The Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA) recently awarded Atholl Towers office development located in Johannesburg South Africa a 5 star SA rating.
The building has optimized air conditioning, a central heat recovery system and motion sensor light fittings. The water system was integrated with the air conditioning system to receive recovered heat on cooling and heating modes.
The air-conditioning system would also serve as an air cooled heat pump to deliver heat to the domestic hot water stem when it was not being used for the cooling purposes.
The Atholl Towers office building was constructed in two phases and was commissioned by ALW estates. The first phase was completed in 2011 with an office space of 4500m2 with Volkswagen’s South Africa sales and marketing department being its tenant. The second phase was completed early 2015 with an office space of 10211m2, 480 parking bays and five basement levels.
According to Aurecon ESD consultant, Mami Punt, the company’s team worked in cooperation with AMA Architects and other project consultants to create something that was outstanding meeting the client’s sustainable development needs.
The building has a full glass façade with self cleaning silicone base to help in minimal maintenance over the coming years.
It also has recycles shutter boards for concrete casting, recycles steel, use of low volatile organic compound paint, low formaldehyde timber finishes and blinds to increase the flow of thermal comfort for users of the building. The building also has a water conservation reservoir to harvest rain water.
The power grid is planned around the building to allow tenants flexibility in use of their space.
Punt also noted that this is the first green star rated building that ALW Estates and Aurecon have which is a landmark achievement.
