Podium KOMTAR, Johor Bahru

The KOMTAR upgrading works was awarded to the contractor in December, 2007 and expected to be completed in 2009. The work has been delayed since the year 2000 due to various unforseen circumstances and reasons. My company (SAFF Consultants) has been appointed as the Mechanical & Electrical Consultants in the upgrading works.

Some of the new M&E features that are being introduced to the new three-storey Podium Block are :
1. New Chiller c/w VRV control;
2. A new Bubble Lift is added;
3. 2 nos. Goods Lifts;
4. Escalators and Travelators;
5. Pre-paid Electrical Metering System;
6. IT Facilities (Wi-Fi);
7. New Fire Fighting System;
8. New Retail and F&B Lots
9. New electrical distribution systems (sub-station has been re-located to the roof-top to give way to expensive retail lots);
10. Upgraded Sewerage Treatment Plant;
11. Total building face-lift (internal & external).


The building demolition has been carried out since the last 6 months to make way for the new wing with additional floors. This area which previously housed the Bowling Alley and Cinemas have been replaced with new floors as the original floor levels are very high. The new area will house a brand-new modern Food Court and a Supermarket.
Last week, a new directive was given whereby a new 3-storey car parks will be constructed on the 3-storey podium block which will make the new podium to be a six-storey high. The floor height will also be changed to 5000mm at the Ground Floor and 4500mm to the rest of the floors. With this new requirement, a totally new M & E design on the podium block will have to be carried out as soon as possible as all the M&E Contractors are already on-board.

(latest info gathered from a meeting held at JBI Sdn. Bhd. KL on Friday 4th.July,2008)

USIM - Landscape Lighting

One of the remaining projects SAFF has at Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM) is Landscape Lighting. The project was awarded last year and supposed to be tested and commissioned by now. On the 21-May-2008 recently, a preliminary view of the installation was carried out. Present during the preview were Mr. Richard (Archtectural Lighting), Pn. Fadzilayaty (SAFF Sen. EE). Syed Abd. Hadi (SAFF EE), Zaki (contractor), ANZ Landscape Architect and me (SAFF Photographer). Remaining issues to be settled are : 1. Lighting for the Iqra' Arca - apparently that there is not enough light shining to the top of the arca. It is suggested that the perimeter light fittings are to be mounted further away from the central pool on 1 meter high bollards. The architect (ANZ) will come out with the details. 2. Apparently, there is not enough lights on the water cascades in-front of the Admin Block. Actually, about 20-30% of the original light fitting were OMITTED from the original contract (cost-cutting exercise). USIM Landskape Architect has asked SAFF to re-propose the additional light fittings at the water cascade. Enclosed some of the photographs taken during the Project Prelim. Review.