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Where to Start?
After looking at various options to replace the existing paving in Mangere Town Centre, Jagas paving provided the best solution for the site.
Before: Mangere town centre, early 2009.
Dennis Dowie, Senior Architect of HBO+EMTB, used his extensive knowledge of products and site conditions to make his recommendation.
Mr Dowie says he looks to a company to supply not only a quality durable product, but also the knowledge and ability to talk through issues. Basically, “good know-how to provide solutions”.
The Solution
Working with the Manukau City Council, Mangere Town Centre Business Association and HBO+EMTB Architects, Jagas manufactured handmade 450 x 450 x 40mm wet cast concrete pavers, using a basalt chip in the mix. These pavers were compacted for high density and at 40mpa strength are durable for this high pedestrian area.
After: the town centre now.
The pavers were mortared and laid over a new concrete sub-strate. The joints were grouted (convex) with the finished result a flush joint once honing on site was complete.
Honing on site after the paving was laid was a good option for this site as the town centre remained fully operational through out the construction phase.
Stains and marks from shop owners placing produce on the paving and people walking on the paving was not an issue. At the end of the construction phase honing and sealing were undertaken at night while the town centre was closed, enabling all marks and construction dirt to be removed.
A Slippery Issue
Another criterion for Manukau City Council was the finished surface had to have a slip co efficient of .55, well above the standard.
The existing tiles.
Jeffery Yeh Project Manager for Property, from Manukau City Council had the following to say : “Slippery and uneven paved surfaces have always been major problems for Mangere Town Centre visitors.
Due to the semi-exposed nature of the town centre, the walkways inevitably are wet in bad weather causing frequent slip accidents. The aging and tired looking terracotta tiles break easily and often cut unwary visitors’ feet during summer when jandals are commonly worn. Over the years Council has been investigating the market for a best solution to address these slip and health & safety issues.
A Successful Partnership
Jagas concrete pavers stood out from the competitions and was the only product to meet the stringent design criteria set out by the professional consultant and architect.
The 450 x 450mm “Lifestyle” concrete paver chosen has a pleasant appearance after honed and sealed. It is also strong enough to receive light vehicle traffic up to two tonnes, ideal for the town centre to have vehicles drive in to service or set up a performance stage. The Natural Grey colour for the main walkway is well received by all key stakeholders, giving the mall a much brighter and cleaner look. Coalstone colour has been chosen for the two end rows at the front of the shops as a guide not to display stands for more than a metre out from boundary.
The mall’s appearance is light and spacious.
The finished walkway was tested for slip resistance by OPUS engineering consultancy and the Mean Coefficient of Friction achieved was 0.68, which well exceeds the AS/NZS 3661.1:1993 requirement of not less than 0.40 for internal and 0.50 for external environments.
Overall Manukau City Council and the Mangere Town Centre management are pleased with the result and have thanked Jagas for their professional manner and support to assist Council completing this difficult project.
