to the air-conditioning units on the roof , thereby reducing energy usage even further .
• Extensive public transport links at the V & A , cycling facilities , reduced parking bays and electrical car charging points gave a high score under the Transport category .
• Materials : As examples , the fire doors were manufactured from old reclaimed timber from a building at the University of Cape Town and office screens used in the PwC interiors were made from reclaimed shutterboard used by the contractor in the concrete works on the building .
• PT slabs are used throughout . As they are thinner , the weight of the building is reduced and columns are able to be tapered .
• Energy : LED lighting is used almost exclusively throughout . Occupancy sensors limit wasteful lighting energy consumption . Energy submetering and monitoring is also provided and is essential in ensuring that the energy saving features are effectively utilised and operating at maximum capacity .
• Water : Low flow sanitary fittings have been installed throughout . Indigenous vegetation has been planted on the rooftop garden and in the public square . An innovation point was achieved for considering feedback from a public participation process with the surrounding office staff on the public facilities to be provided in the public realm .
Structural No . 5 Silo is a conventional reinforced concrete frame building and was built on top of a preexisting basement which presented certain load restrictions . The building sits on two panels and is bisected by an expansion joint . The two portions of the building are independent and the two sides of the atrium are linked by jointed steelwork , façades , structures and bridges with hidden expansion joints .
The saw toothed roof has sliding joints on one side and fixed joints on the other . The design for the steelwork was intricate and the Arup engineers worked closely with the architects to co-ordinate the process effectively .
PwC Interiors The design brief was to create an ‘ office of the future ,’ taking Pricewaterhouse Coopers Cape Town ’ s approximately 650 staff out of their outdated brick building with an early 90 ’ s , rabbit warren like interior into the brand new No . 5 Silo building in the iconic Silo precinct at the Waterfront . Interior Design firm , Formist ( formerly Interior Architecture Inc .), wanted to challenge
442 No 5 Silo