Project
In mid-2018 , Rabie Property Group gave the green light for the proposed multi-use development then known as The Hudson . The professional team , led by Vivid Architects , commenced with the conceptual planning and design in earnest , and the first spade hit the ground in November 2019 .
The project was initially programmed for completion in April 2021 , however , the unforeseen appearance of the Covid pandemic threw a significant spanner in the works and as a result , the final completion date was pushed out to August 2021 .
The development , now under its final name of Bridgewater , was successfully completed and is currently undergoing fit-out of the hotel component , as well as several of the office tenants and residential purchasers already having taken occupation of their new premises .
PROJECT OVERVIEW Bridgewater is a mixed-use development comprising of :
• 80 key hotel . This is operated by Century City Conference Centre and Hotels .
• Residential : twelve luxury penthouse units occupying the top two floors of the building , plus 92 one and two bed apartments , of which 18 are designated as serviced apartments for use by the hotel .
• Three separate office and retail buildings totalling some 8 300m 2 of lettable area .
• A super basement over two levels , mainly for parking but also including large plant rooms for mechanical , electrical , wet services and fire plant equipment .
The individual buildings comprising the development form a U-shape , the centre of which is an open air recreation area which is beautifully landscaped to offer office workers , hotel guests and residents the opportunity to unwind in a relaxed environment .
The location of Bridgewater , being on the boundary of the former Ratanga Junction Adventure Park , is ideal in that it is in close proximity to the Canal Walk shopping centre , and right next door to the Century City Convention Centre . It also benefits from
an extensive infrastructure development which has been undertaken concurrently with the building ’ s construction , including a new water body which bounds almost directly onto the residential side of the complex .
THE HVAC DESIGN CONCEPT WSP Group Africa was appointed by Rabie Property Group for the design of the air conditioning and ventilation as well as the Building Management System ( BMS ) for the new development .
Having successfully completed various projects for this client in the past , WSP was familiar with their vision and expectations for this new project . Nevertheless there were new challenges to be faced in terms of a construction sector which was experiencing a significant increase in construction costs , and thus to design and deliver a satisfactory project within a budget and timeframe which would meet the financial feasibility criteria set out for the development of the project .
A central chilled water system was designed to provide cooling for the hotel , offices and retail component only . This system was considered to be the most cost effective for this application , including annual energy consumption costs , with building loads considered to be fairly predictable and consistent throughout the course of a year . The chilled water piping reticulation was designed to enable individual energy metering , via the BMS , of each of these three components , as well as the hotel .
The residential component ( apartments ) is not generally air conditioned , apart from the twelve penthouse apartments on the two top levels , which have DX split mid-wall units installed , as well as being mechanically supplied with filtered fresh air . Bathrooms and WC ’ s in the apartments are mechanically ventilated via common ducted extraction systems .
1 2
RACA Journal | Benjamin Brits
RACA Journal | Benjamin Brits
1 . The water cooled chillers installed in the basement plant room .
2 . A VAV sidewall grille in a hotel staff room .
www . hvacronline . co . za RACA Journal I January 2022 37