Leading architecture, interior design, and space-planning practice Paragon of Johannesburg was a double winner at the Gauteng Institute for Architecture (GIfA) Awards held on Thursday 28 September 2017.

Paragon clinched an Award of Merit for Alice Lane 3, an office building on the corner of Alice Lane and Fifth Street in Sandton’s commercial centre. It forms part of the R1-billion Alice Lane mixed-use development, which includes easy access to the Sandton Gautrain station, as well as various malls, hotels and offices.

The project was completed by property developer Abland in March 2017, with The Pivotal Fund Ltd. as owner. It achieved a Green Star Office V1 Design Rating v1 rating from the Green Building Council of South Africa. ‘Green’ features include energy-efficient lighting and air-conditioning systems, with a design that maximises the use of daylighting and good views.

In addition, Paragon’s architecture and interior architecture work on Sasol Place resulted in an Award of Excellence for the group. Sasol Place, the new 11-storey, 67 000 m2 head office for the South African petrochemical giant, was developed by Alchemy Properties and the Sasol Pension Fund. The main contractor was Aveng Grinaker-LTA, while the project manager was Capex Projects.

The new head office reduces Sasol’s office footprint by as much as 40%, by consolidating 17 Sasol offices across Johannesburg in a single building. While accommodating 2 500 employees at present, in addition to 300 auxiliary staff, the ‘future-proof’ design means the head office is flexible enough for future expansion up to 7 000 staff members.
The 47-m-high building comprises seven parking levels, a ground floor, and ten office floors. Prominent design features include  restaurants, coffee shop, wellness centre, convenience store, fitness centre, and even a dedicated gallery and sculpture garden to showcase Sasol’s continued support of contemporary South African artists.

“Well done to the teams involved for their exceptional work,” Paragon Founding Director Anthony Orelowitz comments. GIfA is one of the oldest architectural organizations in South Africa, founded in 1900 as the Transvaal Institute of Architects. It is a voluntary association affiliated to the South African Institute of Architects, and endorsed by the South African Council for the Architectural Profession. Its main mission is to promote a better built environment, together with a greater awareness of architecture.

Paragon confirmed its status as one of the premier architecture and design firms in South Africa at the South African Property Owners’ Association awards at its annual convention in Cape Town on 21 and 22 June. Here it clinched four major awards, namely the Office Developments: Corporate Award for the iconic Sasol Place in Sandton, Interiors (Sasol Place), Innovation Developments (GE Africa Innovation Centre), and the prestigious Overall Winner (Sasol Place).