The Cassini Tower, comprising ground to fifteenth floor level with penthouse levels on floors fourteen and fifteen, recently achieved its 4-Star Green Star SA MUR (Multi Unit Residential) v1 design certification. The building has a total of 182 dwellings covering a total dwelling rentable area of 12,187m².

Jean Paul van Huffel, Project Manager at Tricolt, comments:

As property developers, we recognise that the construction sector has a harsh impact on the environment, and we believe that it is our responsibility to build more sustainably. We are extremely proud of this Green Star certification, which is in keeping with the ethos of the development as a whole.

Strategically located close to the Mall of Africa, Cassini enjoys excellent connectivity to local utilities and existing public transit infrastructure. Nearby amenities include a pharmacy, laundromat, restaurant, retail establishments, cinema, hospital, office spaces, and a school. This contributes significantly to mitigating emissions stemming from private vehicular transportation. Moreover, open active play zones, outdoor exercise stations, an outdoor swimming pool and contemplative seating serve as a catalyst for encouraging a healthy lifestyle among residents.

Annelidé Sherratt, Head of Department: Green Building Certifications at Solid Green, says:

The development contributes to the health of building users by providing active communal facilities such as open play areas, outdoor exercise stations, an outdoor swimming pool and contemplative seating. Walking and cycling is encouraged through proximity to various local amenities, and public transport infrastructure and pedestrian foot paths and crossings are provided throughout the urban context. Interior finishes were selected to minimise the contribution to levels of Volatile Organic Compounds within dwellings and common areas, thus contributing further towards occupant health and wellbeing.

Energy strategies were implemented to reduce the overall energy consumption of the building. These measures directly reduce the cost associated with energy consumption and include occupancy sensors for all individual or enclosed spaces; the provision of hot water by heat pumps that are supported by a hot water storage tank; and the use of energy efficient appliances that are provided to each unit. These will all result in a minimum 75% improvement in energy consumption (kwh/year) over a notional building without green initiatives. Additionally, external lighting was designed to minimise light pollution at night.

Because gathering information is key to understanding and managing building systems as well as to assessing opportunities for resource savings, all major energy and water consuming systems are sub-metered. Additionally, each dwelling unit has been provided with submeters and a web-based dashboard to monitor electricity, gas and domestic hot water energy.

The Cassini project embedded legal and contractual environmental management initiatives within the formal management structures of the development, relating to the regular inspection and maintenance of common property services, environmental performance reports, a waste and recycling management plan, and retrofit and maintenance policy.

In line with this, new construction and refurbishments should aim to achieve a 30% reduction of the quantity of Portland cement used in any concrete, and a 90% recycled content of all the steel by mass on the project. Where new paints, adhesives and sealants and carpets are installed they should meet the Low TVOC (Total Volatile Organic Compound) limits. Additionally, only LED light fittings should be used, reducing materiality through the long lifespan of the technology while ensuring energy efficiency.

Ellipse Cassini epitomises sustainable urban living, aligning with green building principles, energy efficiency and responsible environmental stewardship, setting a noteworthy example for the precinct’s future construction endeavours.

Project Team

Owner Attacq & Tricolt
Accredited Professional Solid Green Consulting
Architect DHK Architects
Electrical Engineer Aftek Consulting Engineers
Fire Engineer Sutherland Engineers / Crossfire
Lift Specialist Kone
Mechanical Engineer Spoormaker & Partners
Quantity Surveyors Tricolt
Structural Engineers Arup
Sustainable Design Review Solid Green Consulting
Sustainable Building Consultant Solid Green Consulting
Wet Services Sutherland Engineers
Main Contractor Barrow
Project Manager Echo Project Managers
Environmental Consultant Seaton Environmental
Landscape Architects Green Inc

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Attacq is demonstrating its commitment to green building certification by seeking 5-star Green Star Office v1.1 Design, As-built and Interior v.1 certifications.

credit LYT Architecture

Lourens du Toit, Head of Sustainability, Infrastructure and Land at Attacq, explained that the building, designed by LYT Architecture, was built to be stylish and appealing while also meeting the highest environmental standards. du Toit said:

Our brief was for the architects to design a building that boasts a distinctive and desirable architectural style, and that also meets a 4-star Green Star rating as a minimum requirement.

Seeking net zero certification

As with the other buildings in the Nexus precinct, Nexus Building 01 features alternating glazed and solid facades. The building, which consists of two basement levels, a ground floor, three office levels and an entertainment terrace on the third floor, was designed to provide plenty of natural light to tenants. It was also built to enable easy sub-division into tenant suites.

The building features a host of advanced features to deliver best-in-class environmental sustainability. du Toit added:

We pursued net zero carbon level 1 certification to demonstrate our commitment to developing environmentally friendly and sustainable spaces for our clients as well as a broader commitment to a sustainable built environment in general.

credit LYT Architecture

Nexus 01’s sustainable features include:

• Sub-metering of major energy-consuming systems to monitor energy use.
• Photovoltaic panels to reduce peak electricity demand.
• Highly energy efficient lighting.
• All fire suppression systems and insulants have an Ozone Depleting Potential (ODP) of zero.
• A specific Waste Management Plan was developed and implemented to reduce the impact of any waste produced.
• Water efficient fittings limit the occupant water usage to 0.56 L/day/m2. Sub-metering of major water consuming systems is in place.

The construction phase itself followed the most stringent sustainability standards. A project-specific Environmental Management Plan was developed and implemented throughout the duration of construction to establish guidelines to follow to minimise the environmental impact associated with construction activities.

credit LYT Architecture

An impressive commitment to sustainable development

Elri Syfert, sustainability consultant at Solid Green, noted Attacq’s commitment to making a positive environmental impact in a commercially sustainable way. Syfert said:

They were able to reduce their carbon footprint while also reducing the occupancy costs.

Syfert explains that energy modelling during the design stage of the project compared the building to a notional building design.

Compared to a comparable modelled SANS 104000 building, the Nexus Building 01 showed an improvement of more than 100% carbon emissions reductions.

Waterfall City’s ethos is about creating a green environment that benefits residents and businesses operating within the precinct. Waterfall has adopted an environmentally conscious approach to planning and development. The Nexus 01 building is a milestone in the precinct’s sustainable development path.

Project Team

Owner: Attacq Waterfall Investment
Accredited Professional: Solid Green Consulting
Architect: LYT Architecture
Electrical engineer: Claassen Auret
Fire engineer: Plantech
Mechanical engineer: Adaptive Resource Engineers
Quantity surveyors: RLB Pentad
Structural engineers: Pure Consulting
Sustainable building consultant: Solid Green Consulting
Wet services: Spoormaker & Partners
Main contractor: Archstone Construction SA
Project manager: Metrum Project Management
Environmental consultant: Seaton Thompson & Associates
Occupational health and safety manager: Cairnmead

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