Architect and Builder Magazine South Africa March/April 2015 | Page 52

the world, it needed to be adapted for local conditions
by local façade engineers. It also had never been used
on an 11-storey building before. “The system has the
ability to accommodate pre calculated expansion and
contraction as well as changing wind pressures”.
The truss was designed in a boat shape as both an
aesthetic and practical solution to carrying the glazed
roof. Another practical consideration included in the
design is the gondola rail at the top of the building to
clean the glass façade.
An illuminated crown has been added to help identify
this building in the built up Sandton precinct.
The new skin of the building gives the building façade
a contemporary sophistication while also offering a
performance cloak – it controls the heat while letting in
an abundance of natural light.
Soaring Lobby
The atrium is a dramatic and soaring space and attracts
many visitors into the lobby area. Reflections in the glass
confuse perceptions; an experience which Pat Henry
says has exceeded his expectations. “I knew that the
glass would create a kaleidoscope of reflections but
didn’t think it would be quite as exciting as it has turned
out. Although it is essentially a triangular space, it looks
square when you look up the atrium,” he says.
The view from the new atrium is onto the intersection
of 5th and Maude Streets and down the axis of Maude
Street towards the International Convention Centre. All
of this helps give the building a sense of place, its own
identity and its own street address.

52

The lobby area features a unique canopy over the
reception desk. “We had allowed for an artwork to
be suspended in the atrium, but soon saw the need
for shading the reception area from the sun. MDS
Architecture designed a unique contemporary canopy
which is illuminated at night; it not only acts as a practical
solution for the desk, but also as an artwork for the lobby
and the streets outside. It has turned out to be quite a
striking feature,” says Pat Henry.
A green living wall made from recycled material
is another striking feature in the atrium. “We utilised
specialist expertise to ensure that the living wall would
be suitable for an air-conditioned environment. Mark
Young, the landscape architect, recommended a system
for moisture and feeding which works on the basis of a
series of removable and interchangeable trays,” he says.
The colour palette at Atrium on 5th has been achieved
with dark stone look porcelain tiles, Carrara marble and
the introduction of warmth with French Oak timber
panelling. Timber was also introduced into the lift lobby
ceiling bulkheads, while stainless steel and glass on the
walls bring a contemporary and practical element to
the building.
New and Energy Efficient Plant
The ageing services including lighting were obviously
no longer energy-efficient and needed to be replaced.
A new plant is located on the roof and the building
serviced from the top down via vertical ducts created on
either end of the building. The roof plant room therefore
became a very important design element as it became a

Atrium on 5th