Aurecon

The City of Cape Town’s Community Residential Units Refurbishment Programme addressed the maintenance of the City’s 43 500 rental properties for families earning between R800 and R3 500 per month. This particular project demanded a high level of innovation, but at a cost that ensured the project was able to make the widest impact possible within a tight budget.

The first phase targeted Council houses and flats in Mannenberg, Scottsdene, Scottsville, Connaught, The Range, Uitsig, Woodlands, Heideveld, Hanover Park, Kewtown and Ottery.

Aurecon formed part of a team appointed to project manage the rollout of the refurbishment.

Although the work was carried out in such a way as to cause minimum inconvenience to tenants, the dwellings needed to be vacated during specific periods. This required the project team to come up with innovative solutions in terms of finding affordable alternative accommodation.

Temporary villages, made up of converted containers, were provided to residents for security and storage of their furniture. These 2.4 m wide by 12 m long containers included insulation, partitioning, power, running water, ablution facilities as well as internal and external lighting.

As a result of Aurecon delivering engineering outcomes that make a direct difference in the lives of those who depend on safe, well-maintained rental property, the City of Cape Town walked away with the coveted ‘Housing Projects of the Year’ award for this CRU Refurbishment Programme. This accolade is handed out by the Southern African Housing Foundation’s (SAHF) at their International Conference, Exhibition & Housing Awards and celebrates individuals and organisations that have excelled and have made an outstanding contribution to the development of sustainable communities.