub-contractors from the local community, and Grinaker-LTA currently has 400 local workers employed on this project, together with 343 local sub-contractors’ employees and 12 local suppliers.