Moroff and Kuhne attended to all the engineering requirements for the project, including the foundations, first floor and the roof slabs.
The architects on the project were the Cape Town based firm, Anesa & Barbosa. Delays of up to two months were experienced once construction began, due to intervention by a group of residents who questioned the legitimacy of the Crossroads Community Advisory Board’s selection of the site. This was fortunately amicably resolved and construction resumed.
The construction was supervised by Moroff & Kuhne and local labour was used throughout the project. A group of women were also enlisted to make sure that the men on site were working at a regular pace and not slacking off. “It was quite funny to see these ladies with their hard hats checking up on their husbands to make sure they were working and doing their jobs properly!” laughs Mike Kuhne, who was involved in the project.
In order to facilitate the process and flow of activities associated with vaccine trial participation, the layout of the ground floor was very important. The foyer area is double volume and provides a major source of light for the building. Some sections of the building require constant temperatures (the laboratory, pharmacy and phlebotomy) and are air-conditioned but the rest of the building is naturally ventilated with corrugated canopies over the windows.
A generator was also provided for emergency power. “We were very pleased to be involved in this community project and are very proud of everyone’s achievements!” added Mike.
The building has been featured in the latest Digest of the SA Institute for Architects for 2007/2008.
Contact Details: Issued by Fiona Richardson Moroff & Kuhne Unit 20 Kingfisher Park, Our Paardeveli Road , Somerset West Tel 021 851 1514 Fax 021 852 2515 Email fionar@m-k.co.za
