Architect and Builder November/December 2018 | Page 15

MENLYN MAINE TOWERS,
MENLYN MAINE
Abland is developing Menlyn Maine
Towers in partnership with Tadvest, Namib
Gate and Barloworld Motor Retail. Located
in Pretoria East, the scheme will boast a
proposed 4-star green rating with green
building council accreditation.
The building area will consist of a
16,000m 2 dealership with 12,000m 2
premium A-grade office space above,
creating 15 floors in total, with potential for
roof top or penthouse offices also.
Ideally located along Corobay Avenue in
Menlyn, Pretoria, the scheme is situated
opposite the popular retail heart of Menlyn
Maine providing occupants of the Towers
with access to a range of amenities from
hotels and gyms to residential units.
Moreover, recent infrastructure upgrades
ensure that motorists have easy access from
both the Atterbury and Garsfontein off-ramps
from the N1 freeway.
Designed with a modern eye, the
offices will be enveloped by a seamless
glass façade created under a unitised
system. Strikingly, while the scheme may
be just one building, there will be a clear
visual distinction between the dealership
and office components, enticing the look of
two separate entities. Frits Schuite director
of Boogertman + Partners, the architects
behind the design, explains,
“Architecture is the thoughtful making
of space for people to live and work in.
With this building we have designed
and created premium commercial office
space and a prestigious new home for
Menlyn Toyota in an iconic and affordable
building seen in the Menlyn and Pretoria
context. The dealership will have a double
Project Watch
volume glazed façade showroom facing
Corobay Avenue.
Prominent individual entrances are
provided for the dealership and office
building both highlighted by facet lines in
the office façade above. Activity is created
on the glazed façade of the office building
by introducing patios on the office floors
with matching ventilation openings on
the four parking deck levels, and subtle
variances in the tint colour of the thermal
performance glass panels used in the
unitised glazing system. Facet lines are
highlighted at night with led strip lighting
installed in the glazed façade. The office
floors are designed to accommodate large
single as well as multi-tenanted options with
easy access from the ground floor entrance,
visitors parking area and the parking floors
via four elevators.”
A critical factor in the building is its
sustainable energy use. Achieved through
double glazing and thermal storage, water
harvesting, energy efficient electrical
installations, the building will be truly energy
efficient. Notably, the dealership will also
utilise water recycling processes allowing
up to 75% of water to be reused.
15