Architect and Builder September/October 2015 | Page 18

4 STAN ROAD, SANDTON
A new boutique office development in the heart of Sandton is
under construction which will offer 5,200m2 GLA upon its completion
in December 2015. Designed by MDS Architecture, the building
will be distinctive and boast a 4-Star Green Rating on completion.
Sean Pearce created the concept for the building and Pat Henry is
leading the design development and construction of the project and
they explained that the site’s context was an important consideration
in developing the design.
“The site is adjacent to a complex of residential towers on the
one side and neighbours a large office development on the other
and is just off the very busy Grayston Drive,” explains Sean.
The building has two distinct aspects. The façade facing Stan
Road, which is west-facing, appears to be a solid wall made up of
huge full height fins with thin slivers of glazing between them, facing
south over the roofscape of Sandton, whereas the north-facing
facade is a fully glazed unitised performance façade.
To meet the owner’s brief for above-ground parking, a podium was
created 5 floors above the street with a landscaped deck onto which
the offices open. This deck creates a sanctuary for the users to break
away and enables the office building to stand back from the boundary.
The offices are in a loosely triangular shape, providing north-light and

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avoiding the sense of being crowded by the surrounding buildings.
“The deck podium is at the same level as those of the surrounding
buildings and to gain privacy, we have created a tree’d green berm
around our deck so that you’re not aware of all the other people on
their decks” explains Pat.
The entrance to the building has been treated as a slice that
cuts right into the west street façade of the building enabling both
permeability and a street address. A planted living feature wall has
been applied to the podium and alongside the entrance, utilising
recycled security grills from the original building and adding to the
Green Star submission.
The inclusion of a water feature and other Feng Shui elements
from the original building are also a nod to the history of the site.
The water feature has been angled to lead visitors into the lobby
off the street. The new town planning requirements for the precinct
have dictated that no off street parking may be provided and in order
to comply, all the visitors parking bays have been provided within
the secure first parking level. These link directly into the buildings
lobby and pedestrian entrance for access by Gautrain users. Cycling
facilities and change rooms have been provided for the users of
the building.
The original single-storey building at 4 Stan Road was the home
of MDS Architecture and Brian Heineberg & Associates for many
years and they will return to the address as the main tenants in the
new building.
The client is a consortium of professionals made up of the partners
of MDS Architecture and Brian Heineberg and Associates.
Client: Sharmane Investments
Architects: MDS Architecture
Quantity Surveyors: Brian Heineberg & Associates
Structural Engineers: L&S Consulting Engineers
Electrical Engineers: CKR Consulting Engineers
Air-conditioning: Spoormaker & Partners
Green Consultants: Solid Green Consulting
Main Contractor: Tiber Bonvec

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