therefore became a very important design element as it became a cap to the building – it is surrounded with back painted glass as per the façade and has had vertical LED strip lights added to act as a coronet . The plant room also received a decorative pergola to help conceal it from the view of offices looking down onto the building . “ This area proved to be very restricted and the coordination thereof complex , however , the LED lights in the crown at the top of the building clearly identify Atrium on 5th within the Sandton City nightscape ,” comments Pat Henry .
All sanitaryware and other water fixtures were replaced with new water-efficient units which have the potential to reduce the use of potable water by up to 37 %. A BMS system has also been installed to monitor all systems for leaks , wastage and maintenance requirements . Significant energy efficiency upgrades were implemented wherever possible to save on future running costs and maintenance . Electronic sub-metering has been installed to manage and control future energy loads and an Ammonia Chiller was installed on the HVAC system to contribute to energy savings .
The design of the electrical system optimises the two requirements of efficiency and economy by combining reduced losses with cost effective operation through the use of efficient light fittings , correctly rated cables , heat pumps , etc and by reducing dependence on resistive heating , inefficient light sources and unswitched circuits .
The floor trunking installed with the original building installation has been reused thus saving on the manufacture and installation of new ducts and the cost of demolishing the existing ducts , removing them to scrap and wasting an operable resource .
The architect specified power skirting around the perimeter of the office floors formed by the new façade . The first choice of material for this skirting , considering the curvature of the building , was PVC . However , the material chosen for aesthetic reasons is steel for the skirting thus saving on the need to use additional PVC in this building over and above the conduit and piping installations .
All office floor lighting has high efficiency sources and fittings to provide the open plan office areas with a minimum 300 Lux to meet the OHS Act requirement and a maximum over 95 % of usable area of 400 Lux . Fittings are switched on sensors and Back-of-House and common area lighting have high efficiency fittings . In accordance with the Green Star requirements , all fittings are equipped with electronic control gear for maximum utilization of energy and switched as appropriate for daytime occupancy or nighttime security .
The use of sensor switching improves energy saving and reduces demand by the building which is divided up into zones . For lights on the roof and external lighting on the podium , the light fittings are switched using a feature of the BMS which switches contactors in local boards at the programmed times .
In line with Green Star requirements , dedicated parking areas have been provided with direct access to the new building entrance . To encourage alternative modes of transport , preferential parking has been provided for fuel-efficient vehicles and motor cycles and a secure cyclist parking area with change rooms has been incorporated in the design .
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS General Installation The electrical infrastructure in the Twin Towers Building was over 30 years old and , in many cases , showing signs of age and wear and tear . Extensive surveys of the installation showed up weaknesses in the system and this was taken into account in the design . Where possible , original installation was reused but , mainly , equipment was changed as outlined below .
The two existing substations in the basement have been reused without the need to extend the footprint of either chamber . The original capital equipment , consisting of two transformers , rising main busbar and switchgear , has been replaced with modern equipment to ensure at least a 25 year life-span with reliable infrastructure and effective distribution of power to all users .
292 Atrium on 5th