Construction World December 2017

Category C: Professional Services: Architects

Sasol is a large multinational petrochemical company, with a variety of business units and activities in South Africa and abroad. This building was to replace its current occupation of 14 buildings around Johannesburg, and unify the Sasol corporate culture. Sasol had grown rapidly over the last two decades, and had never occupied a single building with all of its Johannesburg- based business units under one roof. As a result, this was much more than just a structure. The building needed to reflect the mores of the company, respond to the site, and react to developments in architectural software and sustainable design. The interior architecture, on the other hand, needed to accommodate over 3 000 previously-dispersed staff in a single building, allowing for a consolidation of company values and workplace design. Design innovation The vision for the new building was to link it to Sasol’s logo. The logo, which encapsulates the company’s values, comprises a central sphere denoting stability, while six rotating spheres, representing the business units, suggest a force greater than the sum of its won the invited competition for Interior Architecture and Space Planning. The project was completed in 2017. SASOL PLACE During May 2013, Paragon Architects was appointed as architect of a new corporate office on 50 Katherine Street in Sandton, Johannesburg for Sasol. In 2014, Paragon Interface

parts – strength through synergy. To make the logo come to life, Paragon studied the distilled essence closely in order to interpret it into a built form. Sasol’s company structure was used as the departure point for the conceptual design of the building. The concept was initially set up as a straight line linking the various units. However, this was seen as too constrictive spatially. Hence the form evolved into something more serpentine which, in turn, generated a more humanist space, and was accommodated more easily accommodated in the available space on-site. A central core of work activities ties the building together, and the various areas are linked by a series of bridges. The major challenge was the site on which the building stands, namely a curving edge of Katherine Street. Paragon had to ensure that this 10-story building, which serves as offices for up to 7 000 people, and spans almost 70 000 m 2 , could be accommodated and well-connected both vertically and horizontally. It was important for Paragon to push boundaries in this design, which is characterised by light volumes externally, and two dramatic skylights (articulated with acoustic baffles) internally. These elements create a feeling of airy spaces, and allow as much natural light into the structure as possible. The concept of open, transparent, and remote work spaces is extended to embody the values of Sasol to include restaurants, canteens, art galleries, coffee shops, and a Sasol One Stop Shop. The result is an external façade of reflective performance glass, which has a high light transmission level, and maximises visibility out of the building, while maintaining a high comfort level. There are over 2 000 panels of floor-to-ceiling unitised double glazed panels of vision

glass and spandrels. The shapes and glass variations are encapsulated in each panel. The spandrels are a bespoke textured custom-glazed unit, fired at 680 degrees with a silver backing, insulation, and an aluminium panel. The glass is Safety Shield Imagin Krizet with Ipasol chrome coating. This glass has not been used in South Africa before, with this project exploiting its properties to its best advantage. In addition to glass performance, the building volumes have impacted on the design. Where sections of the building cast shadows on itself, the size of the spandrels reduces so as to allow more light through. Façade patterning has generated an environmental analysis and heat gain to reduce energy consumption and maximise user comfort levels. Externally, the park-like staff facilities include courtyards and braai and yoga facilities, with water-wise planted areas. Sasol is very committed to supporting birdlife in South Africa, and this was included in the design with provision for an indigenous environment for birds. The landscaping has been designed to shade the façade, where heat gain is higher. On lower levels, planting gets thicker. Considering the complexity of this building, BIM technology and Revit modelling have contributed towards streamlining the co-ordination process, and allowed all 15 consultants to interact with one 3D model. This has not only made it easier to work together, but we have also avoided wasting time and building materials. Combined with Paragon’s pursuit of architectural design technology and developments in material development, the building combined an approach to sustainable design. The building has a 5 Star Green Star Design V1 rating, which will be confirmed As Built in 2018.

PROJECT INFORMATION

• Company entering : Paragon Group • Start date: October 2013 • End date: December 2016 • Developer: Alchemy Properties/Sasol Pension Fund • Main contractor: Aveng Grinaker-LTA • Lead architects: Anthony Orelowitz, Tershia Habbitts, Jose Ferreira, Claire D’Adorante • Structural engineer: Sotiralis Consulting Engineers • Mechanical engineer: Adaptive Resources • Green consultant: PJC • Landscape architect: Insite

Highly Commended

• Façade engineer: Pure Consulting • Acoustic consultant: Linspace

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