PEs Fountain Road Advice Centre a lifeline for township youth
Published: December 11, 2012
![]()
An artists impression of the Fountain Road Advice Centre in Port Elizabeth.
A life of drugs, crime and drinking had seemed the only option available to the youth of the Gqebera Township, near Walmer in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, given the high levels of unemployment and lack of recreational facilities in the area.
That was until the Fountain Road Advice Centre, with its state-of the-art library, offices and informal trading space for the local community, was created.
Since 2011 specialist contractors GVK-Siya Zama have been hard at work building the Centre and now the doors are almost ready to open.
Mike Cawse of GVK-Siya Zamas operation in the Eastern Cape, says the development is in the heart of the township and is encircled by low-cost housing and tin shacks. It was designed to have a contemporary look that contrasts with its surroundings to be inspirational and aspirational to the community. It is also intended to uplift the locals and instil a sense of self-worth.
The work required the demolition of existing sub-let buildings and a post office attached to the community hall, after which we began construction of the advice centre, which has been designed by architect Simon Patrellis of NOH Architects to resemble an African basket, says Cawse.
The semi-circular double storey concrete structure features off-shutter concrete structural columns and slender steel supports that hold a light metal sheeted roof. The columns, originating from the ground floor, are constructed in a V-shape at a 66 degree angle. The steel structure on the first floor is also set at 66 degrees with aluminium curtain walling enclosing the semi-circular façade, topped off by a semi-circular flat roof.
The African theme has been continued on the exterior of the ground floor through the use of timber trusses and clay brick paving and walls. Inside, timber joinery has been used in the construction of the reception counter and marmoleum floor finishes have been applied in the reception area and passages.
Cawse says it was a technically challenging project due to the radial design which meant that the concrete, structural steel, walls, rafters, glass panels and lights all had to line up from the centre of the circle and follow the same angled shape.
Operations on the site were acknowledged with an award in the East Cape Master Builders Associations 2012 Health and Safety Competition for projects in the R5 million to R25m category.
GVK-Siya Zama is an OHSAS 18001:2007 certified company and follows the guidelines of the ISO 9001 in its quality management processes. As part of the companys internal health, safety and environment policy and quality processes, GVK-Siya Zama evaluates its sites every month to ensure compliance. From the outset, this project has achieved platinum status for attaining compliance of 97 percent and higher.
The project is set to change to the course of many young peoples lives, and was made possible by a R11.9m investment from the National Treasury Department through its Neighbourhood Development Partnership Grant. The grant aims to uplift and improve the social fabric of tainted communities through engagement with the youth. In keeping with this ethos, GVK-Siya Zama ensured that local labour and contractors were used, says Cawse.
Source: SA Property News
Published: December 11, 2012
An artists impression of the Fountain Road Advice Centre in Port Elizabeth.
A life of drugs, crime and drinking had seemed the only option available to the youth of the Gqebera Township, near Walmer in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, given the high levels of unemployment and lack of recreational facilities in the area.
That was until the Fountain Road Advice Centre, with its state-of the-art library, offices and informal trading space for the local community, was created.
Since 2011 specialist contractors GVK-Siya Zama have been hard at work building the Centre and now the doors are almost ready to open.
Mike Cawse of GVK-Siya Zamas operation in the Eastern Cape, says the development is in the heart of the township and is encircled by low-cost housing and tin shacks. It was designed to have a contemporary look that contrasts with its surroundings to be inspirational and aspirational to the community. It is also intended to uplift the locals and instil a sense of self-worth.
The work required the demolition of existing sub-let buildings and a post office attached to the community hall, after which we began construction of the advice centre, which has been designed by architect Simon Patrellis of NOH Architects to resemble an African basket, says Cawse.
The semi-circular double storey concrete structure features off-shutter concrete structural columns and slender steel supports that hold a light metal sheeted roof. The columns, originating from the ground floor, are constructed in a V-shape at a 66 degree angle. The steel structure on the first floor is also set at 66 degrees with aluminium curtain walling enclosing the semi-circular façade, topped off by a semi-circular flat roof.
The African theme has been continued on the exterior of the ground floor through the use of timber trusses and clay brick paving and walls. Inside, timber joinery has been used in the construction of the reception counter and marmoleum floor finishes have been applied in the reception area and passages.
Cawse says it was a technically challenging project due to the radial design which meant that the concrete, structural steel, walls, rafters, glass panels and lights all had to line up from the centre of the circle and follow the same angled shape.
Operations on the site were acknowledged with an award in the East Cape Master Builders Associations 2012 Health and Safety Competition for projects in the R5 million to R25m category.
GVK-Siya Zama is an OHSAS 18001:2007 certified company and follows the guidelines of the ISO 9001 in its quality management processes. As part of the companys internal health, safety and environment policy and quality processes, GVK-Siya Zama evaluates its sites every month to ensure compliance. From the outset, this project has achieved platinum status for attaining compliance of 97 percent and higher.
The project is set to change to the course of many young peoples lives, and was made possible by a R11.9m investment from the National Treasury Department through its Neighbourhood Development Partnership Grant. The grant aims to uplift and improve the social fabric of tainted communities through engagement with the youth. In keeping with this ethos, GVK-Siya Zama ensured that local labour and contractors were used, says Cawse.
Source: SA Property News