“The ABSA project is a significant expansion from our core services as we predominantly focus on project and development management services,” says Matthew Renshaw, MD of Profica South Africa. “This project encompasses our full design and build capability. As one of four companies that have been directly contracted by ABSA Bank to roll out the national programme, we have assembled our own specialist team to provide flexibility and the right expertise required to deliver each project from concept design through to full construction and fit-out.”
Typically, ABSA Bank would undertake a substantial portion of the design aspect themselves, when developing a new facility. This programme differs in that it is completely outsourced to independent contractors, who take on full risk and deliver the finished product to ABSA Bank. Within this design and build model, Profica anticipates handing over approximately forty separate projects between now and the end of 2017.
To date, Profica has been allocated 25 primary sites. “The delivery timeframe for a primary site is between six and eight weeks; a refresh, a mere four days,” says Renshaw. Profica has already successfully delivered four primary sites, including projects in Kwa-Zulu Natal, Mafikeng, Tshwane, and Gauteng. Umlazi Megacity in KwaZulu-Natal was one of the first projects handed over in May of this year. Profica will begin work on ABSA Bank’s flagship branch at OR Tambo at the beginning of September.
Renshaw says, “It is important that we understand the nature of running a capital programme. A programme such as this involves complexities that come with having to hit the ground running in different regions simultaneously, and to adapt to the requirements of the client’s internal service providers such as those associated with security and IT services. Over the first four projects, we experienced a healthy learning curve as we began to understand the client’s needs and develop a good working relationship. Now we’ve found our rhythm, and we are all set to roll out the remaining facilities.”
