Mechanical Technology may 2015

⎪ Heating, cooling, ventilation and air conditioning ⎪

WSP in Africa achieves two 5-Star ratings

Group Five’s new 24 000 m 2 head office on the Waterfall Estate in Midrand, following the award of 5-Star Green Star SA Design certification in 2013 under the GBCSA’s Office Rating Tool (v1), has now also received an As Built 5-Star Green Star rating. Alison Groves (left), sustainability consultant, WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff, talks about some of the buildings features.

W SP | Parsons Brincker- hoff in Africa, one of the largest multi-disciplinary engineering consultancies on the continent, is “thrilled” that the new Group Five head office has achieved Design and As Built 5-Star Green Star ratings from the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA). The building, located at the Waterfall Estate in Midrand and developed by ATTACQ, received the award in recognition of the environmental sustainability of the building. The project came about after Group Five made the strategic decision to consolidate all its offices into a new head office and approached WSP to be its sustainable design and building con- sultants. Alison Groves, Sustainability consultant, WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff, Building Services, Africa, says: “As the sustainable design consultants for this project we were involved with, and oversaw, all crucial elements of the project related to the sustainability of

the building. From the schematic design stage, right through the construction phase, to the comprehensive reporting and handover, we helped Group Five to ensure that the building reflects the company’s commitment to environmen- tal sustainability.” Construction of Group Five’s new 24 000 m 2 head office started in October 2012. The building was awarded a 5-Star Green Star SA Design certifica- tion in 2013 under the GBCSA’s Office Rating Tool (v1). Once construction was completed a comprehensive assessment was undertaken, and in February this year the building was then awarded a 5-Star Green Star As Built Certification under the Rating Tool. Indoor environment quality The primary role of a sustainable building is to provide a comfortable and healthy environment for the occupants of and visitors to the building. To that end, the building has been designed to achieve

Group Five’s new 24 000 m 2 head office has been awarded an As Built 5 Star Green Star rating. a minimum 150% improvement on required fresh air rates and to ensure good quality air for all office usable areas. In addition, CO 2 sensors provide constant air quality readings to the build- ing management system (BMS), which will automatically adjust fresh air rates should CO 2 levels rise. Additionally, the building has been designed to combat daylight glare, while 80% of the office’s usable areas have ac- cess to an outside view. Internal air qual- ity is preserved by the use of low volatile organic compound paints, carpets, and sealants, and dedicated tenant exhaust risers extract printer fumes at the source, reducing the build-up of harmful indoor pollutants.

An aerial view of Group Five’s 5 Star Green Star building on the Waterfall Estate in Midrand.

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Mechanical Technology — May 2015