PROJECT FEATURE
FIRST PLACE
FNB REGIONAL OFFICE BLOEMFONTEIN
FIRST PLACE
Bloemfontein
DEVELOPERS
Kavod Trust
CLIENT
First National Bank
PROJECT MANAGERS
SIP Project Managers
ARCHITECTS
Bomax Architects
QUANTITY SURVEYORS
BAU
STRUCTURAL, ELECTRICAL, CIVIL &
TRAFFIC ENGINEERS
WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff
MECHANICAL ENGINEERS
ACS Mechanical
TOWN PLANNERS
Urbanseed
MAIN CONTRACTOR
WGK Construction
PHOTOGRAPHY
Adam Letch
20
K
nown as First Place, Bloemfontein, the new 8,284m² building consolidates
seven offices in the region and now accommodates all FNB, WesBank, RMB
and Ashburton businesses. It is strategically located in the heart of Bloemfontein
and is easily accessible for both clients and employees. First Place Bloemfontein is
owned and developed by the Kavod Trust. Its prominent position at one of the busiest
intersections in the city - bounded by Nelson Mandela Drive, Zastron Street and 2nd
Avenue - means it is easily accessible for both employees and clients. The building has
been designed to be fully functional for the bank’s purposes and already stands as a
beautiful landmark with five levels that can accommodate more than 400 employees.
There are 329 parking bays, with dedicated bays for disabled parking. Phase one of the
development was funded by FNB. “It has been a while since the Free State has had a
construction crane. We hope this will be a catalyst for further development in the area,”
explains Dion Walters of Bomax Architects.
Design
The cosmopolitan building, designed by Bomax Architects, will give clients and staff
access to meeting rooms as well as a training centre. It is fully-fledged with contemporary
design elements and green eco-friendly features that maximise natural light.
The building comprises 2 entrances on an East/West atrium axis which link the
pedestrians on 2nd avenue on the East to the vehicle site parking on the West. The
pedestrian entrance will be more understood later as the precinct develops circulation
First Place