"We wanted to accommodate our staff in a building that strongly reflects our corporate philosophy of environmental sustainability," says Anton Raath, CEO of Glacier. "One of our core objectives is to consistently minimise the environmental impact of all our activities. This building provides a truly green environment for our employees and contractors in every sense of the word."
The building is targeting a 4-Star Green Star SA-office As Built v1 rating, as awarded by the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA). It will save approximately 200 tons of carbon emissions per annum thanks to a high performance façade coupled with energy efficient lighting and HVAC systems. A large concrete roof also shields the building from excessive heat, thus reducing dependency on air conditioning and water efficient fittings were used in bathrooms and tea kitchens.
Bam Architects, responsible for the design, included external shading and high performance glazing on the eastern and western façades, to balance increased natural lighting and access to outside views, with reduced solar heat gains. Balconies and large concrete overhangs will also assist in providing shading to the building. To ensure high indoor air quality, paints and adhesives with very low emission levels of volatile organic compounds were used for the interiors.
Download the Glacier goes green infographic.
