Ehlanzeni District Municipality Building
The brief for the design of new building required the following:

• Office space for all officials and full-time Councillors, based on acceptable norms
• Council Chamber with all necessary support facilities
• Adequate, safe parking for all staff and visitors
• The building had to be representative of:-
  (i) The local Swazi culture,
  (ii) The coat-of-arms; and
  (iii) The environment and climate of Ehlanzeni (Lowveld) region.

Conceptual Architectural Design
A detailed, comprehensive space planning study was undertaken to establish the overall area and volume of the building. Conceptual development of this volume into a building revealed that, to accommodate the approximately 12,000 m2 of office space on the very prominent site overlooking the approach road of visitors into town, would require a building of six storeys in height and would be totally overpowering. The number of floors was therefore halved and placed behind each other to create atriums which will flood the internal facing offices with natural light.

A group of three buildings were therefore envisioned which would represent a Swazi homestead with the central, main “hut” (containing the public facilities and the Council Chamber), being that of the “chief”. The supporting accommodation of the administration flanks the main building in an embracing way to echo the two doves of the coat-of-arms. The main building is covered with a strong shield-shaped roof as a gesture of “protection”. The entire building therefore resembles the coat-of-arms and portrays the influences of the Swazi architectural heritage without being naïve or crude. The building is placed on the edge of the site to provide parking on the remaining area in a park-like environment.

Description of the Building
Administration block Each of the two flanking office blocks contains offices for the administration of the Municipality with a single department per floor.

Central block entrance to the building

The Council Chamber is on the first floor with function areas for the Council above. Semi-private areas are glazed to emphasize the transparency of the organization. The shield-shaped roof is visible from the interior of the Council Chamber as constant reminder of the protection it represents. The Council Chamber is also lit naturally and will be blacked-out when required. The physical form of the Council Chamber protrudes to the outside and will stand out as a beacon of light (like a light house or lantern) during functions at night and will emphasize the “direction-giving” function of the Council.

The entire building is equipped with state-of-the-art electronic equipment like motion sensors to switch on the lights, biometric scanners for access-control and proper visual and audio facilities for the Council Chamber. A very high level of security is maintained throughout the building to create a safe environment for the staff. The building also has a gymnasium to cater for the physical health of the staff and this also has direct access to the garden. Flexibility for future expansion is built into the existing structure and is left unfinished internally until the need arises for additional office space in future.

Disaster Management Centre (DMC)
Recent changes to the powers and functions of the District Municipality created a demand for a Disaster Management Centre (DMC) and this facility was added to the office complex as a free standing building. This building was designed to be the primary DMC for the host city of Nelspruit for the FIFA World Cup. The centre is also flexible in use and can be used as conference centre during times when no disaster demands attention. Movable and stackable partitioning creates a myriad of different spaces in different configurations to satisfy most conferencing demands.

Disaster Management Centre

The Disaster Management Centre consists of a basement parking area, Multi-purpose hall combined with the canteen on the ground floor and Disaster Management Centre on the first floor.

The Architect was appointed to perform all architectural functions and requirements on this building. This included the preparation of the brief, concept design through to preparation of technical documentation. Final space planning was done in collaboration with the Ehlanzeni District Municipality. The architect also prepared full co-ordination documentation in which the work of all disciplines (mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, civil engineering, etc) was co-ordinated in detail. This pro-active planning produced a hassle-free system in which minimal or no clashes were experienced on site.

Material Selection
As is typical in any corporate type development where the facility is managed by the occupier and owner, the building had to be built in maintenance-free material. The following material was used:

• Face brick exterior walls used together with a high-tech wall cladding. This cladding was purpose designed for this application and consists of a sandwich type panel of fibre cement panels (for rigidity) with a Chromadeck finished metal sheet on the outside (fitted within standard aluminium tophat sections).
• Natural anodized aluminium windows and louvers
• Chromadeck finished roof sheeting
• Stone cladding
• Sandstone and slate tiles externally
• Natural, earthy colours internally compliments the exterior of the building
• Off-shutter concrete surfaces on selected areas
• Stainless Steel handrails to balconies.

The juxtaposition of natural, earthy material with high-tech, modern elements follow the design concept of combining the cultural heritage with modern office design principles. The choice of materials also makes the building very visible above the natural tree canopy in front of the site, without being overpowering.

