Company Announcement - The Green Building Council South Africa this week unveiled plaques commemorating the award of a 5-Star Green Star SA Office v1 Design rating for Bridge Park, an 18 000 square metre office development at Century City. Developed at a cost of R450million, Bridge Park was undertaken as a joint venture between Growthpoint Properties and Rabie Property Group.

Brian Wilkinson, CEO of the GBCSA, said at the unveiling ceremony that achieving a 5-Star rating demonstrated one had gone above and beyond green building requirements. “It shows a commitment to people and planet and the GBCSA commends Rabie and Growthpoint on their achievements.” Wilkinson added that the South African  property sector was truly becoming a growing force for good in the country, not only for the environment but also for people and business too. “It is companies like Growthpoint and Rabie Property Group who are leading the way by actively developing a sustainable future.”

Colin Anderson, a director of Rabie, said they were delighted with having achieved a 5-Star Green Star SA rating in the design category and were now aggressively pursuing a 5-Star rating for Bridge Park in the As Built category. Bridge Park consists of two four storey buildings - the 9900 square metre Bridge Park East  and the 8100 square metres Bridge Park West -  which have a shared basement and podium. The development was completed in July and final snagging is now being undertaken.

Anderson said there was strong corporate interest in Bridge Park and they expected to be fully let in the near future. Bridge Park was designed by DHK Architects and constructed by Murray & Roberts. Sustainable building consultants were PJCarew Consulting. Bridge Park falls within an all-green precinct which includes the R1billion Century City Square development comprising inter alia a 900 seat conference centre and 125 room hotel, and which forms part of the Green Star SA - Custom Mixed Use rating pilot programme of the GBCSA.

The precinct is also home to another 5-Star Green Star SA Office Design v1 rated building, Chevron, and a 4-Star Green Star SA Office Design v1 and As Built rated project - The Business Centre and Number 3 Bridgeways, the latter of which is home to Philip Morris. This project was also developed by Rabie.