|
Nosizo Sebake |
The inside of the Transnet Pattern Store building before renovation (top) and afterwards (below)
|
 |
One of the new work spaces after refurbishment |
Nosizo Sebake of the CSIR undertook a sustainability assessment of the design of a refurbished Transnet Pattern Store building late last year. She used the Sustainable Building Assessment Tool (SBAT) developed by CSIR colleague Dr Jeremy Gibberd.
The assessment was followed in March this year with the development of the building user manual for the occupants of the building. Now, having completed the first two deliverables of the project, Sebake (with input from the project architect, Friedrich Strey of Strey Architects, and a UK-based MSc student, Leo Mazambani) is now undertaking the final project deliverable, the post-occupancy evaluation of the building.
The two-storey building on Transnet's Koedoespoort depot was originally used by the rail engineering company as a drawing office where the sample moulds of locomotive, wagon and coach parts were made. When the desktop computer and computer-aided draughting programmes became popular, Transnet decided to move its drawing staff to buildings that could quickly accommodate the new technology. As a result of this, the Pattern Store building was left desolate for approximately a decade.
In 2005, Transnet decided to consolidate 13 of its departments (most linked to the drawing office), which were using rented space in buildings throughout the country. The Pattern Store building was an obvious choice to accommodate the 380 employees from these departments. This move has ensured that the drawing staff are at the depot of locomotive components for which they design.
In 2007, when Sebake, Gibberd, Strey (who had won the tender to design the refurbishment of the building) and the Transnet project manager visited the building site, the building - though old - was in a very good condition.
Strey Architects (StArch) insisted that the CSIR be brought on board to ensure that sustainability issues were addressed during the project. The project commenced in April 2008, with the CSIR taking an observatory role in the first few months, before a contract was signed in the third quarter of 2008.
The Transnet brief was for the conversion of the Pattern Store building into an office facility that would accommodate the employees and provide parking facilities for them. StArch interpreted the brief to focus on various sustainability issues, including the use of an open plan office layout to accommodate the employees and also encourage social interaction. StArch immediately involved the future users of the building in the design process by using questionnaires developed to identify the needs of the users.
"Sustainability was taken into account during the partial demolition of the building. It was impressive that the client salvaged more than 90% of the demolished components. Salvaged bricks were reused in the building, light fittings were stored for later use, mechanical parts were used as landscape feature outside the building and roof sheeting was donated to local schools," comments Sebake. "Transnet's procurement policies also ensured that labour, building materials, components, fittings and furniture were sourced locally (i.e. from within a 50 km radius of the site), resulting in benefits to the local community. Furthermore, the contractor provided on-site training on health and safety issues for all site workers."
The building was designed to be water and energy efficient. In terms of water efficiency, low flush cisterns and shower heads were installed. The building supports energy efficiency through the use of motion sensors (i.e. lighting and air conditioning), the use of glass partitioning for cellular offices and a saw-tooth roof structure to maximise the use of daylight.
"The design of buildings can be seen as a pilot project, because each building is constructed under different conditions, including the location, topography and climate. Built environment professionals who hadn't worked together before may form the design team for the project and disband after completion," says Sebake.
"The post-occupancy evaluation that is currently taking place at the Transnet Pattern Store building will ensure that users can provide feedback in a structured way, so that the professional team is made aware of how the building is being used. This awareness should serve to inform how the professional team undertakes its future projects, particularly the extent to which the end-user is involved at the beginning of the project," she concludes.
Enquiries: CSIR Communication
|
