Architect and Builder March/April 2016 | Page 50

PROJECT FEATURE CAPITAL HILL CAPITAL HILL Sandton DEVELOPER Unihold PROJECT MANAGER CPDev ARCHITECTS MWLF Architects QUANTITY SURVEYORS NWS STRUCTURAL & WET SERVICES Sutherland ELECTRICAL RWP MECHANICAL Graeme Page GREEN CONSULTANT Solid Green FIRE CONSULTANT Specialised Fire Technology LANDSCAPE DESIGNER CPLD C apital Hill is located at 6 Benmore Road, which is situated on the edge of the Sandton CBD, thereby avoiding much of the internal traffic congestion, whilst still being classed as a CBD building. The building also benefits from convenient access to the Gautrain, Gautrain bus route and other transport facilities. It is conveniently located opposite Benmore shopping centre and has a signalled entrance on a traffic intersection giving ease of access into the main traffic flow. Background The site, which is situated at one of the gateways to Sandton, had an under-utilised bulk. Although the existing building had been renovated a number of times, it did not lend itself to maximising the potential of the site. The decision was made to demolish the existing building and rebuild. The decision to demolish opened up the potential of multi level below-ground parking. The bulk of the ground floor is given over to visitor parking and entrance foyer and an additional four levels above ground were used for parking to fully service the office levels above. The site is triangular and this does not lend itself to efficient use of space. By placing the parking ramp in the back corner, this allowed a 25m deep office wing to be achieved. The building comprises 9,633m2 of subdivisable office space over 8 floors served by four lifts from seven levels of parking, providing 386 bays including 20 hybrid bays and an additional 30 motorcycle bays. MAIN CONTRACTOR Probuild PHOTOGRAPHY Infrastructurephotos In sympathy with the buildings on either side, the form of the building is rounded so as not to conflict and to stand out against the forms surrounding it 48 Capital Hill