76 / 92
sustainable construction world
18
New certification
World-first
The Socio-Economic Category Pilot is a world-first
for rating tools. The GBCSA has taken the lead in
developing a set of socio-economic criteria for green
building rating tools. Simultaneously it has developed an
International Socio-Economic Framework for the World
Green Building Council, which can be used by other
green building councils to apply to their rating tools.
Socio-economic factors are particularly relevant in
developing countries such as South Africa, and extend
green buildings to encompass not just environmental
sustainability but also socio-economic sustainability.
The Socio-Economic Category allows the socio-
economic achievements of new buildings and major
retrofits, new buildings and major retrofits to be
recognised and rewarded under Green Star SA tools.
t is a separate optional category for which projects
can be rated alongside their standard Green Star SA
certifications. The development of the rating tool
category was sponsored by Old Mutual Property. The
socio-economic category is in its pilot phase and being
tested before it is converted into a ‘version one’ rating
tool category.
A growing force ... for good
Brian Wilkinson, CEO of GBCSA, says: “Our property
sector is truly becoming a growing force for good in
South Africa, not only for the environment but also for
people and business too. Societal challenges such as
poverty, unemployment, lack of education and skills, and
health can all be addressed, at least to some degree,
through the way we design, build and operate buildings.”
He adds: “We encourage property owners,
developers and designers to use the Socio-Economic
Category to assess, improve and certify their project’s
socio-economic features. Social and economic factors
are important to address broader sustainability issues in
our communities and businesses.”
Karl Bremer Office Block
The design for the Karl Bremer Office Block has achieved
a 5-Star Green Star SA Office V1 Design rating. It is on
the Karl Bremer Hospital site, on the corner of Mike
Pienaar Boulevard and Frans Conradie Avenue. The
Department of Transport and Public Works, Provincial
Government Western Cape owns the building under
construction, which will be occupied by the provincial
Department of Health.
The Green Star SA Accredited Professional on the
project is Nick Gorrie from Agama. He says: “Karl Bremer
Office Block is developing into an exciting and innovative
project. On one hand, there are multiple innovations and
sustainable designs that have been incorporated into
the base building. On the other hand the entire Project
Team is dedicated to achieving a Socio-Economic
Category rating. It has been a challenging project so far
but, with the commitment and drive of the whole team, it
is aiming for a positive result.”
A building that previously stood on the site was
demolished and the new offices are under construction
for completion in mid-2016.
The new building is designed to have a footprint of
1 927 m
2
and gross floor area of 7 520 m
2
on a site area
of 14 046 m
2
. It’s landscaped area, including a 98 m
2
roof
garden, covers 4 761 m
2
, or 32% of its total site area.
It comprises a north and south wing, connected by a
common core, with a single security-controlled access
point. It has a basement, as well as offices and meeting
rooms on its ground to fifth floors, and a mechanical
plant on its roof.
Leading by example
Head of Western Cape Department of Transport and
Public Works, Jacqui Gooch, says the building fits
in with the Western Cape Government’s 110% Green
Green Building Council of South
Africa (GBCSA) recently announced
Karl Bremer Office Block in Bellville,
Cape Town, is the first project
to achieve a Socio-Economic
Category (SEC) Pilot rating in Africa
as part of its 5-Star Green Star SA
rating, achieved at the same time.
The office block is a project of
the Western Cape Department of
Transport and Public Works.
SA’S FIRST
SOCIO-ECONOMIC
IMPACT CERTIFICATION