“Green” Technologies
Initial evaluation was done to obtain a Green Star rating for this building. The building was designed to be “intelligent” and “alive”:

• Heat sensors in the roof of the atriums activate electronic window openers to allow hot air to escape when the temperature rises above a certain level of comfort. (These windows also act as smoke extraction elements which open at the first activation of a smoke alarm.) The regular opening and closing of these windows to control the temperature will resemble a breathing organism.
• All rainwater that falls on the roofs and the condensate from the AC plant is collected in a purpose-built grey-water tank in the basement. This water is used to flush the wc’s and urinals as well as for irrigation.
• Motion sensors will activate the light switches so that lights will never be left on without anybody present.
• Door closers to all doors onto balconies will minimize the loss of cool air when entering onto the balconies.
• Solar geysers are used throughout the building.
• All covered parking areas are naturally ventilated to eliminate toxic gases from entering the mechanical ventilation system.

Benefits of the development
This building offers purpose-designed office space for the District Municipality who has been renting commercial office space in town (which was designed for multiple tenant use). Other benefits are:

• The development creates a formal, civic face to the visitor when entering town.
• Natural elements on the site have been preserved as much as possible.
• An identity has been created for the Ehlanzeni District Municipality who, previously have been a fairly unknown entity.
• The well-being and comfort of the occupants are well catered for and an active attempt has been made to eliminate the “sick building” syndrome.
• A much needed Disaster Management Centre is provided for the entire district which also doubles up as conference facility. This eliminates the rental of expensive venues for training, seminars and workshops.
• Adequate parking is provided for visitors to the EDM
• All staff will have secure, covered parking spaces.
• The development is within walking distance to restaurants, shops and banks
• Cafeteria facilities are provided to offer meals to staff
• Stringent security measures ensure the safety of the staff and the protection of their property.

Environmental sensitivities
Approximately 150 indigenous trees have been removed from the site before construction commenced. These trees have been relocated to a nursery and will be re-planted on site after completion of the construction.

Permission was obtained from Mbombela Municipality for EDM to act as custodians for the remaining area around the site. This area contains a well known koppie which will be maintained in its natural state. The graves of the Nel family, after which Nelspruit was named, is also situated in this area and this fact will be marketed by the tourism Department of the District Municipality.

Project Details

• Name of project managers = Pasqa Africa Project Managers
• Name of contractor = No 17 MCC/ Rea Dira
• Projects Project handover date = 02 July 2008 Project
• Commencement date = 02 August 2008
• Contract period = 18 months ending 28 February 2010
• Actual Completion date = 14 May 2010
• Total budget = R242, 345,900.
• Construction costs = R211, 776,994
• Professional fees = R 30,568,906

• Total work opportunities created = 233
• Women = 57
• Youth = 126
• Adult male = 48
• Disable = 2

KwaNyamazane Stadium

Overall Project Objectives
The need for the project arose from the Agreement between the Mbombela Local Municipality and the Soccer World Cup Local Organizing Committee in terms of which the Kanyamanzane Stadium is made available as training field for one of the participating teams hosted at the Mbombela Stadium. The Kanyamanzane Stadium requires certain improvements and renovations in order to fulfill this purpose in terms of FIFA’s requirements for such facility.

A Service Provider, Lidwala Specialist Engineers and their multi-disciplinary team were appointed to provide all professional services for the planning, design, project management and supervision of the works on behalf of the Ehlanzeni District Municipality.

Description of the facility and the need for upgrading
The following elements at Kanyamazane Stadium had been in place, since the facility had been continuously upgraded before, albeit in phases.

• Adequate spectator seating capacity
• Male and female public toilets with tuck shops
• Separate entrance for the media, VIP guests, players and referee
• Public entrance gates complete with toilets, ticket cubicles and turnstile booths
• Change rooms for two teams under the main grand stand
• Flood lighting
• Perimeter wall
• Track with irrigation system.

A comparison between the existing facilities and the FIFA requirements was done. Directly related to the FIFA requirements, the following additions need to be included in the project scope as these elements and facilities were lacking:

• 2 x FIFA offices complete with toilets (58m²)
• The players facility under the main stand was not adequate to house four teams, because it only had two change rooms.
• Doping room complete with toilets
• Referee dressing room/cloak room
• Player’s and public first aid room
• Media provision complete with temporary studio and public announcement area, as well as a security centre and Operations rooms
• Central store
• The flood lighting of the field required a minimum of 500 lux as specified by FIFA. The current system thus needed to be replaced by a new overhead lighting system.
• There had to be standby power
• There had to be standby stored water
• The track was not to specifications and was lacking in several ways. It was a pertinent requirement of FIFA that the look and feel of the training field had to be similar and equal to the official playing field.

