A Toast to Ten

The 10-year anniversary celebrations began with “Toast to Ten” at Constantia Glen Winery in Cape Town on 16 September 2025. The relaxed networking evening brought together developers, financiers and consultants for an informal celebration of collaboration and innovation.

Ommid Saberi and Prashant Kapoor, co-founders of EDGE, led the toast — reflecting on the journey from a small pilot to a globally recognised green building standard. Guests enjoyed a warm, community-focused evening of coffee, mocktails, and conversation around sustainability and design excellence.

Insights from the EDGE Summit

The following day, The Westin Cape Town hosted the EDGE Summit & Gala, a platform for sharing research, celebrating achievements, and exploring the future of green building.

Kushinga Kambarami, EDGE Africa Lead, opened the summit with a presentation on the EDGE journey in Africa. Speakers including Sibusiso Ndlovu, Avuyile Kewana, and Blake Bowden of IHS Housing shared inspiring stories of innovation and social impact, including more than 13,000 EDGE-certified homes across South Africa.

A key theme of the event was capacity building. A panel featuring Solid Green’s Wardah Peters and experts from Peru, India and Indonesia discussed how training, education and collaboration are vital to expanding green skills across the sector. Partnerships with Balwin, Nedbank and IFC were highlighted as drivers of large-scale, sustainable development.

In a subsequent discussion on quality assurance, representatives from Camacol, Sintali, GBCI, GBCSA, and Bureau Veritas emphasised the importance of maintaining global certification standards and continuous improvement.

Recognising Champions and Looking Ahead

The Summit celebrated EDGE Champions — organisations whose leadership and commitment have shaped the programme’s success in South Africa. Honorees included Solid Green Consulting, Balwin, Nedbank, IHS, Equites, Kasada, and Savvy Green.

In a heartfelt address, Prashant Kapoor and Ommid Saberi shared the founder story, recalling the inception of EDGE and unveiling the next chapter:

• EDGE V4, a performance-based update to the certification model.
• EDGE for Operations, a new tool to track ongoing building performance.
• Integration with IFC’s wider sustainability tools such as APEX Green Cities and Eco-Industrial Parks.
• The Sustainable Buildings Finance Guide, aimed at unlocking future green investment.

The Gala: A Celebration of Impact

The festivities concluded with a Gala Dinner celebrating innovation, resilience and leadership. Guests enjoyed local cuisine, music, and awards honouring trailblazers in sustainable development.

Solid Green Consulting was recognised as a Premier Service Provider, with 61 completed certifications spanning 5.1 million square meters, representing 4.15% of the total global certified area under EDGE.

The evening closed with dancing, laughter, and a shared sense of pride in how far the green building movement has come — and how much further it can go.

Moving Forward

For Solid Green, EDGE’s 10-year milestone is both a celebration and a call to action. The firm continues to lead with technical excellence, education and innovation, fostering new partnerships and mentoring the next generation of green leaders.

As EDGE enters its second decade, one message rings clear: sustainability is no longer optional — it’s the foundation of the built environment’s future.

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Redefine has developed a precinct that has been recognised by the GBCSA for achieving Net Zero Carbon performance, with 48.1% of remaining emissions addressed through verified offsets.

This certification is a reflection of Redefine’s long-term vision and commitment to decarbonisation. By investing in green building strategies early on, and continuing to push for innovation in sustainability, Redefine has demonstrated true leadership in shaping a greener urban future.

The Solid Green Contribution

At Solid Green, we are honoured to have contributed to this journey – laying the foundations for spaces that not only perform efficiently today, but that also stand as beacons of resilience and sustainability for years to come.

Our involvement extended well beyond design certification. Working closely with Redefine, we:

• Led the integration of sustainable features such as energy-efficient lighting, air-conditioning systems, natural daylight optimisation, stormwater management, and green operational policies.
• Benchmarked energy and water use against industry standards to ensure best-in-class performance.
• Guided the refrigerant phase-out policy and sustainable procurement strategies, ensuring resilience for the long-term.
• Partnered with Brundtland Consulting on carbon credit strategies, creating a pathway for verified emissions offsets that completed the Net Zero picture.

This milestone reflects both design intent and operational reality, which we take great pride in delivering for our clients. We make sure every initiative is tailored to the project, ensuring that implementation is seamless and fully justifiable.

