Historic Barbican being restored

The historic Barbican building is getting a new lease on life with the start of restoration work to preserve its architectural integrity. The R19m restoration works commenced earlier this month following the completion of a tender process and the appointment of a contractor who is on site. The restoration project follows funding approval by the Old Mutual Social Responsibility Investment (SRI) Fund.

Managing director for Old Mutual Investment Group Property Investments OMIGPI, Ben Kodisang, says this project is in line with the City of Johannesburg's plans for urban rejuvenation of the inner city.

The restoration of the Barbican will involve extensive work to the external envelope, including the restoration of historic concrete moulding, repainting, and the total rehabilitation of the roof. Internal work will include repairs to lifts and redecorating.

The project is expected to be carried out over a period of seven months, with completion planned for end of May 2010.

Kodisang adds that the restoration is the first step in driving commercial redevelopment of the site and the greater vision for the precinct. "We have a responsibility to act in the best interest of our client, the city and the public, and we needed to make sure whatever we decided to do with this building was not only commercially viable, but also culturally. This is why we engaged professionals with the applicable restoration experience to advise on the project."

This building is strategically located in a node which is core to planned future public and private sector inner city investments – its redevelopment is to be integrated into the redevelopment of the surrounding Palace site. The overall vision for this precinct is to create an integrated mixed use retail and office development in the heart of the "old city".

OMIGPI also launched the newly-refurbished Mutual Mall in the Durban CBD on Monday 2 November.

Drawing from four existing sites, the R155m Mutual Mall project included the building of a 10-storey parking garage, the upgrade of offices in 300 Smith Street building, the creation of 50 new retail outlets and the renovation of the Main Foyer of Old Mutual Centre.

The project involved upgrading an existing retail arcade on the ground floors of Old Mutual Centre and turning 300 Smith Street buildings into a safe and convenient mall experience.

The 4,000sqm Mutual Mall is nestled between the streets of West, Gardiner and, Smith and Mercury Lane.

The four previous structures included the magnificent 31-storey A-grade tenanted office block, Old Mutual Centre; 300 Smith Street, which is an economical 18-storey office block that has undergone an upgrade to an A-grade building; and Gardiner House and Mutual Building which were demolished to create additional parking – about 400 additional bays resulted in a total of 800 bays (three per 100sqm).

"The value of the precinct has been maximised by modernising the finishes in the lift lobbies, upgrading the air-conditioning system, refurbishing the tenant interiors of 300 Smith Street building by upgrading the ceilings and power skirtings and providing the entire retail area that links all the buildings with a makeover," says Geoff Bright, OMIGPI's regional development manager.

An ideal destination for office workers within the CBD, Mutual Mall is set to offer coffee shops, restaurants, banking services, fashion stores, a number of cellular shops and an optometrist. Other tenants still to come include a pharmacy, a supermarket, a hair salon and office services. "The central focal point is the food court area comprising a common area seating court, with the food outlets flanked around the court," Bright added.

OMIGPI Property Development executive, Brent Wiltshire, says an investment in KwaZulu-Natal is worthwhile.

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