Project Summary:
Budget: R21,000,000
Period: 19 June 2009 – 20 May 2010
Duration: 49 weeks 2.2.4

Employment Opportunities and Training:
The project created employment opportunities to about 47 members of the community, with 49% employed being the Youth and 23% women. The number of people that benefited on training were in the categories of :- Bricklaying (11),Welding (2), Pitch laying (5), Electricity installation & Lighting (6), Plumbing (4), Carpentry (1), Paving (6), Tiling (8), Glazing (4) & Occupational, Health & Safety (47).

KwaBokweni Stadium
Purpose of the Project The objective of the project was to provide FIFA with a training venue as a guarantee for the 2010 World Cup.

A Service Provider, I.N. ZETHU PROJECT MANAGEMENT JOINT VENTURE and their multi-disciplinary team were appointed to provide all professional services for the planning, design, project management and supervision of the works on behalf of the Ehlanzeni District Municipality.

Project Description
The scope of work to meet FIFA’s stringent requirements for a training facility included upgrading of the following elements:

• Team / VIP access road and parking
• Change room and ablution facility including turned and mixed zone.
• Pitch
• Pitch barrier fence
• Stadium lighting including new plinth and high fittings
• Electrical and mechanical installation in respect of change rooms and ablution.
• Plumbing and drainage installation
• Domestic sectorial water tank.
• Additional service line for irrigation supply
• Main services – water and sewer
• Storm water drainage on Team/VIP parking areas.

Project Summary:
Budget: R31,000,000
Period: 19 June 2009 – 20 May 2010
Duration: 49 weeks

Employment Opportunities and Training:
The project created employment opportunities to about 72 members of the community, with 60% employed being the Youth and 46% women. The number of people that benefited on training were in the categories of Bricklaying (11),Welding (3), Pitch laying (7), Electricity installation & Lighting (6),Plumbing (5), Carpentry (2),Paving (16), Tiling (12),Glazing (7) and Occupational, Health & Safety (72). 2.4 Bergvlan 2010 Fan Park During 2009 EDM became part of the 2010 FIFA World Cup preparations by offering assistance to Mbombela Local Municipality by undertaking to co-fund and implement 3 projects. The projects were the upgrading of Kabokweni and Kanyamazane stadiums to FIFA practice stadium standard, as well as the establishment of a FIFA Fan Park in Mbombela. EDM tackled this mammoth task with enthusiasm and dedication and successfully commissioned the three projects within time, within budget and specification, ready for hosting the 2010 FIFA soccer world cup event.

Scope of work
The project consisted of the re-development of Bergvlam Secondary School’s main sport pavilion, construction of a loose standing toilet block which serves the school and the sports facility and lastly the renovation and upgrading of the school hall.

Although the school hall was used as a facility to receive and entertain VIP guests of the FIFA event, it also served as a legacy item which will be a long term asset to the school for many years to come, created by the FIFA event. The pavilion development included the following facilities i.e.: 1x multi functional hall, 1x joint operational control centre, 4x VIP suites, 4x toilet blocks and dressing rooms. In total the project provided 63x toilets, 50x basins, 20 meters of urinals and 8x showers.

General school infrastructure was also upgraded by installing a water ring main line, an upgraded sewer line, newly designed and installed electrical reticulation, 4x entrance gate structures including 9x turnstile crowd control gates, electrical counters at gates, public and emergency announcement system and totally upgraded site lighting. The facility developed was of the highest standard, providing FIFA with a state of the art Fan Park and leaving Bergvlam Secondary School with a long term asset and legacy items.

Community participation
In order to involve and bind in the local community all local contractors, sub contractors and suppliers were given preference to participate in the project, therefore stimulating the local economy and providing local residents with job opportunities. Job opportunities were co-ordinated through EDM and focused on the employment of local unemployed people.

Timeframe
The project kicked off during October 2009 and was practical completed on 16 April 2010 resulting in a 7 months total project development period.

The project was planned and designed from scratch, existing facilities demolished, special foundations installed, as well as all facilities fully constructed in the nearly impossible timeframe of 7 months. The nearly impossible timeframe was achieved by running all possible functions in parallel for instance starting construction whilst still finalizing the final design. The project workforce also sacrificed their annual builders’ holiday and carried on with work right through December 2009 in order to achieve set deadlines. This unselfish attitude of the workforce ensured the success of the project and at the same time resulted in additional income for their families, in turn leading to the upliftment of people in Mbombela and the greater Mpumalanga.

Conclusion
In the spirit of pursuing a greater goal which made the people of our Municipality, our District and Province proud, EDM have joined the cause by implementing a world class Fan Park facility which rose to the occasion and acted as a successful Fan Park venue which impressed both local and overseas soccer fans.