Redefine: A Leader with Nine Net Zero Buildings

With Alice Lane Phases I–III now certified, Redefine has become the first South African REIT to achieve nine Net Zero Carbon certifications across its portfolio, including Convention Tower, Ballyoaks Office Park, and earlier projects such as Rosebank Link and 90 Rivonia (Property Wheel, Aug 2025).

At Solid Green, we are proud to have contributed to many of these milestones by supporting Redefine’s efficiency-first approach. This achievement is a testament to the strength of collaboration between client and consultant. Redefine’s leadership and commitment, combined with Solid Green’s technical expertise, have created a benchmark precinct that demonstrates how green building consultancy can deliver real, verified decarbonisation.

Congratulations once again to Redefine Properties on this exceptional accomplishment. We look forward to building on this success and continuing to drive South Africa’s transition toward a truly Net Zero future.

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This year’s Collection Drive focused on gathering essentials which included food, groceries, clothing, and toys, thoughtfully donated to two local organisations:

• Ladles of Love, a non-profit that provides nutritious and wholesome meals to individuals and families facing food insecurity in Cape Town. Their work ensures access to balanced nutrition, promoting health and wellbeing while reducing the social burden of hunger.
• U-turn, an organisation that develops pathways out of homelessness through skills-based programmes, rehabilitation support and holistic care. By addressing the root causes of homelessness, U-turn promotes self-sufficiency and long-term positive change.

Linking Community Action to Sustainability

Sustainability is not only about protecting the environment. It is also about fostering social equity and resilience. Solid Green used this initiative, to contribute to several aspects around sustainability:

• Reducing Waste: By donating food, clothing and toys, items were redirected away from potential landfill waste, supporting a more circular approach to resources.
• Supporting Social Development: Providing food security and empowering homeless individuals through skills training contributes to stronger, more inclusive communities.
• Building Partnerships: Collaborating with local non-profits strengthens the social fabric, ensuring resources reach those who need them most, amplifying positive impact.
• Promoting Shared Responsibility: The Collection Drive demonstrates that sustainability is a collective effort, where small actions from individuals and organisations combine to create lasting change.

This Mandela Day initiative not only honoured the spirit of giving but also aligned with a broader commitment to sustainability, recognising that thriving communities are the foundation of a truly sustainable future. The Solid Green team is proud to have played a role in advancing social wellbeing while contributing to the responsible use of resources and long-term resilience in our city.

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Download this article here, or read the full article here in Floors and Walls & Roofs magazines.

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Initially, Nedbank Namibia’s new head office achieved a 5-star Green Star Office Design certification. As the building was only three points shy of a 6-star rating, the sustainability consultant advised on the additional measures required to realise a 6-star rating. The client gave the go-ahead, and these measures were implemented to achieve the 6-Star Green Star As-built certification.

Marloes Reinink, director at Solid Green Consulting, says that the entire certification process required vision and dedication from both the client and professional team. All professionals and contractors had contractual obligations and targets to implement, track and report on throughout the Green Star processes. Elri Syfert from WCE was the Accredited Professional on the project and assistance was provided by Annelide Sherratt from Solid Green’s side. WCE also assisted Nedbank in procuring an independent commissioning agent to ensure that future maintenance was properly considered during the design process, and that all systems were correctly commissioned before handover.

The Nedbank Head Office Campus in Windhoek, a visually striking sixteen-storey building located at Freedom Plaza on Independence Avenue, is characterised by strong contemporary geometries.

Furthering industry knowledge and capacity

 The 6-star certification is reserved for highly efficient buildings that also address social issues and contribute to the community. Martha Murorua, Managing Director of Nedbank Namibia, mentions that the achievement showcases the quality of Namibian workmanship.

“Our new head office is a symbol of our commitment to supporting the local economy and creating job opportunities for the people of Namibia,” Murorua says.

With 97% of the contract value allocated to Namibian companies, this building showcases the collective positive impact we can have on empowering and supporting local capacity development.

Furthermore, as part of the innovation points achieved on the project, all major contractors, sub-contractors and consultants completed the GBCSA online course for New Buildings. This elevated the understanding, knowledge and capabilities around sustainability within the Namibian market, and set a benchmark for future developments in this respect.

