Record 140 commercial buildings certified over past year - GBCSA

Best Quality Submission - Sally Misplon

“Certified green buildings held their own as far as vacancy and return rates go over the past year. Property owners, tenants and investors are now insisting on better, certified green buildings, as the environmental and financial benefits of these become indisputable. To date, the GBCSA has certified 740 buildings since 2009,” said Reynolds.

It was also announced that Giles Pendleton, who is the chief development officer at Attacq Limited, will remain as the chairperson of GBCSA for another year.

Rising Green Star - Hlologelo Manthose

One – One Planet. One Chance.

The Green Building Convention hosted several keynote international and local speakers, including Nigerian architect Kunlé Adeyemi whose ‘African Water Cities’ have garnered him worldwide acclaim; Dutch bio-designer Teresa van Dongen who shared the ground-breaking work she is doing in combining nature and science into her design; and Mashudu Ramano, entrepreneur in transitioning to a regenerative and sustainable future.

“Our programme was curated around this year’s theme – One – One Planet. One Chance. It comprehensively looked at the critical role of the green building community and the need for us to come together as one powerful movement to effect positive change that counts.

“The theme spoke to the need for decisive and immediate action to mitigate the effects of climate change and to save our one planet for future generations. This is not something we can do alone – we need everyone to commit to a future where people and the planet thrive,” Reynolds added.

GBCSA also announced the winners of its annual Leadership Awards at the closing plenary of the convention. The awards are based on submission data gathered during the Green Star certification process, and individuals are nominated by the industry.

Highest-rated Building - The Ridge, Mike Munnik

Highest-rated Building

Winner

The Ridge (Cape Town)
6-Star Green Star Office Design v1.1
AP: Mike Munnik, Agama Energy | Property owner: V&A Waterfront

Runner-up

Balwin Head Office (Johannesburg)
6-Star Green Star Office Design v1.1
AP: Zendré Compion, Solid Green | Property owner: Balwin Properties

Best Quality Submission

Winner

Gleneagles (Johannesburg)
5-Star Green Star Existing Building Performance v1
AP: Sally Misplon, Misplon Green Building Consulting | Property owner: Redefine Properties

Runner-up

Wickham House (Johannesburg)
5-Star Green Star Existing Building Performance v1
AP: Sally Misplon, Misplon Green Building Consulting | Property owner: Redefine Properties

Edge Leader

Winner

Yvonne Pelser, InsideOUT Consulting

Established Green Star

Winner

Mike Munnik, Agama Energy

Runner-up

Dash Coville, Solid Green

Rising Green Star

Winner

Hlologelo Manthose, WSP Group Africa

Runner-up

Alex Varughese, Solid Green

YIPA Sustainable Young Changemaker

GBCSA also partnered with the Youth in Property Association (YIPA) to introduce the inaugural YIPA Sustainable Young Changemaker Award, which recognises the exceptional contribution of young people to sustainability in the built environment sector.

YIPA Sustainable Young Changemaker - Thamsanqa Hoza

Thamsanqa Hoza is the first recipient of the award. Hoza is a young leader who is passionate about the intersection of infrastructure development, technology, and people, and particularly using this to improve the livelihoods of Africans. He is the founder of Hot Nozzle, a company that manufactures novel water heating technologies. He is an Allan Gray fellow, AIF top ten young innovator, received qualifications from UCT and Cambridge University, and has also received an award from the Queen of England.