aluminium fins . The sensuous shape in plan , combined with the undulating vertical expression , creates a simple , monolithic statement that gives the building a unique and powerful visual signature .
Zones The building is vertically divided into zones of access . The ground floor is open to the public and people are actively encouraged to come to the building for lunch or coffee . It was very important to both Discovery and the developers that the ground floor was easily accessible ; thus the north entrance sits almost level with the Katherine / Rivonia intersection , meaning people can easily walk into and out of the building and connect into the broader Sandton Central area on foot . Ground floor has two restaurants , a coffee shop , retail outlets , the first Discovery Bank branch , the Wellness Centre where clients can have their Vitality assessments done , a Woolworths and auditoriums for events and announcements . The ground floor opens into the atrium spaces , connecting visitors to the working floors above visually and spatially .
The first floor is for training and meeting rooms . The second floor to seventh floors have the working office spaces that are not accessible to the public unless by appointment . This is the core of the company . Each floor plate has two large pause / break away areas opening into the atrium spaces , as well as agile spaces that allow for different ways of working and interacting .
There are a number of meeting rooms per floor for departments and employees to meet and interact with one another . These are concentrated in the core to allow for maximum flexibility on the floor plates . Including Phase 2 , each floor plate measures over 10,000m 2 . It was very important for Discovery to have as large a floor plate as possible to maximise efficient interaction and planning of their various departments .
Level 8 is where the gym is located as well as access to the landscaped roof which extends up to level 9 .
Architectural Challenges A key feature of the building is the floating ‘ nose ’ of the West Tower which projects over the Katherine / Rivonia intersection . To make a statement that fitted with the scale of the building , the architects needed to cantilever 17.5m over six floors . This posed a significant structural challenge that was eventually solved with the introduction of three massive concrete beams that project over the length of the cantilever . The floors were then suspended from these beams on steel , concrete filled , columns .
The external façade was also a tricky issue to resolve . In Boogertman + Partners ’ pitch they had presented a building with an undulating white camisole over dark blue glazing . Initially they had thought that the façade would be a ventilated façade with the external skin receiving a fritted pattern to create the ‘ solid ’ white look . After being awarded the project , and researching and
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