Standout Project Achievements

Balwin Properties’ Johannesburg headquarters led the year’s highlights, securing both a 6-Star Green Star As-Built Office v1.1 rating and a Net Zero Carbon As-Built Certification – a dual achievement that positions the development at the forefront of South Africa’s green building movement .

Oxford Parks 10 Parks Boulevard / 55 Eastwood achieved a 6-star Green Star Design Office v1.1 rating in November 2025, receiving a 2025 GBCSA Leadership Award for the Highest Rated Green Star Building.

In Cape Town, the Riverlands Precinct received the 2025 GBCSA Leadership Award for Green Star Leader for New Developments. With its 5-Star Sustainable Precinct rating, two 6-Star Green Star Office ratings, and a 5-Star Mixed Use Custom rating, Riverlands stands as a compelling example of holistic placemaking and long-term community.

Corporate interiors also shone this year. BCG Johannesburg, located in the dynamic Oxford Parks precinct, earned a 5-Star Green Star Interiors v1 certification, blending global workplace standards with a strong sense of local character. Takeda Pharmaceuticals’ new Johannesburg office secured a 4-Star Interiors v1 rating, reflecting the company’s international sustainability commitments.

The year also marked a major public-sector milestone: the Gauteng Department of Infrastructure and Development, together with the Departments of Education and Health, achieved South Africa’s first Green Star Existing Building Performance (EBP) ratings for public schools and clinics.

At the V&A Waterfront, 14 Dock Road elevated its sustainability credentials with a 5-Star Green Star SA Office v1.1 As-Built certification, while in Harare, Ecobank’s new headquarters reached an important milestone with a preliminary EDGE Advanced certification.

Solid Green also celebrated a major achievement with Redefine Properties as the Alice Lane Precinct earned a Net Zero Carbon Level 2 (Measured) certification, reflecting a rigorous commitment to operational carbon reduction.

Marloes Reinink, Director at Solid Green, says:

Together, these achievements underscore Solid Green’s continued leadership in shaping buildings and precincts that deliver meaningful environmental performance, social value and long-term resilience.

Impact and Engagement Highlights

In 2025, Solid Green deepened its leadership in sustainability through industry advocacy, capacity building, community upliftment and people-centred initiatives across the continent.

Regionally, a major milestone was achieved with the publication of Zimbabwe’s Local Context Report, an important step in tailoring global green building standards to local conditions. Driving continental knowledge exchange, Solid Green partnered with the Kenya Green Building Society (KGBS) and Turner & Townsend to deliver the Design for Greater Efficiency (DfGE) course in Nairobi from 30 July to 1 August, reflecting our commitment to enabling skills development and accelerating Africa’s green building transition.

At the Oxford Parks Precinct, we hosted a Green Building tour that highlighted the synergy between sustainability and cost-effectiveness in contemporary urban development. The tour provided practitioners with practical insights into designing high-performance, people-focused precincts.

Social sustainability remained central to Solid Green’s mission. In Cape Town, the team marked Mandela Day by organising a Collection Drive in support of vulnerable community members, while in Johannesburg, staff joined the Imveliso Foundation for a hands-on gardening initiative at Kwena Molapo Secondary School in Diepsloot.

The partnership at Kwena Molapo further underscored the power of people-first sustainability, addressing hunger, education and gender equality through targeted interventions that align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. These efforts demonstrated how built-environment professionals can support meaningful social impact beyond project boundaries.

Globally, we joined the industry in celebrating 10 years of the IFC’s EDGE programme – a decade of advancing resource efficiency and shaping a more resilient built environment.

Chilfya Lombe, Director at Solid Green, commented:

Together, these activities reflect Solid Green’s holistic approach to sustainability: advancing technical excellence, supporting industry transformation, and uplifting the communities at the heart of our work.

GBCSA Leadership Awards 2025

Solid Green continues to be recognised by the GBCSA for our leadership in sustainable building design and certification. Below is a summary of the awards we received in 2025:

Highest Rated Project (Existing Operations)

• Runner Up: Promenade Mall (Liberty Two Degrees)

Highest Rated Project (New Development)

• Winner: 105 Corlett Drive, Balwin Head Office (Balwin Properties)
• Runner Up: CPT 14 Zola AWS Central (Liesbeek Leisure Properties Trust)

Rising Green Star

• Winner: Thato Molapo, Solid Green Consulting
• Runner Up: Danika Taylor, Imbue Sustainability & Solid Green Consulting

Established Green Star

• Runner Up: Makhosazana Mthethwa, Solid Green Consulting

Net Zero Champion

• Winner: Redefine Properties. Recognising Net Zero Carbon: Level 2 – Building + Occupant Emissions (Measured) achievements of Alice Lane, Ballyoaks Office Park and CTICC Convention Tower.

Green Star Leader for New Developments

• Winner: Riverlands Precinct – Zenprop Property Holdings

Green Star Leader for (Existing Operations)

• Runner Up: Liberty Two Degrees – driving change at scale through Existing Building Performance (EBP) certifications on their retail centres across South Africa

Investing in Our Future

Throughout the year, we took bold steps to expand our national presence and deepen our expertise.

A key milestone this year was opening our new Cape Town office, marking an exciting chapter in our company’s growth. The expanded footprint strengthens our ability to support clients across the Western Cape and enhances our national reach in delivering high-performance, sustainable buildings and precincts.

Alongside geographic growth, we have broadened our expertise in Existing Buildings, responding to the rising demand for sustainable retrofits and operational performance enhancements. This strategic expansion equips the team to better support building owners and operators in reducing environmental impacts, improving efficiency and achieving long-term value.

As the organisation grows, so too does our focus on nurturing the people who drive sustainability forward. We recognise that resilience in our industry begins with supporting those who carry the mission. From capacity-building initiatives to mental health awareness and balanced workloads, this focus underscores Solid Green’s belief that thriving professionals are essential to delivering thriving cities.

Looking back over this year, we’re deeply grateful for the continued support of our clients and partners. Here’s to new opportunities, deeper partnerships, and bold progress in 2026!