Submitting Company (Non-SAISC Member)
BlueScope Steel Southern Africa
Project Type
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Metal Cladding
Location
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790 Govan Mbeki Road, Philippi, Cape Town, South Africa
Project Team Interview Case Study
Project Overview
We Buy Cars Lansdowne is a 1,300-vehicle automotive hub located on a prominent corner of Govan Mbeki Road, Philippi, Cape Town. Completed December 2025, the R160 million facility is the largest greenfield WeBuyCars development to date, employing over 300 permanent staff. The building was designed with dual intent: to function immediately as a high-capacity vehicle showroom and to be future-proofed as a distribution centre should operational needs change. The structural system uses 371 tons of H/I-profile steel with long-span trusses achieving clear spans of 15 to 25 metres, eliminating internal column interference for unobstructed vehicle movement. A 10,000m² post-tensioned mezzanine, 240 metres in length, runs the full length of the building. The envelope comprises 21,560m² horizontal and 6,996m² vertical cladding using Youngman Diamonddek and Widedek profiles, with approximately one-third of the roof in opal polycarbonate sheeting to maximise natural daylighting. The design responds directly to the city’s urban design requirements, incorporating an active street edge, pedestrian access points, a coffee shop, and rounded architectural corners.
Steel Profiles Used
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Date of Steelwork Completion2025-12-01
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Tonnage371
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Hot Rolled Structural SectionsH-columns, H-Beam Sections, I-Sections
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Cold Formed Structural SectionsC-Profile Purlins
Metal Cladding and Roofing Overview
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Date of Cladding Completion2025-12-01
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Material UsedYoungman Diamonddek 700mm AZ150 Spelter G550, Youngman Widedek 762mm AZ150 Spelter G550
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Cladding ProfileYoungman Diamonddek 700, Youngman Widedek 762, BlueScope Colorbond 0.53 AZ150 Springlok 700
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Cladding Tonnage114
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Cladding Area Coverage (m2)28556
Project Details
Fabrication was managed by Mazor Steel, with steel detailing also carried out in-house by Mazor. The structural system comprised approximately 15 distinct truss variations, each geometrically optimised for its specific wind catchment zone as per codified loading requirements. Truss geometry was shaped to match the bending moment profile, keeping top and bottom chord forces even and minimising material waste. High-strength purlins were specified to reduce roof weight. Girder sections were similarly varied by location rather than standardised, further reducing tonnage. The decoupled mezzanine structure ran the full 240-metre building length and was fabricated for incremental construction in sequence with the in-situ post-tensioned slab. Accuracy of column base settings and connection geometry was critical given that structural members were delivered to site pre-fabricated and bolted directly together on arrival.
The main contractor was Abbeydale, with steelwork erected by Mazor Steel and cladding installed by Premier Roofing and Cladding. Construction sequencing was constrained by a concurrent BRT road upgrade surrounding the site and a subdivision process that meant the building had to be started on the portion of the erf already holding development rights. The steel frame was erected column by column with trusses and girders lifted into position and bolted. The post-tensioned mezzanine slab was cast incrementally as the frame advanced. Cladding installation used Youngman Diamonddek on the roof and Widedek on vertical facades, with opal polycarbonate sheets integrated into the roof plane and fall-protection systems installed beneath them. The GT stripe architectural feature was achieved using a simple top-fixed flashing bent on site, applied over installed sheeting to eliminate waterproofing risk. Concealed gutters and internal downpipes were detailed to produce clean facades at the curved corners without penetrating the eyebrow cladding profile.
The primary challenge was the compressed construction programme. Steel’s off-site fabrication allowed simultaneous design, fabrication, and site preparation, compressing the schedule significantly. The building’s location on a prominent urban corner required the design team to satisfy city urban design requirements for active street edges while maintaining the internal logistics of a vehicle warehouse. This was resolved through glazed facade openings, a north-facing coffee shop on Govan Mbeki Road, and multiple pedestrian access points supporting the adjacent BRT stops. Concurrent road construction for the BRT system restricted site access and sequencing. Construction was started on the erf portion with existing rights while rezoning of the remaining portion was finalised. Integrating approximately one-third of the roof area in polycarbonate sheeting required fall-protection design beneath every sheet and careful detailing of the interface between translucent and metal roof panels. The mezzanine, at 10,000m² and 240 metres long, required incremental casting tied to steel frame progress.
Benefits of Steel in this Application
Steel was the primary structural material for two non-negotiable reasons: speed and clear span. The client’s programme demanded rapid construction; off-site fabrication and just-in-time delivery enabled the steel frame to be erected and closed within weeks, keeping the critical path on schedule in a way no other material could match. The need to accommodate 1,300 vehicles under roof without obstructing vehicle flow required column-free spans of 15 to 25 metres. Steel’s high strength-to-weight ratio made these spans achievable within the structural grid dictated by parking bay dimensions. The lightweight superstructure also reduced foundation loads and lowered the overall carbon footprint during construction. Future adaptability was a core client requirement: the steel frame with generous heights and wide spans means the building can transition to a distribution centre without structural overhaul. Steel’s recyclability and the reduction of wet trades on site further supported the project’s sustainability objectives.