Giuricich Bros Construction, a leading South African family-owned construction firm and the main contractor for the prestigious new Springs Mall at Blue Crane Eco Park, has confirmed the mall’s construction is progressing according to schedule and will open on Thursday, 16 March 2017.
Set amid wetlands, Springs Mall’s design is inspired by its setting. So too is its construction. Both target creating an environmentally sensitive structure.“We are hugely proud to be part of developing the all-new Springs Mall. Not only is Giuricich Bros Construction the main contractor, but Murinda Investments, which is part of the Giuricich Bros Group, is an investor and a proud joint owner of the mall,” says director of Giuricich Bros Construction, Nicky Giuricich.
The group has played a key role in helping to unlock the Springs Mall development, which is the brainchild of the Springs-based D’Arrigo family.
Besides the Giuricich and D’Arrigo families, shareholders in the development include leading shopping centre developers and leasing specialists, Flanagan & Gerard Property Development & Investment and JSE-listed retail-focused REIT, Vukile Property Fund.
Unique in many ways, this world-class regional mall development in Gauteng has demanded the highest level of construction skill and expertise from its contractor.
Springs Mall is a feat of engineering as its site is over dolomitic rock, which weathers and erodes when it touches water. This presented some challenges for its construction.
Nicky Giuricich, who is also the site director, explains that Springs Mall is essentially being built on a concrete raft, with its ground floor comprising a cast slab instead of the normal surface bed. Usually, drainage would be suspended under a building’s first floor, but, with this slab, it isn’t possible. Instead, an underground service tunnel running the length of the mall has been created as a drainage spine, with a dual containment system of pipes within pipes to ensure no leakage.
“This is extremely unusual and possibly even the first time it has been done for a shopping centre in South Africa,” says Nicky Giuricich.
He adds the mall’s ambitious construction is not only based on a solid foundation of world-class engineering in consultation with specialist dolomitic consultants but is also in keeping with the latest leading international standards and deeply respectful of its sensitive site.
Set amid wetlands, Springs Mall’s design is inspired by its setting. So too is its construction. Both target creating an environmentally sensitive structure.
“Most of Springs Mall’s construction material and products have been sourced locally, within a 50km radius of the mall. The steel is local, so are the bricks and mortar. This ensures the local economy gets optimal benefit from the project and reduces the structure’s construction carbon footprint, wherever possible,” says Giuricich.
Also helping to lighten its carbon footprint, rebar is one of the recycled materials used in the project.
Among the mall’s many green building elements, Giuricich Bros have constructed cavity walls to insulate the building, which reduces its energy transfer so there is less heat loss and heat gain. This will decrease its ongoing energy consumption for cooling and heating.
He adds: “Throughout construction we remain fully focused on the intention of Springs Mall to be environmentally innovative and respectful. For us, this is simply good building practice. We are also pleased that its construction is subject to strict environmental monitoring to ensure peace of mind that the surrounding wetlands remain uncontaminated during building.”
This large-scale retail development adds to Giuricich’s portfolio of landmark construction projects. They include, among others, its recent construction of the 6 Star Green Star SA Office Design certified WWF offices in Johannesburg; the redevelopment of the iconic Oyster Box Hotel in Umhlanga Rocks, Durban; building McDonalds restaurants countrywide; the 20 West Street Capital Hotel building in Sandton; the original BMW head office in Midrand; recent motor dealerships for Mercedes-Benz, KIA and Hyundai; switch-centres countrywide for MTN; and, as one of the contractors in the original development of well-known shopping centres such as Hyde Park, Fourways Mall, Southgate and Rosebank Mall.
Giuricich Bros Construction was established in 1940 in Johannesburg by the late Nicolò and Cesare Giuricich, and has become one of SA’s largest privately owned and managed construction companies. It has achieved and retained a Level Three BEE rating. With over 76 years in business, Giuricich Bros Construction today is based in Gauteng and Cape Town and undertakes contracts countrywide.
“It’s great to be associated with the development and construction of this world-class Springs Mall regional shopping centre. It is set to be a well-built quality property and a world-class shopping mall that adds a uniquely innovative and appealing real estate asset to our built environment,” says Nicky Giuricich.
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