Integrated energy and chemicals company Sasol is building its new corporate office in Sandton that is designed to replicate the company’s logo and is scheduled for completion in 2016.
“The vision behind the design of the building is to link it to Sasol’s logo as the company believes that it denotes stability, while the six rotating spheres represent the business units within the company,” says architect firm Paragon Architects project architect Tershia Habbits.
She adds that having studied the requirements of the company, Sasol’s company structure was used as the departure point for the conceptual design of the building. Initially, the design was set up as a straight line linking the various units together. However, this was seen to be spatially too constrictive, which led to the design being more serpentine to allow more space on site.
“Situated at the curvy edge of Katherine street in Sandton, we had to ensure that the ten-storey building that spans about 70 000 m2 could be accommodated and well connected both vertically and horizontally,” Habbits notes.
Considering the complexity of the building, building information modelling technology Revit modelling software contributed towards streamlining the coordination process of the project. Habbits mentions that using this software has meant less time is wasted and less building materials are used.
Habbits explains that, for the external façade of the building, there are over 2 000 panels of floor-to-ceiling unitised double-glazed panels of vision glass and spandrels.
The spandrels to be used on the building are bespoke textured and are fired at 680º with an insulation and aluminium panel.
Additionally, where sections of the building cast shadows on itself, the size of the spandrels reduces to allow more light through. Façade patterning has generated an environmental analysis and heat gain to reduce energy consumption and increase user comfort levels, she says.