Architect and Builder Sep 2021 | Page 7

NEWSWORTHY
THE CAPITAL 15 ON ORANGE HOTEL OPENS
In March 2021 , Western Cape focused property group Spear REIT announced that it had exercised its rights to terminate its lease with Marriott in respect of the previously troubled five star 15 on Orange Hotel , situated in the heart of Cape Town . This was swiftly followed by Spear REIT ’ s SENS announcement that it had concluded a 7 year fixed income lease agreement with The Capital Hotels and Apartments , which included the hotel , retail and parking , with an option to purchase after two years .
Established in 2008 , The Capital Hotels and Apartments portfolio is one of the fastest growing owner operated hotel and luxury apartment providers in South Africa with its aggressive expansion strategy of adding at least two new hotels each year .
The Capital 15 on Orange is a strategic addition to The Capital Hotels and Apartments portfolio , with the group only previously operating The Capital Mirage in Cape Town . The Capital 15 on Orange now increases its total presence in Cape Town in the region of 200 rooms .
Construct Capital , the development managers of the refurbishment of the hotel , had ten weeks to complete the project . “ The project scope was to give 132 existing hotel rooms a fresh and modern refurbishment . With the involvement of RKI Interior Design , 25 rooms were converted into luxurious modern apartments . These apartments have a separate living area and dining area , plus a fully equipped modern kitchen with all the appliances necessary for a comfortable stay . Luxurious bathrooms feature oversized bathtubs and rain showers , which are standard for all rooms . The tight timelines , with the hotel taking paying guests on opening date , meant that co-ordination , planning and programming were key to ensure that the new services tied in with the existing infrastructure . Trades were programmed using a matrix structure to allow them to run sequentially with just the right amount of resources allocated ,” says Bryce O ’ Donnell , who managed the project for Construct Capital .
Greg Reid of Boogertman and Partners , the appointed architects on the project says “ The original hotel had a great ambience , but with The Capital Hotels and Apartments taking over , we wanted to both enhance this and add The Capital Hotels and Apartments ’ style . It was also important to ensure that the whole hotel had a fresh feel . Rooms have been revived and the clean contemporary aesthetic of The Capital Hotels and Apartments has been incorporated to replace the existing design . We are so happy with the result , creating a hotel that speaks to The Capital Hotels and Apartments brand whilst incorporating the elements that made 15 on Orange successful in the past ,“ he said .
The hotel also features the Emerald Lounge Restaurant & Bar , The O bar , a pool deck with views of majestic Table Mountain , conference venues , a spa and a gym .
TERABEE LAUNCHES NEW SENSOR SOLUTION
French sensor solutions technology company , Terabee , has launched a new Smart Building sensor solution , People Counting M , which is designed for doors up to 80cm wide as well as narrow corridors . It can be used on all standard doors . With its 95 % counting accuracy , the People Counting M uses 3D depth-sensing to provide footfall data and occupancy insights in real-time , enabling wider take-up of smart building technology . “ Now systems integrators and end users can monitor every standard door in a building to get accurate footfall insights at every corner , which is a game changer in realtime occupancy and footfall data . Smart buildings have just become smarter ,” says Max Ruffo , CEO & Founder of Terabee . People Counting M can be connected via Ethernet or WiFi , depending on installation constraints and connectivity in the building . Wireless connectivity has been in hot demand , making installation times faster and reducing the total cost of ownership . Once connected , the Terabee People Counting M device can push data directly to any cloud platform via HTTP ( S ) or MTTQ ( S ), or communicate with the Terabee Internet of Things platform . Removing the necessity to pull Ethernet cables further simplifies product use for those who can rely on WiFi for data transmission . “ The flexibility to easily install and connect Terabee People Counting M via Ethernet or WiFi answers the main connectivity needs of our integrators ,” continues Max Ruffo . www . terabee . com
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