The R1.6-billion Portside development, in Cape Town’s central business district, has been awarded a 5 Star Green Star South Africa (SA) office design rating by the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA).

Currently in construction, the building is scheduled for completion in the first quarter of next year.

The Old Mutual Life Assurance Company of South Africa and banking firm FirstRand Bank are the owners of Portside and it is the first tall building in the country to be GBCSA-certified. It has 20 office levels, seven parking levels, four mixed-purpose levels and three basement levels, totaling 34 levels, with a combined 69 000 m2 gross floor area.
“One of the real benefits of pursuing a Green Star rating is the integrated approach to design challenges – there have been many meetings where problems were resolved by a design team rather than by individual disci- plines. This contributed enormously to the successful outcome,” says sustainability consultancy Agama Energy director Mike Munnik.

Portside focuses on the environmental initia- tives associated with green building projects, including energy reduction through an effi- cient air-conditioning system; a rainwater catchment and harvesting system; toilets using grey water to reduce potable water use; low embodied energy materials, such as recycled reinforcing steel and cement replacement with industrial waste products; as well as maximis- ing the flow of natural light through a double-glazed façade.

The main distinguishing features and innova- tion of Portside include the application of light-emitting diode light fittings throughout the office space, which significantly lowers the energy consumption.

Further, energy use for unoccupied spaces is minimised through movement sensors.

The façade can be disassembled. Each component is individually marked and a disassembly plan has been drawn up, identifying the sequence of removing each panel for later reuse on another building or for future recycling.

As part of future planning, a series of electric car-charging vending points and wiring for addition points have been provided for the on-site recharging of electric cars while the owners are at work.

The building also comprises 227 bicycle racks for staff and visitors. Several bicycle racks have been provided on the sidewalk at street level to encourage people, whether from businesses or the community, to use alternative means of transport. This is in support of the City of Cape Town’s nonmotorised transport strategy and Ride Your City initiative.