On site with Contracts Manager, Emil Young

A scenic six-kilometre drive from ASLA ’s head office in Strand will take you to the Sir Lowry’s Pass Village (SLPV) housing development, currently being constructed for City of Cape Town by ASLA Construction. The project scope encompasses the civils, building and associated services infrastructure for 307 erven. The beneficiaries of these houses will be backyard dwellers (persons living in informal structures and overcrowded conditions within formal developed areas) living within the SLPV and surrounding areas as per the City of Cape Town’s selection criteria.?

The bulk infrastructure construction and upgrade of the Old Sir Lowry’s Pass Road (including two traffic circles) was completed by ASLA Construction’s Infrastructure Division in September 2022. Once most of the civil work had been completed ASLA’s Building Division began constructing the new subsidised houses, comprising mainly double-storey, semi-detached homes (292), with 15 of the 307 homes designed for beneficiaries with a disability. “On our projects, whether the houses are single, or double storey often depends on the topography of the area, the availability and cost of land that may require densification, as well as the needs of our client,” says contracts manager Emil Young. “In the city, built-up areas, or where the housing requirement is high, homes are mainly double storey. In the more remote areas, that are not as congested, such as for example Lutzville on the West Coast, the majority are single storey houses.” ASLA’s Agrément certified building system can be utilised for any typology – single and double storey, free standing or attached houses – dependant on the project and client requirements.?

Community & Enterprise Development?

Localisation and community skills development form a large part of government contracts in general – this is in part a contractual obligation, however, for decades has been integral to ASLA’s approach to constructing subsidised housing. “We provide short term employment within the beneficiary communities, which aims to get people who are not in the system, working,” says Young. This creates opportunities both for unskilled labour, who gain a skill in a building trade, as well as for local SMMEs – carpenters, plumbers, plasterers, painters etc. – who are subcontracted to undertake specific portions of the work. There are certain areas that require specialists, for example on the SLPV project some large rocks required a blasting specialist, and the precast flooring system and electrical work is being undertaken by established companies with track-records of quality installations.??

“The transfer of skills is an interesting and important part of the work we do,” says Young, “and after completing a contract, we walk away from a site where we have upskilled people, enabled them with on-site construction experience they can utilize, and pulled subcontractors into the ASLA database, for potential future employment.” Local subcontractors that show potential and interest in becoming successful and sustainable enterprises in the built environment are supported by ASLA and assisted with skills, experience, and enterprise development. “We have developed good, long-term relationships with SMMEs that have organically grown with us, and that now undertake projects outside of the scope that ASLA offers them,” says Young.?

Challenges?

As a rule, construction contracts are accompanied by challenges, and the meticulous attention given to construction planning within ASLA dates all the way back to a 1976 project in Vredenburg. In the words of ASLA’s co-founder, Siebrits Laker: “Basically, if you plan to do something one-hundred-and-eighty kilometres away from your base, then you can't slip up on a nail.”?

The development of modern technology aside, and with SLVP being almost on ASLA’s head office doorstep, logistics are not as challenging as events outside of ASLA’s direct control – such as for example the wind, and community matters.?

Mother Nature?

The SLPV development has beautiful views of the mountains and the ocean, and like all of Cape Town is subjected to the renowned Cape Doctor. Once the South-Easter begins to blow, the wind and dust on site is monitored every two-hours and the site team depends on reliable weather forecasts ito be able to plan. “If the wind strength reaches 49,6-kilometres an hour, all work at heights is stopped,” says Young. “Once it gets stronger than 75-kilometres an hour, for health and safety reasons, all work must be stopped.” Thus far, the highest wind-speed recorded on site has been 64.7km/hour with gusts reaching more than 78km/hour.?

Human Nature?

From time-to-time external issues outside of ASLA’s direct control arise, and these can be challenging to resolve explains Young. Unfortunately, it has become quite common to experience interference and disruption from various parties and this can range in severity and intent. While the disruptions at SLVP have been relatively minor Young, who has worked within construction for 25 years, has been subjected to violent threats, intimidation, and assaults on another project where the construction mafia attempted to dictate, intimidate and victimise the local community and site team. “It is a low point when you have a plan in your head on the upliftment potential of a project – after all, we want to leave a legacy behind – and then have to deal with people who want to derail a project, or who are exploiting their own community,” he says.?

Nonetheless, Young continues to enjoy the hype of the construction industry and is very passionate about low-cost housing and the opportunities residential infrastructure can bring to communities. He enjoys projects that bring with them something that is out of the ordinary – be it the typology or the various dynamics of the areas ASLA works within. “I especially like working with people, even though as a Contracts Manager you do a lot of administration,” he says. “Maintaining high production and profitability and focusing on the job at hand means that there is no time to become complacent. Luckily, I am self-motivated, and I don’t like failure!”?