The structural engineering company assigned to adapt the design of WG Friendship Plaza to local conditions says the building is structurally fully compliant.

While responding to claims about the steel frames of the building corroding, Engineered Designs Principal Engineer Vijay Krishnan says as the design consultant they had no issue with the extent of steel erosion based on accepted average annual corrosion rate in an urban environment.

Krishnan also says a peer review was carried out by an independent consultant and that review was accepted by the Suva City Council.

The Suva City Council will soon be putting out an expression of interest to get an independent consultant to conduct a review of the design and compliance of WG Friendship Plaza currently being constructed along Suva’s McGregor Road.

This has been confirmed by Minister for Local Government, Parveen Bala who has stressed the importance of the review being independent.

The Suva City Council was advised by an independent panel of engineers to engage a reputable structural engineering firm overseas to carry out an independent assessment of WG Friendship Plaza.

Bala also confirms that he received a letter from the Attorney General’s Office which was in regards to claims by some people against the quality of the building’s steel structure and also the rust which has appeared.

He says there was also a stop order issued by the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism but work is continuing at the site.

WG International Real Estate Company Fiji Limited spokesperson, William Wu has confirmed that they received a notice from the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Tourism after concerns that the materials they were using were not up to standard but this problem was resolved after necessary checks were conducted.

Work on the WG Friendship Plaza began in 2016 and is expected to be completed in May 2019.

The plaza will be the tallest building in Fiji when it is completed.