External louvres act as dynamic façade elements and passive shading devices to limit glazing and heat loads.

Landmark sustainability

The visually striking sixteen-storey building, located at Freedom Plaza on Independence Avenue, and covering a total gross floor area of 10,716m², is characterised by strong contemporary geometries. The ground floor accommodates Nedbank’s public entrance and client interface, client service and a coffee shop.

Energy modelling was carried out by Solid Green very early on during the concept design stage. The intention was to identify design measures that would reduce energy consumption. The most significant design changes resulting from this process were:

• changing the East and West façades from solid panels to etched glass, reducing heat load gains by 50%.
• external louvres acting as dynamic façade elements and passive shading devices to limit glazing and heat loads.
• double glazing to the East, West and North façades, which also assists with noise reduction.
• a split between perimeter and internal office heat load zoning.
• blinds on the North façade to allow for better glare control.

The modelling also identified that, by increasing the size of the photovoltaic system on the roof, the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions would be significant enough to permit the building to target a 6-star As-built certification.

For Rowan McNamara, Director at Kerry McNamara Architects and his design team, the process of achieving a 6-star rating has been very rewarding.

The experience has been unsurpassed in expanding our knowledge and commitment to sustainability and green building. A unique and interesting process was the 3D simulation and finetuning of the façade louvres and performance glazing with the team at Solid Green Consulting. This allowed us to achieve excellent external views for the occupants whilst maintaining thermal comfort and energy efficiency. We are very proud to be a part of this sustainable landmark in the Namibian built environment landscape and congratulate all involved in this achievement.

Energy modelling carried out by Solid Green allowed the design team to achieve excellent external views for the building occupants whilst maintaining thermal comfort and energy efficiency.

Innovations and resource savings

Of the 1,600 tons of reinforced steel used for the building structure, 92% consisted of recycled metal to minimise the embodied energy and resource depletion associated with the use of virgin steel. In addition, the use of Portland cement was reduced by an impressive 47%, by substituting fly ash that came from power stations. And 93% of waste generated during construction was recycled.

Peak electrical demand was reduced by 30% due to the installation of the PV system, with an annual production of 262.8MWh. Energy modelling further established that the energy efficient design and the addition of the PV system achieved a 40% energy saving compared to similar buildings. In total, carbon emissions associated with operational energy consumption have been reduced to 27.1 kg CO2/m²/year from 272.6 kg CO2/m²/year – a 90% improvement compared to a conventional building of this type.

Energy efficient initiatives include the installation of 100% LED lighting as well as a lighting control system that allows daylight harvesting – when the light outside is bright, the lights inside will dim, saving electricity and reducing glare in the office space. To further improve occupant wellbeing and productivity, fresh air is supplied at 33% above the minimum required by the SANS building regulations for conventional buildings.

 Submetering of all substative energy and water loads is in place, and a building management system records energy and water consumption for monitoring, reporting and tuning. In addition, energy and water data is displayed as a learning resource in the building reception area to inform users and visitors about resource consumption.

Rain water and airconditioning condensate is collected, treated and stored, together with treated water collected from sinks and showers. Topped up with ground water collected from a sump, this water is then pumped to the roof and used for toilets, irrigation and façade cleaning. In this way, the building uses 20% less water from the municipal supply and 50% less water ends up in the municipal sewer system.

Another exciting feature, and one where Innovation credits were awarded, is the Sun Cycles Innovation. A small shop has been set up in the basement where employees as well as tourists can rent a Sun Cycle e-bike to be used in the Windhoek CBD for short business trips and city tours. Cycling facilities with showers and lockers have also been included to promote sustainable transport. In addition, a green cleaning policy has been implemented to address environmental best practices for cleaning the interior of the building. The building’s waste is also being monitored and reported each year, so that waste reduction targets can be established.

In conclusion

Murorua believes that Nedbank’s commitment to sustainability and positive social impact puts the bank among world-class leaders in building practices, setting an inspiring example of what can be achieved through collaboration. She concludes, “The 6-star rating is testament to our collective dedication and perseverance. Let’s keep pushing forward towards even bigger achievements.”

