Mechanical Technology April 2015

⎪ Computer-aided engineering ⎪

Sasol’s ultramodern future space in Sandton With the help of Autodesk Revit and Autodesk Navisworks, Sasol, one of the world’s leading integrated energy and chemicals companies, is designing and building its new corporate office on Katherine Street in Sandton – linking the look to the logo. embody the values of Sasol to include restaurants, canteens, art galleries, coffee shops and a Sasol One Stop Shop.

The result is an external façade of reflective performance glass, which has a high light transmission level and maxi- mises visibility out of the building whilst maintaining a high comfort level. There are over 2 000 panels of floor- to-ceiling unitised double glazed panels of vision glass and spandrels. The shapes and glass variations are encapsulated in each panel. The spandrels are a bespoke textured custom glazed unit, fired at 680 °C with a silver backing, insulation and an aluminium panel; the glass is Safety Shield Imagin Krizet with Ipasol chrome coating. This glass has not been used in South Africa before and this project seeks to exploit its properties to its best advantage. In addition to glass performance, the building volumes have impacted on the design. Where sections of the building cast shadows onto itself, the size of the spandrels reduce to allow more light through. Façade patterning has gener- ated an environmental analysis and heat gain to reduce energy consumption and maximise user comfort levels. Externally the park-like staff facilities include courtyards and braai and yoga facilities with water-wise planted areas. Sasol is very committed to supporting birdlife in South Africa and this will be ac- commodated by providing an indigenous environment for birds. The landscaping has been designed to shade the façade, where heat gain is higher. On lower levels planting gets thicker. “Considering the complexity of this building, BIM technology and Revit modelling, have contributed towards streamlining the co-ordination process and allowed all 15 consultants to in- teract with one 3D model. This has not only made it easier to work together, but we have also avoided wasting time and building materials,” says Tershia Habbitts, project architect from Paragon. The team at Paragon Architects is steaming ahead on Autodesk Revit and Autodesk Navisworks. This is proving to be extremely successful with the co- ordination between consultants.” The project is scheduled for comple- tion in 2016. q

The new Sasol building, based on its logo, encapsulates the central sphere, which denotes stability, while six rotating spheres represent the ‘business units’. The whole design suggests a force greater than the sum of its parts – strength through synergy.

T he vision for Sasol’s new build- ing in Sandton was to somehow link the look of the new building to Sasol’s logo. The logo, which encapsulates the company’s values, comprises a central sphere, which de- notes stability, while six rotating spheres representing the ‘business units’ suggest a force greater than the sum of its parts – strength through synergy. Paragon Architects took up the chal- lenge to make this logo a visual compo- nent of the design. To make the logo come to life, Paragon Architects studied the distilled essence closely to interpret it into built form. Sasol’s company structure was used as the departure point for the conceptual design of the building. The concept was initially set up as a straight line linking the various units. However this was seen spatially as too constrictive and so the form evolved into something more serpentine, which in turn generated a

more humanist space and was more easily accommodated in the available space on site. A central core of work activities ties the building together and the various ar- eas are linked by a series of bridges. The major challenge was the site on which this building will stand – a curving edge of Katherine Street. The architects had to ensure this 10-story building, that will serve as offices for up to 7 000 people and span almost 70 000 m 2 , could be accommodated and well connected both vertically and horizontally. It was important for Paragon to push boundaries in this design, which is characterised by light volumes externally and two dramatic skylights (articulated with acoustic baffles) internally. These elements create a feeling of airy spaces and allow as much natural light into the structure as possible. The concept of open, transparent and remote workspaces is extended to

22

Mechanical Technology — April 2015