New Deputy Ministry of Shipping building to be housed on former Nemitsas site

The demolition of the former foundry facilities of Nemitsas Ltd in Limassol, in which the new building of the Deputy Ministry of Shipping will be housed, recently secured the approval of the Environmental Authority.

It is recalled that, according to a report in the Limassol Chamber of Commerce and Industry's 'Epiphirematiki Limassol' publication last March, after finding a suitable piece of land, which was granted to the Deputy Ministry of Shipping by decision of the Council of Ministers for the purposes of constructing a new building and covering its housing needs, the preparation of an Environmental Study had proceeded, and was then submitted to the Department of Environment, which in turn gave the green light.

The emblematic building, which will cover the housing needs of the Deputy Ministry, is located on the site of the former Nemitsas factory, in the heart of the shipping industry in Limassol.

The project, which has secured the approval of the Environmental Authority, concerns the demolition of the former facilities of the Nemitsas foundry, within the administrative boundaries of the Limassol Municipality.

At the present stage, the space is being utilised as a storage area for raw materials, construction materials, waste storage and offices where various government services/departments are housed, such as the Department of Electromechanical Services, the Department of Public Works and the Limassol District Administration.

Historic buildings in the area are expected to be declared listed.

As stated in the environmental opinion, the development in question also includes notable buildings under declaration as protected (historical buildings of modern architecture), for which the consent of the Ministry of Interior must be secured by the Director of the Department of Urban Planning and Housing, as the competent Urban Planning Authority.

The part of the complex that concerns the notable buildings to be preserved is the west and east wings of the production and warehouse areas, along with the office building.

The plot under study falls within the administrative boundaries of the Municipality of Limassol, in the parish of Tsiflikoudia and falls within a mixed zone of category B industry and Economic Activities (Ba4 – BE2).

The total area of the plot amounts to 17,737 sq m and it is located within close proximity to various types of land uses and developments in the area, while it falls within an area where mixed uses prevail.

North of the study area is a primary road, Franklin Roosevelt Avenue, while the area is bordered to the east by industrial uses and to the west by mixed industrial, residential and commercial uses. There is also a retirement home west of the area. The area south of the study area is mainly for industrial uses/warehouses, while the new port of Limassol is further south.

In the wider area north of the plot under study, mainly mixed uses (industrial, residential, commercial and office), as well as some commercial uses, are found.

There is also a school near the study area. To the east of the study area, in addition to industrial uses, mixed office and commercial uses also prevail, while to the west there are some residential uses.

The existing facilities within the study area belonged to Nemitsas Industries Ltd and included production areas, storage and an office building. These facilities were used to manufacture machinery such as turbines, pumps and concrete mixers.

In addition, the works included the production of cast products, such as cast iron, brass and mining components. The complex consists of two main wings of production and warehouse areas, an office building and supporting buildings to the east of the plot.

The east wing of the production and warehouse areas includes rectangular volumes placed in a row on the north-south axis, covered with a saw-tooth roof made of metal cladding.

On the northern, vertical side of the roof, large glazing allows natural light to enter the interior spaces.

The west wing, which is built parallel and in contact with the east wing, follows a similar structure. Both wings have a load-bearing structure made of reinforced concrete, metal frames (fixed and opening) and infill walls made of cement bricks.

The load-bearing structure remains visible on the facades, with its structural elements serving both functional purposes, such as door lintels, and enhancing the morphological structure and aesthetic harmony of the facades.

Demolition will be completed within six months

The office building, internally connected to the east wing at ground floor level, is constructed of reinforced concrete and aluminum frames and completes the central building complex.

It is worth noting that the building in question has been deemed noteworthy and is expected to be preserved.

The relative areas of the covered and common areas:

• Office building: 1,240 sq.m.
• Production and warehouse building, which was deemed noteworthy: 2,200 sq.m.
• Production and warehouse buildings: 4,480 sq.m.
• Total area of supporting buildings: 380 sq.m.
• Electrical substation: 48 sq.m.

In conclusion, it is expected that demolition of facilities with a total area of approximately 4,908 sq m will occur.

It is estimated that the demolition work will employ approximately 10 people and will last approximately six months.

(Source: InBusinessNews)