Architect and Builder October 2016 | Page 64

INTERIOR FEATURE GE AFRICA INNOVATION CENTRE INTERIOR DESIGN: PARAGON INTERFACE T | PHOTOGRAPHY: SUPPLIED BY PARAGON INTERFACE he GE Africa Innovation Centre (GEAIC) is located in South Africa’s commercial capital, Johannesburg. Commissioned for GE SSA (Sub-Saharan Africa), the 2,454m² (GLA) building is located on Glenhove Road, Rosebank, adjacent to key commercial and shopping nodes. It has accessibility to major road arterials and public transport, as well as community, religious and health centres. The building is a three -storey, primarily east-facing glazed structure overlooking an iconic golf-course to the south, with access and parking on the west. The brief to the architects by GE Global Properties with future client, the GE Innovation Centre, was to create a mixed-use, flexible, 62 functional, robust and sustainable environment highlighting the key principles of GE – namely industrial innovation and African collaboration. The vision was to provide a healthy environment and internalise this in the workplace, promoting an integrated and balanced health- and wellness-driven work environment. The publicly-accessible ground floor accommodates a health-focused work café and digital exhibition centre, collaboration zones, and outdoor collaboration area. The restricted access first floor is devoted to permanent tenanting and incorporates agile workspaces and a fully-equipped GE Africa Healthcare training centre, while the top floor includes General Electric