Architect and Builder August/September 2019 | Page 76

Cummins Southern Africa, Waterfall City
INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT
Sitting between Johannesburg and Pretoria, Waterfall
City is one of the largest urban developments, offering
a concept which connects and integrates lifestyle and
business. In the heart of the Waterfall Logistics Precinct,
the new Cummins Southern Africa Regional Organisation
building rises from its prominent site alongside the N1
Highway off Allandale Road.
The aim for this mixed-use site was to deliver a unique
and modern design that not only functions with integrity,
flexibility and efficiency across the workshop and office
structures, but also delivers a visual experience for many
vehicles on the N1 of the iconic offices from various
elevations. While every aspect of the facility was guided
by the Cummins International Design Standards with local
adaptations, Empowered Spaces Architects have taken
the thinking further by, amongst others, making use of
different colours and materials to accentuate the profile
of the office and warehouse structures.
Fluidity of the geometric forms was important in the
massing of the structures, creating a regular gridded
planning that was extrapolated into usable spaces which
is seen in various progressive arrangements throughout
the design. The combination of structural architectural
elements grounded on a base format, sets the tone for the
overall three-dimensional form, the play and juxtaposition
of heights and colour arrangement allowed for the desired
architectural forms.
The façades have become the dominant face of
this development, and thus it was imperative that a
harmonious, yet contrasted composition was created.
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The utilisation of fluid form geometry, colour and materials
was used on different planes; this combined with
framing devices helped to achieve a unique appearance
and form.
The overall commercial development is well integrated
into its local context in terms of being economically
viable, industry orientated and well-tailored to the
client’s/ tenant’s requirements. This is favourable to the
local adjacent industries as it creates a more intensified
commercial work environment.
The new Cummins facility at Waterfall proves that
the design of modern industrial buildings need not
compromise on the architectural aspects due to the
practical requirements of this type of development.
The comfort of staff and promotion of sustainable
elements is just as important here as it would be in any
commercial building.
Developers:
Attacq; Zenprop Property Holdings
Project Managers: CAPEX PROJECTS
Architect: Empowered Spaces Architects
Quantity Surveyor: Schoombie Hartmann
Civil & Structural Engineers:
DG Consulting Engineers
Electrical Engineers: Quad Africa Consulting
Mechanical & Fire Engineers: WSP Africa
Landscape Architects: Daniel Rebel
Tenant Representative: Arup
Main Contractor: Group Five Building
SAPOA Awards