PRETORIA- THURSDAY, 10TH NOVEMBER, 2016 – A ZAMBIAN, renowned for some landmark architectural works both in Zambia and South Africa has emerged 2016 second best architect in South Africa after being conferred with the honour by the South African Professional Services Awards (SAPSA) last week.
Mr. Kelly Kalumba, who has been practicing in South Africa, was selected second best from among two other finalists for the Professional of the year in the ‘Architecture Class of the Built Environment’ category at an awards presentation ceremony held at Monte Casino in Johannesburg on 3rd November, 2016. Mr. Kalumba reached the last three from more than 2, 500 nominees selected in March this year when the competition started.
The finalists, including Mr. Kalumba, where each presented with a framed and duly signed certificate and a custom made trophy.
The 46 year old has, since 2003, been Senior Partner at Louis Karol Architects in charge of the Johannesburg office taking care of projects on the continent, including the re-development of Society House on Lusaka’s Cairo road.
SAPSA seeks to recognise individuals and organisations that have excelled within the South African Professional Services Industry.
The process undertaken to identify nominees, finalists and eventual winners started in March, 2016 with a call for nominees for the various individual and organisation awards directly to professional service firms as well as to the South African business community.
Awarding of companies was based on business growth, customer service, technical excellence, contribution to the community, contribution to the profession, transformation record and commitment to ethics and professionalism.
The criteria for individual awards, to which Mr. Kalumba was subjected, included demonstration of management and leadership qualities, success of the units headed, innovation within the bounds of available resources, mentorship record, passion and drive, personal values, notable career achievements, concrete future objectives, embracing lessons from challenges, breaking of new ground, taking of risks and changing paradigms, standing out among peers and making a difference.
The judges found Mr. Kalumba to be an individual who epitomised the two aspects needed to be a good professional services leader namely good technical skills as demonstrated by his exploits in architecture and good management skills as proven by his taking charge of a new Johannesburg office for Louis Karol Architects.
Mr. Kalumba has been a project architect for well-known structures such as the V and A Waterfront Shopping Mall in Cape Town; the 2010 World Cup Stadium in Cape Town; Liberty Life Regional Headquarters (Office and Hotel) in Umhlanga, Durban; Gautrain train stations (Midrand, Centurion and Pretoria), and Nkwashi Mixed Youth Development on Leopards Hill road in Lusaka where10, 000 houses, a university, international boarding school, retail and office park are being constructed.
Others include Essex College in the United Kingdom; Crown Street up-market residential apartments in Glasgow, Scotland; extension to the Birmingham International Airport (with bussing facility); Seacon up-market residential apartments on the River Thames in London; Eco Towers (office development) in Accra, Ghana; Intercontinental Hotel at OR Tambo International Airport; The Zone Shopping Mall in Rosebank, South Africa; Jabi Lake Mixed Youth Development (offices and hotel with residential complex) in Abuja, Nigeria, and Onomo Hotel in Free Town, Sierra Leone.
Issued by:
Nicky Shabolyo
PRESS SECRETARY
HIGH COMMISSION OF ZAMBIA IN SOUTH AFRICA
Mobile: 00 27 810027548 Email: press@zambiapretoria.net; nshabolyo@gmail.com