The Port Elizabeth branch of Grinaker-LTA Building, part of the JSE-listed Aveng Group, undertook the more than R100-million construction contract for the new six-storey office block, and it’s the first multi-storey development completed at Coega.

“The panoramic view from the upper floors of the new offices highlights the extent of the works carried out by both Coega and the National Ports Authority in the last five to six years,” comments Grinaker-LTA Building’s Port Elizabeth area manager Leon Petrie.

The new head office is a striking, modern addition to the Coega development node, with aluminium cladding and glazed curtain walling on the façade of the foyer areas. This work was executed by Grinaker-LTA Facades and locally- based Jowell Aluminium. The interior finishes are also of an extremely high standard, and include modern floor finishes as well as specialised features such as ‘intelligent’ lighting, with self-dimming fluorescents to blend in with the natural lighting, and self-extinguishing lighting for unoccupied spaces.

The contract required a strong focus on employment equity and job creation. “As the main contractor, Grinaker-LTA was required to ensure the participation in this undertaking of various target groups, such as SMMEs, black-owned businesses, firms owned by women, local enterprises and previously disadvantaged individuals,” Petrie explains.

“It is also important to note that 25% of the contract was completed by SMME contractors, who can be defined as contractors with an annual turnover of less than R5 million and whose businesses are more than 51% black owned. Certain of the SMME businesses have managed, through their involvement on this project, to grow their business beyond SMME status.”

Bruno Ponzo, project manager for the CDC, states that the tender targets set by Grinaker-LTA were all met or exceeded.

“Some 997 workers were employed during the course of this contract. There were 29 learnerships in place, and 37 people attended various skills development programmes,” Petrie adds.

Environmental, health and safety considerations were dealt with as a high priority throughout the contract. “The CDC was extremely vigilant in ensuring that all works where undertaken in strict accordance with the environmental management plan and health and safety procedures as defined for the zone.

“There was substantial interest from Government in the project and this was highlighted by a visit to the site by Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka during the finishing stage of the contract,” he says.

With the CDC offices successfully completed, Grinaker-LTA Building has moved onto its next project at the Coega IDZ – a R67-million contract for new facilities at the Port of Ngqura, which forms part of the Transnet Expansion Programme for Coega. “Although construction has been underway at Port Ngqura for some time, this is the first major building project being undertaken at the Port,” Petrie explains.

The project comprises a new administration building, mess and ablution facilities. “It has an extremely tight construction programme to ensure that all the facilities are ready before the first ship docks at the Port early in 2009,” he states.