Tower 1 at Cape Town’s new Harbour Arch mixed-use precinct has topped out on the twenty-third floor, 95 m above ground – 30 months after breaking ground in January 2020.

“Reaching the highest point of Tower 1 at Harbour Arch represents a significant milestone in our construction journey,” says Amdec Property Developments MD Nicholas Stopforth.

“Despite an unforeseen delay following the outbreak of Covid-19 in 2020, work has advanced at pace and is on schedule for completion in May next year.”

The project’s main contractor, WBHO, faced several structural-engineering challenges, including the deep ground-rock drilling and excavation required for the precinct’s three-level superbasement, 11 m below ground, notes WBHO contracts director Dale Blanchard.

“Working within a restricted space and access, 65 000 m3 of earth and 5 000 m3 of rock had to be removed during the excavation process,” he adds.

“The wind also played havoc with our construction programme, particularly the higher up we went. In one of the windiest years in Cape Town’s history, we’re thrilled that the team were still able to top out a structure of this enormity on time.”

With just under a year to go till completion, 50 000 m3 of concrete, six-million bricks, 4 500 t of steel reinforcement, 150 km of joint sealant, and 13 301 panes of glass have been used in the construction of Tower 1.

It has also taken about three-million working hours to reach the twenty-third floor.

Harbour Arch Tower 1 will comprise double-volume glass-fronted retail space at ground level, earmarked for exclusive motor dealerships and coffee shops, and further retail space on the eighth floor, which will house restaurants with indoor and outdoor seating.

It will also include 1 188 parking bays across three basement and seven above-ground levels, with 478 residential apartments for sale and 82 inclusionary rental units.

There is also an open-air sundeck and swimming pool on the eighteenth floor, offering 360º mountain and harbour views.

Job Creation According to Amdec Group CEO James Wilson, more than 20 000 jobs are being created during the construction phase, with many more employment opportunities, especially in the tourism, hospitality and retail sectors, to be available once construction of the precinct has been completed.

“We hope that Harbour Arch will kick-start further ambitious large-scale development within the Cape Town central business district (CBD), and allow us to hold our own against other capital cities around the world.”

The completed precinct will comprise six towers spanning 200 000 m2 of usable space accommodating commercial offices and corporate headquarters; an urban park and shopping galleria at street level; an eight-floor open-air piazza lined with restaurants, coffee shops and cocktails bars; two Marriott branded hotels with conferencing facilities; a health and fitness club; and a large selection of residential apartments in the CBD.