Brick supplier completes Gauteng school project

Face brick supplier Corobrik has completed the supply of its bricks for the construction of Noordgesig Primary School’s administration block and hall.

Directed by architecture company Tribe Architects principal architect Kenneth Masvikeni, the supply of the bricks was part of the R110-million construction project of the whole school, funded by the Department of Basic Education as end-user and implemented by the Department of Infrastructure Development.

“The Corobrik clay face brick selection has proven to be the ideal material for government infrastructure projects over the years. When it comes to school buildings, Corobrik is able to deliver a high-quality project, boasting world-class structural and aesthetic integrity while promoting comfort and a low life-cycle cost,” says Corobrik commercial director Musa Shangase.

Owing to face brick not requiring plastering or painting, there are long-term cost savings in terms of maintenance. The clay brick also offers enhanced thermal comfort by retaining warmth in winter and creating a cool interior in summer, minimising the need for artificial temperature regulation, thereby adding to the comfort of the learners.

As schools – particularly large primary schools such as this one – are busy places with lots of noise, “this is another area where Corobrik’s face brick is so beneficial – the advanced acoustic properties mean that classes will not be disrupted by noise when learners are studying”, Shangase adds.

ForNoordgesigPrimary School, 84 000 Firelight Travertine and 48 000 Golden Wheat Travertine face bricks were used in the construction of the administrative building and school hall.

These face bricks were selected because they complement the surrounding landscape of rolling dunes, construction company Yikusasa Building Contractors quantity surveyor Sebastian Adams explains.

“The brick is incredibly low maintenance, which is beneficial for long-term government investments.”

The school replaced the previous asbestos building and is now a modern, information technology-based facility. The nine blocks which make up the school include an administration building, the Grade R block, the Grade 7 block, toilet facilities, a guard house and school hall.

Additionally, there are six classrooms – 42 in total – for each grade, as well as four classrooms in the Grade R block, two smart science laboratories, two smart multi-purpose rooms and a dining room, among other facilities.

During construction, teaching continued in mobile classrooms on the adjacent sports ground opposite the road, with the project running from March 2018 until late 2019.

Moreover, in line with government’s focus on sustainable infrastructure, NoordgesigPrimary School was also constructed with a number of green design features.

These include fenestration, which maximises natural light and air circulation while reducing energy loss from the building; energy-saving lighting; and solar water heating throughout the buildings.

Alongside the indigenous trees used in landscaping, there is an attenuation pond housing grey and stormwater, which will be used for filling toilets if needed, washing cars and watering grass.

The school was officially opened at the start of the 2020 school year by Gauteng Premier David Makhura, alongside Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi and Infrastructure Development and Property Management MEC Tasneem Motara.