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CONSTRUCTION WORLD
NOVEMBER
2015
PROJECTS AND CONTRACTS
>
Pearson Southern Africa, which is
part of a leading global education
business, has relocated its head-
quarters from Pinelands to occupy
a single floor of 3 180 m
2
in the refurbished
AAA grade Media City building.
Taking a 10 year lease at a competitive
monthly rental of R105 per square metre,
they have moved premises to be in a more
central location in a pleasing environment
conducive to staff access and productivity,
says Jerri Mperdempes, senior commercial
property broker of Ikon Property Group.
“The Foreshore precinct has been
earmarked as the next major growth node in
the Cape Town CBD. It has convenient acces-
sibility to public transport – both
MyCiti bus service and Cape Town train
station, and being on the periphery of the
CBD it has almost immediate access to the
N1 and N2 freeways.
“Pearson SA has been able to get into
a really attractive, quality building within
their budget requirements and with excellent
parking ratios of four bays per 100 m
2
, which
is a highly competitive rate for the city centre
of R950 per bay, especially given that parking
in the heart of the CBD is generally at a
premium, due to shortage of supply.”
The chairperson of the Cape Town
Central City Improvement District (CCID), Rob
Kane, notes that a massive re-urbanisation
of the Foreshore area has begun. “As the
CCID, we define this area as stretching from
Riebeek Street and Old Marine Drive down to
Table Bay and Nelson Mandela boulevards,
and bordered on either side by Buitengracht
and Christiaan Barnard Street.
“Of the more than R7-billion of invest-
ment being made in the CBD between last
year (2014) and declared to date to be
completed by 2017, over R2 114-billion of
this has recently been completed in this Fore-
shore area, while more than R3 112-billion
is still to be completed between now and
2017 – including the new Netcare Christiaan
Barnard Memorial Hospital and
CTICC expansion.
“This is going to completely revitalise
the Foreshore, and because of the former, we
believe we may see the creation in particular
of additional space that can accommodate
the healthcare industry – medical practi-
tioners and medically related suppliers – as
we know that the demand for rooms in the
new hospital is already very high. This is also
one of the few areas in the CBD where green-
fields developments can still take place.”
In relocating their offices to Media City,
Pearson Southern Africa required a high
specification fit-out.
The architect
Says Guido Tagge, design director for dhk,
who were the interior designers for the
project: “The new headquarters for Pearson
SA was designed to accommodate 335 people
in a contemporary new working environment
that met international office design stand-
Foreshore
PRECINCT REVIVAL
Reaffirming the strategic
relevance and increasing
appeal of Cape Town’s
rapidly transforming
Foreshore area, which is
undergoing considerable
revitalisation, two
major corporates have
recently concluded lease
agreemen
ts through Ikon
Property Group for prime
office space in the area.
ards. The move also signified a cultural shift
from cellular offices to an open plan layout,
so the new office has plenty of informal areas
to collaborate along with ‘hot desks’ for
staff on the move. It’s a much more fluid and
flexible arrangement.”
Efficient planning was key to optimising
space in the new office, down to integrated
storage requirements for each workstation.
“By positioning desks around the perimeter
of the space, we were able to ensure that
every employee can enjoy natural light and
views,” says Tagge.
“In terms of energy saving features,
keeping the office layout open meant we
could take advantage of natural light, and we
incorporated LED light fittings throughout.
Pearson USA allocated a ‘green budget’ that
allowed for the application of sustainable
principles in the design. Motion sensors
manage lighting after hours, carbon dioxide
sensors monitor fresh air and solar photovol-
taic panels have been installed on the roof.”
Recycling was strongly introduced into
the new build, and recycling stations were
custom designed for the office. Pearson will
be monitoring energy use independently over
the coming months to see how these meas-
ures create savings. Adds Tagge: “We used
local materials and suppliers where possible
and brought plants into the design features
with green storage walls and dividers.”
Re-greening
A key element of The Towers – formerly
Standard Bank Centre, is its re-greening as
part of the redevelopment project, and it has
been chosen by the Green Building Council
as a pilot project of the Green Star refurbish-
ment tool.
Says Elton Holland, director of Ikon Prop-
erty Group: “The benefits of green features,
in addition to the very pleasant working envi-
ronment for staff, area amenities and ample
parking, prompted the move for Clicks2cus-
tomers, coupled with a competitive rental
rate that suited their budget. For example, a
Virgin Active gym will be located in the new
Netcare building, while there is retail at street
level, such as in The Towers. Both The Towers
and Media City have large floor plates ideal
for modern office accommodation and high
speed fibre optic connectivity.
“This precinct is very competitive in
terms of rentals. Redefine has achieved an
excellent value offering by refurbishing the
former Standard Bank Centre and provides
A-grade space below the rental rate of new
developments in the CBD and Century City.
“We are continually working with
corporate tenants whom we have been able
to offer A-grade space at attractive rentals
with suitable parking ratios. Properties in the
Foreshore area with strong tenant profiles in
good locations can achieve yields of between
Seen in the reception area of Pearson Southern Africa’s new headquarters in Media City on Cape
Town’s Foreshore are from left: Guido Tagge, design director of dhk; Elton Holland, director and Jerri
Mperdempes, senior commercial property broker – both of Ikon Property Group.