Andew Konig CEO of Redefine says: "This is a very important deal for us. The acquisition of the Leaf portfolio of properties is in line with our strategy to invest in a diversified portfolio of high-quality assets. Importantly, it also changes the face of our Western Cape portfolio, which will now include the top five percent of quality office blocks in Cape Town and a number of the country's greenest complexes."
Konig points in particular to the Black River Park complex, a development in Cape Town's Southern Suburbs offering 74,000m² of office space. Within the complex, Black River Park North was the first office complex to be rated in terms of the Existing Building accreditation and Black River Park (the entire complex) is the first office complex to get each of its buildings Green Star SA rated, which includes a first 6 Star Green Star SA rating.
"The Black River Park complex has set itself apart due to its pioneering green initiatives and sustainable building management - from the indoor environmental quality, energy emission, materials and waste management, to transport solutions. We are exceptionally pleased to acquire this property which so perfectly supports our commitment to promoting sustainability in the industry."
According to Konig, green buildings are becoming more attractive to both tenants and investors, due in large part to their triple-bottom line commitments to building efficiency, social sustainability, and environmental sustainability.
"Environmentally-friendly buildings are rapidly gaining popularity among both tenants and companies as businesses look for buildings which will complement their sustainability ethos and practice. The industry has begun to recognise the increasing importance of green buildings to achieving both environmental sustainability and lower operational costs, but also as a valuable differentiator for landlords.
"Turning either new or existing buildings into green buildings not only makes them more environmentally friendly, but also makes them more profitable and contributes positively to the economy. In South Africa, the benefits of adopting energy efficient initiatives are even higher in comparison to other regions due to the massive impending hikes in electricity tariffs and increased risk of load shedding which in many cases is crippling businesses," he says.
New technologies and a better understanding of green construction - such as that displayed at the Black River Park complex, are also driving rapid, positive change in the sustainable design and construction process.
"Designing smart, sustainable communities makes good business sense and we can already clearly see that people and businesses are looking for safe and liveable places to live, work and play, with good quality urban design and buildings. By embedding these principles of good design from inception we can also make them affordable communities, where the sustainable benefits reach further than just the physical buildings. Acquiring assets such as the Black River Park complex is an important step in that direction."
