Construction World December 2015

2 15

BEST

JECTS

CONSTRUCTION WORLD

DECEMBER

2015

Alice Lane Phase II was awarded a 4-Star

Green rating. The structure of the building

is predominantly concrete. The main elec-

trical supply consists of two sections. The

critical section is backed up by a generator.

The non-critical section powers items such

as HVAC chillers, pumps and other non-areas

not requiring generator backup. All other

items are backed up via the generator. There

is one generator which provides the emer-

gency backup required for the building.

The fire protection system does

not expel water during testing; alterna-

tively, water is directed back into storage

tanks. Energy consumption is reduced to

165 kWh/m

/year and carbon emissions

to 198 kg CO

/year. A groundwater

harvesting system is in place. The building

is mechanically ventilated. Heating and

cooling is provided by means of a four pipe

central chilled water system using air cooled

reversible hear pump chillers and four pipe

in-ceiling fan coil units. Chillers placed on the

roof make use of the compression cycle of

refrigerants in order to transfer heat from the

chilled water circuit to the atmosphere.

The Alice Lane Precinct is in the heart

of Sandton’s commercial hub at

corner Fifth Street and Alice Lane.

Alice Lane Phase II forms part of the

greater precinct that entails the development

of three new office towers that are linked by a

central landscape piazza, pedestrian friendly

and naturally green environment.

Phase II is designed to relate to both

the leaping horse design Phase I, and the

future flagship tower Phase III, and stand on

its own architectural merit. The offices are

interconnected by a super basement with

seven levels of parking which measure at an

area of approximately 107 000 m

. Phase II

is designed around an office anchor tenant

with six office levels.

The three structures might be joined at

Building Contractors

Project information

• Company entering: WBHO Construction

• Project start date: June 2012

• Project end date: November 2014

• Client: ABLAND

• Project team: AP Da Costa

• Main contractor: WBHO Construction

• Principal agent: Paragon Architects

• Project manager: ABLAND

• Quantity surveyor: Quantity Cost

• Consulting engineer: L&S Consulting

• Project value: R289-million (excluding VAT)

Alice Lane Phase II

the hip to each other by the piazza and the

super basement, but they couldn’t be more

different from each other: from the Angular

Phase I to the Curvaceous Phase II to the

soon to be completed Towering Phase III.

Alice Lane Phase II’s design philosophy is

exceptionally executed internally and exter-

nally. Externally, the building’s dominant

street-facing façade is softened by sweeping

curves and tight-pinched curves as a notice-

able departure from Phase I’s angular and

faceted façades.

The north and south elevations are

glazed to introduce more natural light into

the working spaces. The glazing specifica-

tion comprises mainly platinum grey double

glazed on all the main glass façades and

single glazed on the ground floor.

The ground floor extends to the exterior

as a floating platform with spill out spaces

for the canteen and auditorium. This inter-

acts visually with the street. The relationship

with the street is further explored with the

idea of surfaces that peel away to provide

vehicular and pedestrian access. Once the

vegetation has matured, it will appear as a

layered opening.

The building has a central atrium with

clerestory light to illuminate the work spaces.

This atrium is formed as the two building

forms enter inside from the piazza, allowing

for an internal-external continuity of space.

Each floor has bridge links connecting the

common area to the floor plate.

Photos by Oliver Karstel