Putting a spotlight on occupants’ health and well-being

Yovka Raytcheva-Schaap, the Aurecon Associate providing environmentally sustainable design consulting and project management for the project, says the Discovery building creates an environment that is centered on occupants’ health and well-being. The design was done in such a way as to provide an ample amount of fresh air, thermal comfort, daylight and connection to the exterior.

“It’s a remarkable space for people; there’s a fully equipped gym, yoga decks, a running track and multipurpose courts set in the indigenously landscaped roof. These facilities encourage an active lifestyle. An expansive ground floor includes staff restaurants and coffee shops, while office spaces were designed for activity-based working and enhanced staff collaboration,” says Raytcheva-Schaap.

The vision for the Discovery building extends beyond providing IEQ (Indoor Environment Quality) for the occupants, to the integration of a building into a healthier, more desirable surrounding precinct. The spaces between the buildings and how the buildings connect to these spaces, creates a livable, valuable precinct. The publicly accessible ground floor spills out into a landscaped podium and this will be extended as a ‘precinct connector’ to other developments in the area through innovative pedestrian links.

Growthpoint Properties Office Division Director, Rudolf Pienaar, says that they are delighted to have achieved the GBCSA 5-Star certification for this development, especially considering its scale and complexity.

“The new Discovery head office is now among the most environmentally sustainable and efficient buildings in South Africa. Green building plays a key role in providing spaces in which businesses can thrive,” said Pienaar.

“Our collaboration with Growthpoint over the years has helped us re-imagine what can be achieved when sustainability, wellness and community are the golden thread throughout each design decision. It’s been a privilege to be involved in the project and I would like to congratulate Growthpoint, Zenprop and Discovery on creating such an iconic green precinct in the heart of Gauteng’s economic hub,” concludes Smith.