A modern shopping centre, complete with convention centre and cinema, will enrich the capital Cameroon's financial , Douala, by the end of 2019 thanks to the South African construction company Raubex Renovo, which is already at an advanced stage of construction.
The 45% at the Douala Grand Mall will be part of a larger development that will include a five-star hotel, offices and residential flats under construction in the near future.
"The mall and convention centre will signal to the world that Cameroon is on the move and attracts more visitors for business shopping and leisure,
says Matthys Serfontein, Head of Development at Raubex Renovo.
"Our modern planning and construction methods combine with energy-efficient design to make the shopping centre stand out significantly from its local competitors.
How big will the shopping centre be?
Its size, to begin with, is significant; it is said to be the largest commercial centre in Central Africa when completed with an area of 25,600 m2 of which 18,732 m2 retail on two levels.
Importantly, the shopping centre is located in close proximity to the international airport with a catchment area of 1.5 million people.
The ground floor of the complex will have 14,160 m2 of retail space while the first floor will house 11,520 m2 including:
- a modern conference centre,
- cinema,
- food court
- commercial spaces .
There will also be an underground car park in the basement.
Western environmental standards were followed in the design and construction of the shopping centre, in accordance with the EDGE building certification system developed by the International Finance Corporation.
Insulated cladding panels are being used for the external walls and roof, including double glazing on skylights and windows that allow the best use of natural light, the building will be the first fully air-conditioned shopping centre in Cameroon .
Focusing on large hospitality and retail projects, the team of Raubex Renovo has 20 years of experience in construction projects across Africa . The company's capabilities include full project development, including professional engineering, architecture and design services managed by a professional construction and development team.
Health and safety is at the heart of the Raubex group, with attention to all aspects of health and safety, as well as the environmental and social impact of the site on the local area.
A Problem Solution Approach is an integral part of the company's operational strategy with robust safety programmes implemented to ensure the well-being of all stakeholders.
"The efficiency and reliability of our work is enhanced by our use of Building Information Modeling (BIM), which allows us to optimise our design, construction and operations activities,
says Ben Pretorius , Managing Director of Raubex Renovo.
"BIM also ensures that up-to-date information on project progress can be easily shared with all stakeholders and contractors."
Earthworks started work at the Douala Grand Mall this January 2018 and the handover is scheduled for November next year.
"The project is another example of our team's ability to plan and implement accelerated construction programmes across the continent," he says. "The Raubex Group has a strong baseline of completed projects in South Africa and the SADC region in countries such as Botswana , Namibia , Mozambique , Zambia , Gabon , Togo , Malawi , Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of Congo."
Pretorius emphasises the importance of the reputation and support of the parent company Raubex Group, a leading infrastructure development group with 40 years in business that is listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.
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