Project Team

Owner: NedProperties (Pty) Ltd
Sustainability Consultant & Accredited GBCSA Professional: WCE Consulting Engineers / Solid Green Consulting
Project Manager: Emcon Consulting Group
Architect: Kerry McNamara Architects Inc.
Civil & Structural Engineer: WCE Consulting Engineers
Electrical & Mechanical Engineer: Emcon Consulting Group
Quantity Surveyor: Herselman Van Greunen Quantity Surveyors
Independent Commissioning Agent: Ecolution
Main contractor: Namibia Construction (Pty) Ltd

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The dynamic relationship we have across all levels of professional experience and academia fosters a solutions-centered environment, which I think is at the core of sustainability practice. Everyone has a voice and is encouraged to use it. As a Junior Green Building Consultant, I am motivated in learning through the shared understanding and passion this company has for its industry.

In all honesty, I had no idea what I wanted to pursue even after being accepted for Construction Studies at Wits. Our modules ranged from statistics and economics to project management and construction technology – it just felt a bit all over the place, which didn’t really help me figure out what I’d actually be doing as a professional.

Being at home during the final two years (lockdown, remember that one, eish!), we all developed a lot more awareness of what our planet is capable of when we take a step back and let it thrive. For the most part, it shaped the way we work in the world today. I saw sustainability at the forefront of industry and growing into a key driver of the 4-IR throughout the world. It was something I felt interested in and investigated it.

During my postgraduate in Construction Management, the lesson I took is that people have the greatest impact in the world, when we really shouldn’t. In the same way a university carries on once we graduate, the world goes on without us and we need to really contemplate what role we have in its function. It’s a multi-generational system and we’re just a part of it.

In my final year research, our topic centered around repurposing the abandoned buildings in the Johannesburg CBD into student accommodation. Through the grace of The Almighty, I was fortunate enough to have had the opportunity to present this at the 2021 GBCSA convention. It was then that I became aware of the impact that industry professionals have and knew a career in this field was realistic and purposeful. Before joining Solid Green at the end of 2022, I learnt more than I could have imagined as a Site Foreman in Linbro Park.

The most important thing to me in sustainability is to keep asking questions. Always challenge when things don’t make sense. Sustainability is so much greater than any one discipline and being open to challenging concepts is part of its fabric. Solid Green is cultivating its own legacy by nurturing a positive transformation in the built environment and I’m grateful to make its journey a part of my own.

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Alex Varughese, Modelling and Simulations Consultant at Solid Green explains that a 60kWp photovoltaic solar array will supply energy to all the building’s facilities, actively reduce peak electrical demand, and produce 83.28MWh annually. When modelled during the project’s design stages, the building showed a 108% improvement over a Green Star baseline building, with energy usage anticipated to be 18kWh/m²/year. This will significantly contribute to the Net Zero Carbon rating, together with features such as efficient lighting, individual switching for all enclosed spaces, and natural ventilation for over 90% of the spaces.

Nomamfengu Mbele, Sustainable Building Consultant at Solid Green, adds that ample natural light without glare was achieved using large overhangs and clerestory windows. Together with views to the exterior for 60% of the Occupied Area, this offers a strong sense of seasonal and diurnal cycles. A high level of thermal comfort was also ensured by addressing the internal operative temperatures through modelling and ensuring they are within the ASHRAE Standard 55-2004 Acceptability Limits for at least 98% of occupied hours.

To assist with gathering key information vital to managing building systems and to assessing opportunities for resource savings, sub-metering of major energy and water consuming systems is in place. Water efficient fittings and a grey water system installed to reuse water used in the ablutions for irrigation purposes, go a long way to reducing the lifestyle centre’s water consumption.

Balwin Properties has exceeded the Green Star credits required for this certification by implementing several innovation measures. Five members of the design team and four members of Balwin’s contractor team completed the GBCSA’s New Buildings online course. In addition, Indoor Air Quality monitors will be installed which are linked to the Solid Insight platform to measure and communicate the air quality in each space.

Other innovations include implementing biophilic design to prioritise the human-nature connection and to create a mood of rest and wellbeing through the use of colour, light and texture. And over 8% of the contract value was made up of materials with high recycled content such as reused tyres and rubber in the flooring materials (which exceeds the Green Star benchmark of 1%). Circuit level metering was also used to support the Net Zero target – so that each light and power socket on each space is monitored in order for the facilities management team to intervene accurately whenever there is an unusual trend in energy consumption.

