Boogertman + Partners

Building Africa's Largest Retail Destination

Innovative BIM solutions drive the transformation of Fourways Mall into a premier shopping hub.

Boogertman + Partners, a leading architectural firm, spearheaded the ambitious redevelopment of Fourways Mall in Johannesburg, South Africa. By integrating advanced Building Information Modeling (BIM) technologies, they successfully transformed the existing structure into a 178,000m² retail marvel, setting a new benchmark in design and construction efficiency.
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Because of the complexity of this project, we knew we needed to work in a BIM environment for design, development, and services coordination. — Hennie Coetzee, Director at Boogertman + Partners
Contact person:

Hennie Coetzee

- Job Title

Delivery date:

August 2019

Project duration:

Approximately 4 years (July 2015 – August 2019)

Solutions provided:
    • Autodesk Revit​
    • Autodesk Navisworks​
    • Autodesk BIM 360 Glue
    • 3D Earth Modeling Systems​
Services provided:
BIM/CAD Standards

Industry

Architecture, Consulting, Design

The Challenge

The redevelopment of Fourways Mall presented several complexities:​

  • Operational Continuity: Renovating and expanding the mall without disrupting ongoing retail operations.​
  • Stakeholder Coordination: Aligning over 25 stakeholders, including architects, engineers, and contractors, to adopt a unified BIM approach.​
  • Infrastructure Integration: Seamlessly connecting the existing mall with adjacent centers like ‘Game Centre’ and ‘Fourways View’ to create a cohesive retail environment.​
  • Geotechnical Challenges: Addressing uneven groundwater conditions and unpredictable rock profiles during construction.​

Project Goals

Boogertman + Partners aimed to:

  • Enhance Design Efficiency: Utilize BIM to streamline design processes and improve accuracy.​
  • Facilitate Seamless Collaboration: Implement a Common Data Environment (CDE) to ensure real-time information sharing among all stakeholders.​
  • Minimize Disruptions: Develop construction phasing strategies that allowed the mall to remain operational throughout the redevelopment.​
  • Ensure Structural Integrity: Overcome geotechnical challenges to deliver a safe and stable structure.​

Solution

To achieve these objectives, Boogertman + Partners implemented

  • Advanced BIM Tools: Transitioned from AutoCAD to Autodesk Revit and Navisworks for comprehensive 3D modelling and clash detection.​
  • Cloud-Based Collaboration: Employed BIM 360 Glue to create a CDE, enabling real-time collaboration and reducing errors.​
  • Phased Construction Planning: Developed detailed phasing plans to coordinate construction activities without hindering mall operations.​
  • Geotechnical Analysis: Utilized 3D earth modeling systems to assess and address subsurface challenges effectively.​

Business Outcomes

The strategic use of BIM technologies led to significant achievements:​

  • Timely Completion: Phase 1 concluded in 2018, with Phase 2 completing in 2019, culminating in the mall’s grand reopening in August 2019.​
  • Operational Continuity: Successfully maintained mall operations during construction, preserving tenant revenues and customer satisfaction.​
  • Enhanced Collaboration: The CDE facilitated seamless communication, reducing rework and improving decision-making.​

Cost Efficiency: Optimized resource utilization and minimized delays, leading to substantial cost savings.

Conclusion

Boogertman + Partners’ innovative application of BIM technologies transformed Fourways Mall into Africa’s largest shopping center. This project exemplifies the firm’s commitment to leveraging cutting-edge solutions to deliver complex projects efficiently while maintaining operational integrity.​

The greatest challenge we faced was managing and phasing the construction of the new mall extension and alterations to the existing buildings; all whilst the existing shops and businesses were trading. — German Bodenbender, BIM Manager at Boogertman + Partners ​

Boogertman + Partners is a renowned architectural firm offering services in architecture, interior design, urban design, and graphic design. Established in 1982, the firm has grown to become Africa’s largest architecture practice, with offices in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town, Stellenbosch, Durban, and Nairobi. They are committed to innovative and contextually responsive design, collaborating closely with clients to deliver holistic solutions. As gold founder members of the Green Building Council of South Africa, they advocate for environmentally sustainable transformations in the built environment.

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