Reshaping the future of construction and eco-conscious architecture, sustainable building practices take centre stage as South African contractors and civil engineers shoot for the “green” stars! With a growing commitment to creating eco-conscious, “green building” precincts, green star buildings have taken shape across South African landscapes. To follow, Sephaku Cement showcases two all new and pioneering concrete buildings and properties that have been built with as little environmental impact as possible while offering long term sustainability.
Discovery Head Office – Sandton Johannesburg
Incorporating both mechanical and environmentally sustainable designs, the new Discovery head office located at 1 Discovery Place, Sandhurst in Sandton Johannesburg holds a Five (5) Green Star rating. Assessed by the Green Building Council of South Africa, One Discovery Place was developed by Growthpoint Properties in a joint venture with Zenprop Holdings.
Taking into consideration the health and well-being of its employees while checking all the boxes as a world-class sustainable building, One Discovery Place is said to be one of the largest and greenest buildings in Africa. Having taken just under four (4) years to complete the building made up of eight (8) levels of office space structured across a 3-tiered layout that includes a data centre and feature roof level covers around 150 000 m2. From energy efficient lighting, to grey and rainwater harvesting applications, water conscious sanitary systems and a carbon monoxide monitoring feature fitted to the basement, while the structure offers an incredible aesthetic to the Sandton CDB skyline, the curved facade also plays a role in the buildings thermal heat control.
As part of these eco-efficient strategies fitted to the building, engineering and construction also included the responsible use of building materials and waste management handling. With its architectural focus aimed at well-being and movement, the new Discovery Head office also offers a rooftop running track, an indigenous landscaped roof garden, staircases designed to encourage staff to use stairs instead of elevators and its largest atrium measuring the size of a Boeing 737.
Cintocare Hospital, Menlyn Main Pretoria
The first facility of its kind in South Africa and the first specialised surgical hospital in Africa to be awarded a Five (5) Green Star Custom Healthcare design certification from the Green Building Council South Africa (GBCSA), let’s find out more about the Cintocare Hospital in Pretoria.
A collaboration between Growthpoint Properties and Cintocare, the Cintocare Hospital has been engineered to bring both a positive social and environmental impact to is surrounds. Creating a sustainable healthcare facility that supports the well-being of patients, the environment and local communities, the 11 000 m2 hospital covers seven (7) floors including the hospital plant room, three (3) clinical and consulting levels. The 100-bed hospital, with the capacity to expand to 160 beds will also host five (5) theatres, one of which is a hybrid. The site’s green building rating has been achieved through architectural design and various sustainable design principles incorporated into its engineering. Further to this, this particular collaboration between Growthpoint Properties, Cintocare and GBCSA has resulted in an all new green building certification tool which will be used to drive the development of other green healthcare buildings in South Africa.
As eco-conscious architecture, sustainable building practices and green building practices continuing to guide civil engineering and property design principles, we look forward to showcasing more Green Star buildings that lead the South African construction sector into the future.