Company Announcement - The R700 million first phase of a new district at the V&A Waterfront is underway with a corporate head office for British American Tobacco South Africa (BAT South Africa) as the first project in this mixed-use area. Totalling 75 000 m² (or 7.6 hectares), the mixed-use Canal District straddles both sides of Dock Road. The V&A Waterfront’s acquisition of the Amway and Queen’s Hotel buildings in 2014 has a connection to Buitengracht Street. The District as a whole ties strongly into the arterial route that connects the city centre to the V&A Waterfront, and into the main pedestrian route that runs along Dock Road.
 
David Green, CEO of the V&A Waterfront, said: “Demand for commercial space at the V&A Waterfront is driving development in this district. This district is also a piece in the jigsaw puzzle that provides a seamless link through to the CTICC and Cape Town’s CBD.” With a canal at its heart, as well as a new urban park incorporating the remnants of the historical Amsterdam Battery, the Canal District is essentially the first point of contact with the V&A Waterfront for visitors entering the property from the City Centre. The first building in the District, Amsterdam House, is divided into two at the centre, with the multi-national BAT South Africa occupying 8 000 m² in the south wing.
 
“The V&A Waterfront takes a holistic view of development as a space in which people can live, work and play. For a multi-national company the size and calibre of BAT South Africa to select the Waterfront as the preferred destination for the relocation of its head office is of significance, and speaks to the popularity of our development initiatives.” As with all other V&A Waterfront developments, Amsterdam House has been designed according to best practice green design principles, and is intended to achieve a minimum 5-Star Green Rating using the Green Star SA Office Design VI rating tool.
 
NMC has been announced as the contractor. Commenting on their appointment, V&A Waterfront Development Executive Martin Kearns said, “With more than 30 years’ experience, we are confident that NMC, as a new partner, will deliver to our exacting standards and tight deadlines.”
 
Completion of Amsterdam House and the car park is expected in November 2016.