Architect and Builder Magazine South Africa November/December 2013 | Page 59

WINNER – ARCHITECTURAL CATEGORY
New Alexander Forbes Head Office, Sandton
The judges said that the building confirms a new maturity in the South African
built environment. “We can do whatever is done elsewhere in the world and we
can do it better. This shows that we have a unique South African style and that
we do not need to copy overseas designs,” they said.
It was important to Alexander Forbes that the design of the new building
reflected the values of the company. These include: transparency, which is
reflected in the huge volumes of natural light and glazed layering, and trust,
which is portrayed throughout the design elements of the building revealing
not only the mores of the company but also enriches the lives of its employees.
The seven-storey (with 6 underground parking levels), 37,000m2 building
accommodates Alexander Forbes’ 2,200 Johannesburg staff. For the first time
since 1994, most of the firm’s major divisions will be in the same building.
Since the health and well-being of staff is one of the central design mandates,
it combines plant-filled outdoor areas, natural light, and energy efficient lighting.
The circulation of fresh air and temperature control were also key considerations.
As such, numerous pause or break areas are incorporated into the design.
It was, therefore, natural that environmental sustainability was crucial to the
design of the building, which has been accredited by the Green Building Council
of S.A. as a four-star Green Star building.
Architecturally, the building features a continuous design of fluid curves.
Sections of the facade incorporate s-shaped scallop walls, while wavy, flowing
lines and patterns are further integrated throughout the interior of the building.
Everything radiates out from the centre of the building – clearly shown by the
shape of the bridge links. Bathroom facilities are concentrated around the
central core of the building and occupants are never more than a 20m walk from
these facilities.
Steel was used extensively in every form throughout the project especially in )ѡ