The new Campus for the Dimension Data group of companies is an integrated development and involves the construction of 18 buildings, comprising a total of 85 000 m² of bulk office space, arranged in a huge 'D' around a central full size cricket oval.

Under the perimeter buildings, is a double level continuous basement with underground parking for 4000 cars. Phase 1 completion and occupation by the client is 1 September 2002 with total completion early in 2003. Kantey & Templer Consulting Engineers have been involved with this project as Civil Engineers right from the feasibility, the design and finally the construction stage.

Initially, extensive use was made of aerial photography and Allycad to assist with site selection and to co-ordinate various studies. Once the site was selected between Main Road, Sloane Street, Eaton Avenue and Culross Road, the Eastern Metropolitan Local Council insisted on a full traffic study for the fully developed greater Bryanston Area. This Didata Campus also then formed part of the Sloane Street Precinct, (area between Main Road, Bryanston Drive, William Nicole Avenue and Sloane Street).

To coordinate development in the larger area, a sewer and water master plan, as well as road and stormwater upgradings for the entire precinct were then prepared by Kantey & Templer. In these studies, extensive use was made of Civil Designer, to calculate and model sewerage and stormwater flows, and water pressure and drawoffs of potable water for various development scenarios. Various new infrastructure and upgradings of the road and sewer network were then identified. In total, some R16 million will be spent before 2005 on new roads and sewers in the area.

The initial design of the basement and cricket oval for the Didata Campus involved the excavation of about 400 000 m² of earth and rock. The levels on the site were then optimised using the DTM facility of Civil Designer to balance cut and fill operations to minimise rock excavations and cut to spoil operations. The final building terrace levels were computed using Civil Designer so that only 60 000 m² of unsuitable material is planned to be finally removed from site. The internal stormwater design of the campus was done using the Stormwater Module of Civil Designer.

Allyson Lawless

(011) 476 4100