A project specific Environmental Management Plan was developed and implemented throughout the duration of construction to minimise the environmental impact associated with building activities, and a project specific Waste Management Plan was developed and implemented to minimise the contribution of waste going to landfill. The lifestyle centre also promotes the use of alternative fuel vehicles, motorbikes and bicycles with designated parking spaces near building entrances for occupants with zero to low carbon emitting modes of transport.

In addition to the Lifestyle Centre certifications, Ballito Hills estate has 1320 residential units that have received preliminary EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies) certification, by achieving 20% savings in the Energy, Water and Materials categories.

Ballito Hills Lifestyle Centre has implemented sustainable design and building service initiatives which can be recognized as world leadership. By setting ambitious targets with these key certifications, the Estate has demonstrated both vision and commitment towards more sustainable construction practices and operations.

Project Team

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The most-attended courses were:

• Places matter to Microbial Interactions

  Hosted by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) – attended by Khosi, Adrie and Mbongiseni – which explored strategies to manage the spread of infectious disease in buildings and communities, in the context of the recent spread of COVID-19; and how buildings can also contribute to the strengthening of our immune systems.

  

• EcoDistricts Accredited Professional Course

  Attended by Marloes (as a refresher), and Noma, Bronwyn, Jeffy, Khosi, Andi and Adrie who successfully took the exam – in preparation for Solid Green’s upcoming work on a methodology for creating EcoDistricts in the City of Johannesburg.

• DesignBuilder

  Attended by Giant and Wayne who are studying Building Energy and Simulation online, mentored by Chilu.

• Health and Well Being: Rethinking the Built Environment

  Hosted by the Green Building Council of Mauritius – attended by Zendre and Adrie, this cross-case discussion of 3 different frameworks was presented by Catriona Brady, Head of the World Green Building Council’s Better Places for People; Meelan Thondoo, Anthropologist, Socio-economic Analyst and PhD Candidate in the EU Commission EMJD Program; and Dr Shalini Ramesh, Director of the Commercial Team at the International WELL Building Institute.

It goes without saying that online learning related to health and the built environment took centre-stage. Jesse is currently undertaking the WELL AP Exam Preparation virtual series, with the intention of writing the exam by August. And Marloes ambitiously undertook, and was super inspired by, the Living Future Accreditation, which comprises 20 hours of Foundational Course webinars and then another 16 hours of other educational activities. She also listened to FutureCities podcasts on how Covid-19 is impacting our industry – particularly the podcasts hosted by Daniel Claassen with Giles Pendelton (Chief Development Officer at Attacq) and Henning Rasmus (Director at Paragon Architects).

A highlight for Marloes was the Living Future Unconference online: ‘Sustaining Hope within Crisis’ with an inspiring keynote address by Jason McLennon, Founder of the International Living Future Institute, titled ‘Community Resilience in Difficult Times’. Hosted by the International Living Future Institute (ILFI), this game-changing event was THE place for the global green building and sustainability community to come together.

Climate Crisis in the time of Covid-19 (attended by Zendre), was hosted by Daily Maverick journalist Rebecca Davis in conversation with Former Secretary-General of Amnesty International, Kumi Naidoo and Chair of The Elders and former President of Ireland, Mary Robinson. A learning from this talk was how democracy, human rights and sustainability are linked and how times of crisis should be used as a moment of learning and awareness around the problems (beyond Covid-19) that face our society.

Covid-19 and Real Estate: The Young Professional’s Outlook, attended by Noma, was hosted by the South African Institute of Black Property Practitioners (SAIBPP) and looked at how the professional environment has changed during the Covid-19 era, inspiring Noma to investigate opportunities for growth within her ambit.

Wayne and Alex both chose to focus on urban sustainability. A Udemy course on Aquaculture offered Wayne a better understand on how to keep fish in captivity for aquaponics systems and urban farming; while Alex researched urban crop management and Hydroponics in answer to a question sparked by the Covid-19 situation around how a household could survive from the land for 6 months to one year.

