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PDNA scoops yet another award |
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Stadium engineering recognised at Fulton Awards
August 03, 2009 – Two of the 2010 soccer stadium projects were in the limelight at the recent Fulton Awards ceremony. Soccer City scooped two award categories, “Best Building Project” and “Concrete in Architecture”, as well as receiving a commendation in the category “Unique Design Aspects”, while the Moses Mabhida Stadium was the winner in the latter and also received a commendation in the “Construction Techniques” category.
These awards recognise the top construction projects in South Africa for “Excellence and Innovation in the Use of Concrete” and are awarded every two years.
“Working as principal structural engineer on the Soccer City project and as sub consulting structural engineer on the Moses Mabhida Stadium, PD Naidoo & Associates (PDNA) is extremely proud to be part of two teams who excelled and we are honoured to have received these prestigious accolades,” says Dempsey Naidoo, executive chairman at PDNA.
Looking at Soccer City, the judges were particularly impressed by the extensive use of concrete for different applications, even high quality aesthetic finishes. They described the challenging “calabash” shaped façade, formed by using a multitude of thin fibre reinforced precast concrete panels, as awe-inspiring and made special note of the curved columns that were required to facilitate this shape. They applauded the green aspects such as the re-use of demolished materials and the harvesting of rainwater and re-use of irrigation water as well as the promotion of BEE throughout the project and the effort to ensure training and skills transfer to the local community.
Extracts from the judges’ citation include: “It was particularly striking to note how well structural and architectural issues appear to have been coordinated and resolved” and “The phenomenal Soccer City stadium project truly pushes the boundaries of ‘Excellence in Concrete’ and is a project that all South Africans can be proud of.”
Commenting on the Moses Mabhida stadium, the technical design issues that were resolved particularly impressed the judges. Other plus points were the use of concrete as the structural material of choice for many applications, the fact that precast concrete was used to enhance appearance and construction speed, design details such as the saw toothed raking beams with hidden rainwater leakage channel and economic excellence.
“This phenomenal project bears witness to the inventiveness of South African built environment professionals, and their ability to work together to achieve a common, highly technical goal, within strict time parameters,” the judges’ citation read.
Says Naidoo: “We are truly proud of this achievement and trust that these landmarks will continue to benefit the surrounding communities long after the excitement of the 2010 Soccer World Cup has gone. Indeed, that is the emphasis of these developments – to ensure sustainable urban revival and ultimately a better South Africa.”
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