CORPORATE OFFICE DEVELOPMENT WINNER / OVERALL GREEN AWARD
The Department of Environmental Affairs
The new 6-star GBCSA Office V1 design-rated
headquarters for the Department of Environmental
Affairs is located in Arcadia, Pretoria. It is procured as a
Public/ Private Partnership project and is a good example
of how Government can lead by example through
forward- thinking, sustainable innovation.
Designed by Boogertman + Partners, the design brief
called for a maximum energy consumption target of 115
kWh per square metre (sqm) per annum, giving rise to
innovative design processes through Building Information
Modelling (BIM) and extensive energy modelling in order
to achieve and maintain this threshold. Innovative
technologies include night flushing to enhance passive
climatic strategies, while natural resources are conse rved
through water harvesting, solar power and hot water etc.
The Department’s environmental and sustainable
ideologies were communicated through the architectural
language, while aspects of sustainable design, energy
and resource efficiency were demonstrated through the
extensive use of outdoor and indoor planting, feature
water collectors and a photovoltaic (PV) farm covering
most of the roof. Material selection was largely driven
by sustainability, longevity and ease of maintenance.
The building comprises 27,422m2 of office and
circulation space, housing 1,305 people and providing
parking for approximately 600 vehicles. The overall
building concept is reflected in three distinct elements
through the masculine/utilitarian machine-like office
wings, the feminine/ organic central reception building,
and finally the ‘bridge structure’ that links all of the
elements together.
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The building is functional, with a general height of
three storeys, making users less reliant on lifts. The
office blocks are space optimised, utilitarian shapes with
the focus on natural daylight and user comfort. The
central entrance block is organic in shape, directly
responding to sun orientation and with a very strong
symbolic natural foundation in the golden section. A total
of 82 Green Star points were achieved, resulting in a 6
Star Office v1 design rating.
The real value of this building lies in the fact that
this is the first rated and measurable manifestation of
sustainability policies within Government that have been
years in the making. By achieving the 6 Star accolade,
the Department of Environmental Affairs firmly sets the
bar for other Government departments and also
challenges the private sector to follow their lead.
Developer: Imvelo Concession Company
Project Managers: Aveng Grinaker-LTA (Inland)
Architects: Boogertman + Partners Architects
Quantity Surveyors: Pentad
Civil & Structural Engineers:
PD Naidoo & Associates
Mechanical & Electrical Engineers:
PD Naidoo & Associates
Fire Consultants: PD Naidoo & Associates
Green Consultants: PD Naidoo & Associates
Landscape Architects: Uys & White
Interiors: Beads Space Planning;
Boogertman + Partners Interiors
Main Contractor JV: Aveng Grinaker-LTA; Keren Kula
SAPOA Awards