With a GFA of 1000sqm, the Greenbarn is situated within the Greenlee lifestyle estate, which also houses several amenities such as an outdoor gym, laundromat, food garden and an art gallery. The design concept was that of a traditional rustic farmhouse rooted in nature. The Greenpark Lifestyle Centre, with a total floor area of 530sqm, is a single-storey community centre with amenities that include an outdoor gym, laundromat and offices. Like the Greenbarn, the design intention was one of peacefulness and simplicity.

Says Steve Brookes, Balwin’s CEO:

Each of this portfolio’s developments provides a healthy family lifestyle offering that encourages physical activity within the estate. Both the Greenlee and Greenpark buildings contribute to sector leadership for this typology, and we believe that Balwin’s commitment to incorporating green principles from the outset is what sets our developments apart in the market.

Nomamfengu Mbele, Sustainable Building Consultant at Solid Green, explains that the project was able to successfully target Green Star innovation credits through the upskilling of professional team members with the GBCSA New Building online accredited professional course, and by applying for more than one certification.

She adds:

For both projects, user comfort was greatly enhanced with a direct visual connection to the external environment, which was provided for 80% of the occupied area, and by ensuring a high level of thermal comfort through modelling the internal operative temperatures.

The use of water efficient fittings and rainwater harvesting enabled considerable water savings in both centres. Greenpark was able to achieve a further water saving with a grey water system that reuses water from the laundromat for irrigation purposes. As ongoing monitoring of resources is essential for assessing opportunities for both water and energy savings, sub-metering of major consuming systems was implemented.

Photo voltaic systems were installed for both projects – at Greenpark, the 14.58kWp system has an annual energy production of 21,440kWh; at Greenlee, the 27.6kWp system has an annual energy production of 64,097kWh. In both buildings the annual renewable energy output is higher than the annual consumption of the base building.

The peak electrical demands were further reduced by individually switching all individual or enclosed spaces. These measures have ensured that, when modelled in the design stages, the buildings were able to demonstrate an improvement of 100% over a SANS 10400 notional building – or net zero operating emissions for the base building.

Zero to low carbon emitting modes of transport were prioritised on both sites by designating parking spaces near building entrances for alternative fuel vehicles, motorbikes and bicycles. Project specific Environmental Management Plans were developed and implemented during construction to minimise the environmental impact associated with construction activities; and project specific Waste Management Plans were implemented to minimise waste to landfill.

Achieving double certifications for both the Greenlee Greenbarn and Greenpark’s Lifestyle Centre is an ambitious undertaking for both developer and professional teams. The measures implemented in pursuing this goal will not only contribute towards more sustainable construction practices and operations, but also to a much-enhanced user experience of these developments.

PROJECT TEAMS

Greenlee Greenbarn

Owner: Balwin Properties
Accredited professional: Solid Green Consulting
Architect: Boogertman + Partners
Electrical engineer: RWP Taemane Consulting Engineers
Mechanical contractor: Midrand Air
Quantity surveyors: Balwin Properties
Structural engineers: Kantey & Templer
Sustainable building consultant: Solid Green Consulting
Main contractor: Balwin Properties
Project manager: Balwin Properties
Environmental consultant: LEAP Environ
Facilities management company: Lansdowne
Interior designer: Boogertman + Partners
Electrical contractor: MLE Electrical Contractors
Construction / fit-out contractor: Balwin Properties
BMS systems professional: Solid Insight

Greenpark Lifestyle Centre

Owner: Balwin Properties
Accredited professional: Solid Green Consulting
Architect: Boogertman + Partners
Electrical engineer: Quad Africa Consulting
Mechanical contractor: Airtech Services
Quantity surveyors: Balwin Properties
Structural engineers: KCE Engineering
Sustainable building consultant: Solid Green Consulting
Main contractor: Balwin Properties
Project manager: Balwin Properties
Environmental consultant: LEAP Environ
Facilities management company: Lansdowne
Interior designer: Boogertman + Partners
Electrical contractor: Romor Electrical
Construction / fit-out contractor: Balwin Properties
BMS systems professional: Solid Insight