 Adrie attended a number of online events hosted by industry leaders including live discussions on Cities After COVID-19 hosted by The Big Rethink, such as How Public Transit Bounces Back; Housing: Room for Improvement; and Lessons for Greenfield Megaprojects; and webcasts by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) such as Places matter for human health; Places matter for stress and immunity; and Power of place: A conversation about racial inequities highlighted by Covid-19. Other events included the World Green Building Council on Indoor Air Quality, Lessons for the Future of Public Health, Circular Economy, and Net-Zero and Close to Zero Buildings – Africa Green Building Webinar Series; while the GBCSA Planet Shapers events covered Applying Net-Zero in Africa, and Greening a Property Portfolio.

Solid Green’s super-efficient office manager (and new mum) is planning to take a number of tests through the Chartered Institute of Management Accounting (CIMA); and also attended Are you ready to re-open? presented by Mike Miles from HR and Skills Market, and How to create a High Performance Culture in a New World of Work by Natalie Wickam from Quantum Workplace.

Overall, we’re impressed with the initiative shown by our team and look forward to finding out what new learning opportunities they are planning as lockdown progresses!

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Centrally located for access to the city centre and major highways, the property is close to Brooklyn Mall, various embassies, the University of Pretoria, Loftus Versveld rugby stadium and the Gautrain bus routes. An electric vehicle (EV) charging station is available onsite with an EV for shuttle services; and shared Qhubeka Bicycles are available to guests for commuting within the neighbourhood.

The site houses older heritage buildings, newer existing buildings and new buildings. Paul Boshoff, the hotel’s architect and co-developer says:

Where we redevelop a building, we are sensitive to existing buildings, history, character and finishes. We seek to retain the best aspects of the building and then introduce new infrastructure, utilities, and more appropriate modern amenities and functions. Our aim is always to reduce utility demand and dependence. We work on both the older and newer existing buildings.

For the new buildings, a self-sufficient living pod was designed that allows for rapid deployment. The pod sits on top of a water reservoir concrete raft foundation that helps to modulate temperature in the units; and has a lightweight, highly insulated top structure, which makes for easier transport and also assists in temperature regulation and control. With a north orientation for good passive heating, the pod has a standardised ablution module (factory assembled and fitted); solar panels linked to Endless Power control modules; and an insulated hot water solar-powered vessel that was sized to accommodate water-based (in slab) heating in winter.

Zendré Compion, Sustainable Building Consultant at Solid Green, explains that a Net Zero Carbon building is defined as a building that is highly energy-efficient, with the remaining energy use being generated from renewable sources so that there are zero net carbon emissions on an annual basis. In the case of a Net Positive Carbon building, the energy from renewable sources results in more energy being produced than is used on site. Zendré says:

The building industry currently produces a third of the world’s CO2 emissions and should therefore take the lead in attempting to drastically reduce the amount of CO2 generated in the construction and operations of buildings. Net Zero/Net Positive is not about slowly pushing the building industry towards betterment, but rather about inspiring the end goal now.

Hotel Nieu aims to produce more energy on site than it will use. In addition to applying good passive design principles, this will be achieved through a rational design process that includes specifying high performance materials and active energy-producing systems like solar PV with battery back-up.

Paul explains that the Hotel Nieu philosophy revolves around six elements of sustainable net-zero living: human capital, water, energy, food, personal security and transport.

In addition to our energy-efficiency and generation measures, the project uses tested low-energy light fittings, water heating and appliances; and we monitor and audit our energy consumption to ensure continuous improvement.

We harvest and treat rainwater for reuse, offer onsite-purified drinking water and a public street drinking fountain, use borehole water instead of municipal water, and feed irrigation and stormwater overflow back into the system via our landscaped wetland. We also monitor and audit our water usage and use water-saving sanitaryware and appliances. All of this helps us to minimise our water footprint and ensure that not a drop is wasted.

Lucas Uys, landscape architect, explains that the hotel’s landscaping is designed for functionality and the gardens include edible elements and greenhouses, which contribute to the boutique hotel’s self-sustainability. Each suite offers a degree of self-catering functionality; while healthy and high-quality catering is also available onsite.

With a philosophy that is designed to inspire as well as contribute towards sustainability, Hotel Nieu is leading the local hospitality sector and providing a mindful ‘home-away-from-home’ for its guests.

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“35 Lower Long is a significant project for Abland as we are aiming to transform the Cape Town skyline,” comments Marios Michaelides of Abland.

