Architect and Builder Magazine South Africa November/December 2014

PROJECT 90 Grayston The distinctive and ever changing façade of 90 Grayston is set to establish this building as a Sandton landmark PHOTOGRAPHY: SUPPLIED BY GLH & ASSOCIATES ARCHITECTS; GARETH GILMOUR PHOTOGRAPHY 90 GRAYSTON Sandton DEVELOPERS Redefine Properties Ltd ARCHITECTS GLH & Associates Architects PROJECT MANAGERS Betts Townsend QUANTITY SURVEYORS MLC Quantity Surveyors CIVIL & STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS Sutherland ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS CKR Consulting Engineers FIRE CONSULTANTS Specialised Fire Technology LIFT CONSULTANT Solutions for Elevating (S4E) INTERIORS GLH Interiors LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS Landmark Studios ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANTS WSP Group Africa MAIN CONTRACTOR WBHO Construction Crisp glazing is paired with natural marble cladding and a striking kinetic metal wall at the entrance 22 R edefine Properties’ R505 million redevelopment of the 90 Grayston commercial office address contributes to the vibrant and constant upgrade of Sandton, ensuring it keeps pace with other advanced cities around the world. DEVELOPER’S VISION Redefine Properties recently completed work on its largest single building project to date, a 16 storey commercial building with over 19,000m2 GLA of premium grade office space in Sandton. 90 Grayston is a trendsetting building which will create a new benchmark for future commercial development. “We are making a statement with 90 Grayston,” says Mike Ruttell, Group Development Manager for Redefine Properties. “This iconic sustainable development represents the first of a number of future property development solutions which will showcase Redefine’s vision concerning office design and functionality.” With a growing focus on green building globally, tenants are increasingly looking to optimise energy costs and reduce operating costs with resource efficient methods that last throughout a building’s lifecycle. SITE LOCATION The site is located in the financial hub of Sandton, Johannesburg. Well-served in terms of freeway access, major road arterials, and public transport opportunities including the Gautrain, this area is a hub of significant growth for commercial, corporate, retail, and residential tenants alike. The surrounding Sandton and Morningside areas offer excellent support amenities and access to a significant residential population. The site occupies a highly visible portion of north-facing streetscape adjacent to the Sandton landmark of the Investec building on the corner of Rivonia Road and Grayston Drive. The site, although slender, has, by virtue of the striking architectural design, a significant presence on the Grayston frontage, and a notable identity on a main arterial bounding the CBD. The location is thus well-positioned in terms of visibility, as well as in terms of vehicular and pedestrian access. BUILDING DESCRIPTION Designed by GLH & Associates Architects, the core concept of the scheme is to create a functional place which responds to the site specifics and knits the building into the supporting environment, whilst creating a remarkable identity with a dynamic multifaceted architectural form which contributes to and engages positively with its surrounds. The challenge of the site proportions was to create a remarkable building within a relatively narrow frontage. This was achieved by stacking the building volume vertically in a series of cubes and rectangles dressed in glass, stone and moving elements of metal, which protrude and recess, creating an irregular interplay onto the street. This dynamic façade wraps the sides of the building, drawing the viewer’s eye in and around and emphasising the building as a three-dimensional sculptural object in the streetscape. The architecture on the north-western edge is modulated to create a dynamic built form addressing the corner, which reaches down to the street edge to scoop up visitors and staff. The proposal comprises an 21-storey office building with approximately 19,500m² of rentable area on 10 office floors and 11 parking levels, 5 below ground and 6 above, providing parking at a ratio of 5 bays per 100m². 90 Grayston

Architect and Builder Magazine South Africa November/December 2014 | Page 22