The Green Building Council SA (GBCSA) has taken up residence at its inspired new green office at the Black River Park complex in Observatory, Cape Town.
GBCSA has taken up residence at their new green office at the Blackriver Park complex in Observatory, Cape Town
As the commercial property industry in South Africa embraces sustainability, so the GBCSA’s capacity and reach has expanded to the point where they outgrew their office space and their lease expired at the same time.
They relished the opportunity to design a space that resonates their green building values and principles.
The new open-plan office has been designed to accommodate the future growth expected at the council, and embraces the GBCSA’s increasingly flexible, collaborative, and shared approach to office space and the work environment. Besides the tangible sustainable interventions, the GBCSA have also instituted a ‘hot-desking’ system which supports flexibility, team integration and maximizes space. Staff are also encouraged to use alternative and public transport and not to use their own cars to come to work by having less company-rented parking bays available, than staff employed.
As one of the founding sponsors, the South African Property Owners Association (SAPOA) enjoys a close collaborative relationship with the GBCSA. The Cape Town based SAPOA representative will be based in the GBCSA’s new offices going forward.
Neil Gopal, CEO of SAPOA, says: “Both SAPOA and GBCSA are committed to advancing the property sector in South Africa and delivering value to members that encourages a quality, sustainable urban environment. We’re pleased to share office space with people who also share our thinking space and look forward to the positive impact of our growing collaboration.”
The GBCSA also aims to get the new office certified under the Green Star SA Commercial Interiors rating tool, which will be released at the GBCSA’s Green Building Convention in Cape Town, on October 16-18, 2013.
The site was chosen because it is a re-used old warehouse building, and Black River Park prioritizes efficiency and recycling. It is close to public transport nodes, as well as having great amenities within the office park, and more within walking distance. Black River Park has also installed the largest rooftop solar photovoltaic installation in South Africa, which will provide 1.2 MW of renewable energy, once complete.
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