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sustainable construction world
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Introduction
The new 6-star GBCSA Office V1 design-
rated headquarters for the Department of
Environmental Affairs is located in Pretoria,
capital city of South Africa. It is procured as a
Public Private Partnership project – essentially
leased for a 25-year period by the Government
from Imvelo Concession Company Proprietary
Limited (RF) (the Private Party) who designed,
constructed, financed and will operate and
maintain the building during that time. The
project is a good example of how Government
can lead by example through forefront
sustainable innovation.
The design brief called for a maximum
energy consumption target of 115 kWh per
squarer metrer per annum, giving rise to
innovative design processes through Building
Information Modelling (BIM) and extensive
energy modelling in order to achieve and
maintain this threshold. Innovative technologies
include night flushing to enhance passive
climatic strategies, while natural resources are
conserved through water harvesting, solar power
and hot water etc.
The Department’s environmental and
sustainable ideologies was communicated
through the architectural language while it
demonstrates aspects of sustainable design,
energy and resource efficiency through the
extensive use of outdoor and indoor planting,
expressive feature water collectors and a
photovoltaic (PV) farm covering most of
the roofs. Material selection was largely driven
by sustainability, longevity and ease
of maintenance.
Project overview
The building comprises 27 422 m
2
of office
and circulation space, housing 1 305 people
and providing parking for approximately 600
vehicles. The overall building concept is
reflected in three distinct elements through the
masculine/utilitarian machinelike office wings,
the feminine/ organic central reception building,
and finally the ‘bridge structure’ that links all of
the elements together.
Sustainable design
LESSON IN
SUSTAINABLE DESIGN
Boogertman + Partners was
privileged to be part of the team that
designed the new head office for the
Department of Environmental Affairs.
This was not our first green building
but the firm’s only completed six star
rated green building to date. The
following is a brief summary of the
building and its features, followed by
a more personal introspective look at
lessons learned.
by Lood Welgemoed, Boogertman + Partners.