Tshedimosetso House is a six-story structure situated at the intersection of Festival and Francis Baard Streets in Hatfield, Pretoria. The building is a cutting-edge 4-Star Green Star SA Office v1 Design-rated structure created for the Department of Communications (DOC).
Growthpoint Properties was honored for its commitment to sustainable development by receiving the award for its Tshedimosetso House project at the 2014 Nedbank Capital Sustainable Business Awards for Infrastructure and Renewable Energy.
Reported on 7th October 2014
Tshedimosetso in South Africa is the first ever green building to incorporate solar facades in Africa
Tshedimosetso green building in South Africa boasts the continent’s first-ever building to be integrated with a solar façade. The building is also used in research into the use of such technology around Africa.
The unique aspect of this building located in Hatfield and used as the new Government Communications and Information Systems (GCIS) building, is the incorporation of two different types of power-generating glass – which have never been tested in Africa before. One of the two types is the E-Glass windows that have blue crystalline PV wafers within the glass and the other is the clear Tropiglas solution that uses nanotechnology polymer stuck between two layers of glass.
The building integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) replaces unadventurous building materials, making it a major talking point among enthusiasts of sustainability. The balconies of this building, which are located along the edge, allow interaction with the street life, while there is a delicate level at the entrance that reveals the difference between the building’s semi-private and public use.
Research into the Tshedimosetso green building project is headed by Prof. Jan-Harm from the University of Johannesburg, with connections to Edith Cowan University in Australia. The research entails monitoring the building remotely and reporting on the comparison between the two types of BIPVs used.
They are also monitoring how different sides of the building perform and the first set of results is expected to be presented in November 2014.
Initially, the new green building was meant to have a standard commercial office design, but this changed and now it will be a world-class workplace showcasing green technology and at the same time preserving historical monuments.
The new green building proves the South African Government’s commitment to moving towards vision 2030 and GCIS’s part in energy and water conservation. Other green buildings in South Africa include The Towers (formerly Standard Bank Center) by Redefine Properties; and the Nedbank Lakeview Building from Nedbank.
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Reported on 6th November 2014
Growth Point wins Infrastructure and Renewable Energy award for the Tshedimosetso green building project
Acknowledged for dedication to sustainable development, Growthpoint Properties took home the award in the Infrastructure and Renewable Energy category for its Tshedimosetso House project at the 2014 Nedbank Capital Sustainable Business Awards for Infrastructure and Renewable Energy.
A six-storey green building, Tshedimosetso House is located on the corner of Festival and Francis Baard Streets in Hatfield, Pretoria. The building – designed for the Department of Communications (DOC) – is an innovative 4-Star Green Star SA Office v1 Design-rated building.
Norbert Sasse, CEO of Growthpoint Properties, comments: “We’re committed to green building and working hard to establish ourselves as a pronounced ‘green’ property owner, manager, and developer. Winning this award for a second year in a row only proves that we are definitely on the right track.”
One of the building’s most innovative green features is the installation of the first solar façade in Africa. The façade comprises integrated photo-voltaic cells in the fenestration which generate power from the sun. Apart from generating power from the sun, the panels also provide shading and insulation to the interior of the building.
