Construction World December 2017

ROSEBANK TOWERS Rosebank Towers, situated in the heart of Rosebank, on the corner of Bierman and Cradock Avenues, is a 15-storey above ground and one basement building. The 15 storeys are divided into six parkades, seven rentable office floors and a Virgin Active dividing the two spaces on the eighth floor.

consumption such as low-flow sanitary fittings and low-energy lights on movement sensors, were detailed. The impact of dust on air quality and health and safety of employees was reduced by implementing measurements such as dust suppression by means of watering throughout the project, partic- ularly on exposed soil surfaces and during windy conditions. Contamination of soil from accidental spills was prevented by ensuring that the correct storage, handling and refuelling procedures were followed, as well as the use of drip trays, ground sheets and mixing trays. Stormwater inlets were protected by means of silt traps to prevent any sediment or debris from being washed down into the system. Wastewater from concrete washout was channelled into a specially built three- stage settlement system. Noise pollution was minimised with construction only taking place during specified hours and neighbours were informed of any noise generating activities which would have a higher impact. By implementing a comprehensive Waste Management Plan from project inception to project completion, more than 70% of all demolition and construction waste was diverted from landfill through reuse/recycling. A request to add one extra level to the offices came six months before practical completion. A plan of action was requested by the client on how to achieve this. After going back to the drawing board a plan was formulated that suited everyone to add an additional floor and still receive practical completion on the date agreed.

Rosebank Towers is close to shopping centres, hotels, major freeways and public transport. The site and its immediate built context gives Rosebank Towers the ability to capitalise on the visibility from the busy arterial of Oxford Road. This is achieved in two ways – firstly, through the dynamic facetted southern façade, facing Biermann Avenue, which attracts the passer-by’s attention and secondly, by capturing the view of the building between the two lower buildings north of the site. Augmenting the building’s strong identity, GLH used the folded surfaces of the façade to express the building’s individuality and create a contrast with the Rosebank CBD. Construction started in October 2014 and the project was completed in November 2016. Three main internal atria divided the building into respective zones, including parkades, lower and higher offices. Rosebank Towers is a multi-tenanted building, with the two human-scaled office atria at different levels mediating between arrivals, visitors’ common areas and working spaces. The first five-storey multi-volume office atrium sits eight floors above the street level, overlooking the Johannesburg and Rosebank CBDs and giving access to the first group of tenants. A further smaller three-and-a-half

storey office atrium, also with spectacular views, is stacked above, giving access to the higher floors’ tenant. The base of the building – the parking structure – is a large element of the façade design. This mass was deconstructed to reduce its scale and made to blend with the street trees through the use of text- ured and smooth stone fragmented wall panels with grating and louvres in the openings, facilitating natural ventilation to the parkade. Rosebank Towers has a four-star GBCSA Green Star rating, emphasising the developer and the tenants’ sustainable commitments. Environmental considerations taken can be divided into two categories, namely design and construction phases. The external finishes of the building are composed of an energy efficient curtain wall, finished with different performance glass types, responding to their aspects. A section of the north façade is brick and plaster with energy efficient double glazing strip windows. These strip windows wrap around the façades overlooking the east and west courtyards, complemented by several terraces. Thoughtful specification of finishes, including those with low VOC emissions, local sourcing, and reduced resource

Highly Commended

PROJECT INFORMATION

• Company entering: WBHO Construction • Client: Abland • Contract value: R573-million • Start date: October 2014 • End date: November 2016 • Main contractor: WBHO • Architect: GLH & Associates Architects • Quantity surveyor: Quanticost • Consulting engineer: L&S Consulting

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