The ConneXXion

Improving comfort, health, and wellness for Exxaro employees.

Client

Exxaro / Growthpoint Properties

Project date

Appointed in 2017

In 2017, Growthpoint Properties appointed Zutari to provide environmentally sustainable design (ESD) services for its R600-million project to develop Exxaro’s new head office in Centurion. The nine-storey building, located opposite the Centurion Gautrain station, consolidated Exxaro’s offices from Tshwane and Johannesburg into a single high-performance, green workspace.

The opportunity

The project required creating a high-performing, environmentally sustainable office that prioritised occupant comfort, health, and wellness. The site’s dolomitic bedrock presented a major challenge, requiring careful analysis and construction techniques to ensure structural stability.

What we did

The building comprises five office floors above four levels of basement parking. The first two parking levels are naturally ventilated, while the lower two are mechanically ventilated. Over one hundred boreholes were drilled into the dolomitic bedrock to create a 3D model. High-lying dolomite pinnacles were blasted and drilled down, upper soil layers were compacted, and a steel-reinforced concrete raft foundation with sensor monitoring was laid.

Several building elements were inspired by the organic form of dolomite, including subtle wall panel expressions and a glass-covered manhole allowing guests to view a dolomitic pinnacle beneath the parking area periphery.

Zutari’s ESD services guided the selection and design of the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system. The ceiling-concealed chilled water fan coil unit system includes a central pre-treated CO2-controlled fresh air system. Chilled water is produced by three high-efficiency air-cooled chillers, monitored for refrigerant loss using load cells. Over 300 ceiling FCUs provide heating and cooling to thermal zones, with individual and open-plan areas controlled via wall stats and the building management system (BMS). The BMS also monitors generators, fire alarms, pumps, wet services, power and water meters, lifts and escalators, and data room temperatures.

Zutari’s scope included office and basement smoke extraction, smoke make-up air, and staircase pressurisation.
The building achieved 6-Star Green Star SA and Silver WELL certification. Sustainability features include energy-efficient systems, water-saving measures, natural light, low VOC finishes, and facilities for bicycles and fuel-efficient vehicles.

The outcome

The project successfully created a green, high-performing workspace that prioritises occupant health, comfort, and wellness. It consolidated Exxaro’s offices into a single, environmentally sustainable location and became a benchmark for future high-performance office developments in South Africa.

In April 2020, The conneXXion became the first building in South Africa and Africa to achieve Silver Level WELL certification for Core and Shell, demonstrating the tangible benefits of sustainable design on comfort, health, and wellness.

The key to creating a green, high-performing workspace is unlocking ways to optimise building occupants’ health and wellness. With the right skills, vision, and rating tools, it is possible to create buildings that improve occupant and visitor comfort, encourage better choices, and generally enhance health and wellness.

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