Not only is the timeless design visually important, but it also had to take into account sustainable practices. As a market leader, Abland recognises the importance of driving change and, through obtaining a Green Star rating, we are able to do that as well as partner with tenants that share the same vision.

The development’s prominent location allows building occupants to easily access surrounding amenities with reduced reliance on private occupancy vehicles. It is within 150m walking distance of MyCitiBus stops on various routes that connect to city districts in the north, south, east and west; and is also within walking distance of Cape Town Station, which connects to various Metrorail Stops and to the MyCityBus network. Close to the popular foreshore precinct and the Cape Town International Convention Centre, the building is within easy walking distance of various amenities in the area, including hotels and restaurants, retail outlets and schools.

Built on a very constrained brownfields site, the new office building is specifically designed to equip tenants with knowledge and skills around sustainability, and to give them a workplace that enhances their productivity – with interiors boasting various spaces to work privately and collaboratively, and to interact socially. Green building features were incorporated from the outset to enable employee wellbeing and to reduce the overall consumption of resources.

Lighting levels were designed to be 80% less than the prescribed standard, while still being above the Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) requirements. Only high frequency luminaire ballasts will be installed, eliminating the chance of discomfort to building users caused by the flicker of low frequency lamps. All individual or enclosed spaces are less than 100sqm in size and are individually switched in order to provide greater flexibility, making it easy to light only occupied areas. Lighting sensors have also been specified to assist with this target. And, to reduce energy consumption, the lighting power density for 95% of the useable area is less than 1.5W/m2 per 100m2.

The behaviour of occupants is critical to reducing the building’s overall consumption, and gathering information is key to understanding and managing building systems, and to assessing opportunities for energy and water savings. Accordingly, sub-metering of lighting, power and all substantive energy use items greater than 100kVA is provided, along with an effective mechanism for monitoring energy consumption. The estimated operational saving for energy is R48,500 per month based on a notional building improvement of 48%, with carbon emissions reduced by 34kgCO2/m2/yr.

Management of water consumption was also a key consideration. Water meters and an automated monitoring mechanism are in place to effectively monitor and manage consumption. This monitoring system will also be able to detect leaks and alert management, ensuring that little to no water is wasted. These measures have resulted in the building’s outflow from occupant usage being reduced by 50% against an average practice benchmark. The operational saving for water is estimated at R3,700 per month based on a projected consumption of 0,46L/day/m2.

In addition, the project’s Variable Refrigerant Volume HVAC System has an air-cooled chilled water plant, which reduces water wastage as water is not required to cool down the system. The system also makes use of refrigerant with an ozone depleting potential of zero. Hot water is provided by a heat pump, for use in showers and bathrooms throughout the building.

A 40sqm waste recycling storage area has been provided in the basement to encourage recycling of resources used within the building to reduce waste going to landfill (for paper and cardboard; plastic, glass and cans; metals; and general waste), with recycling waste to be collected weekly.

Paints, carpets, adhesives and sealants and composite wood products used within the building will be specifically selected to minimise emissions typical of these materials. The construction is targeting a 30% reduction of the quantity of Portland cement, as an average across all concrete mixes; a 60% recycled content of all steel by mass on the project; and that 95% (by cost) of all timber products used in the building and construction works should be specified to be Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Certified Timber, reused or recycled timber.

Jesse Hamman, sustainability consultant on the project, observes:

The fact that the project team was knowledgeable on the Green Star submission process and green building design requirements made the certification process much easier.

As an iconic new addition to the Foreshore precinct, this sculptural edifice will further entrench in the construction sector the green building and occupant wellbeing principles that we are beginning to expect from leading developments in the country.

Project Team:

• Owner: Abland (Pty) Ltd and Ellerine Bros (Pty) Ltd
• Architect: DHK
• Electrical Engineer: Converge Consulting
• Fire Engineer: Sutherland Engineers
• Mechanical Engineer: Ekcon Engineers
• Quantity Surveyors: Du Toit Pienaar Quantity Surveyors
• Structural Engineers: Aurecon Engineers
• Sustainable Building Consultant: Solid Green Consulting
• Wet Services: Sutherland Engineers
• Main Contractor: Stabilid Cape
• Project Manager: Abland (Pty) Ltd
• Environmental Consultant: Green Direction

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