SPECIAL REPORT 15 ALICE LANE TOWERS
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15 ALICE LANE TOWERS: Raising the bar in corporate head office design By Stacey Rowan The bar has been raised in corporate head
glass and aluminium faรงade. Not only have
office design in South Africa, with the
the standards of design been raised, but,
completion of the 15 Alice Lane Towers,
as a high-rise building, this development
memorable for its iconic building form
has also redefined and reshaped the sky-
composed of two curvaceous towers and a
line of metropolitan Johannesburg.
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CJ GRAPHICS 02
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Completed in late 2010, 15 Alice Lane Towers now
Set atop a six-storey parking basement structure,
provides ultra-desirable head office space for the
the two towers rise 17 storeys into the Sandton sky.
new occupants, Deneys Reitz Attorneys. Designed by
Located at the western edge of the Sandton Central
Anthony Orelowitz, Raj Patel and Andrew Butcher,
acropolis-like setting, the building’s silhouette,
from Paragon Architects, for co-developers Zenprop
and curved façade, is at its most striking when
Holdings and Tiber Projects, the office tower is an
seen across the lush forests of Johannesburg’s
exceptional high-profile addition to the area of
north-western suburbs.
Sandton.
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The glass-and aluminium-clad towers are linked by
aluminium boxes set around deeply incised glass
a dramatic canyon-like, vertical atrium space that
lines.
is only six metres wide at its narrowest point. Each tower has glazed wings which cantilever 2.5 m
Walkways and bridges spiral upwards and are ar-
past their gable ends. North and south facades are
ranged in a fan-like pattern, which create a dramatic
wrapped in a highly patterned skin of seemingly
internal environment. These walkways connect
random panes of clear, dark grey, and white trans-
the two towers below an atrium roof with voluptu-
lucent glass. The resulting effect is one of a scale-
ous funnel-like skylights. Internally, the lobby of-
less building, in which it is almost impossible to
fers high ceilings and generous volumes to create
gauge the number of floors. East and West fa-
a sense of opulence on entry, and extends into the
cades are constructed to exclude direct sun, with
many floors of premier office space. The interior
sculptural hand-formed warm metallic-coloured
fit-out for Deneys Reitz was undertaken by Paragon
Main Contractors (Tel): 011 430 7700 (Fax): 086 502 2404 tiber@tiber.co.za 12 Desmond Street Kramerville Sandton
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Interface, the space planning and interior fit-out business in the Paragon Group. Marilize van Dyk,
Occupant’s requirements
Kirsty Schoombie and Leanie Roestorf made up
With the leading law firm’s existing premises no
the Paragon Interface team.
longer big enough for its expanding business, Deneys Reitz needed to move to a larger building.
Viewed from all angles, the building presents a highly
A number of companies proposed their develop-
patterned and highly abstracted surface of architec-
ments to Deneys Reitz Attorneys and ultimately
tural elements that change constantly with the chang-
Zenprop was selected for their ability to deliver to
ing time and atmosphere of the day. Low-energy glass
the practice’s specific requirements and do so at
and basic rules of orientation and common-sense
an appropriate market rental.
detailing assisted in minimising energy usage, together with control and building management sys-
The requirements sought by Deneys Reitz were
tems that are now becoming industry standards
precise: the efficiency and environmental friendli-
amongst responsible developers and tenants.
ness of the building, quality of space and facilities
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Unique. Timeless. 14 >
Elegant
We are committed to delivering service excellence. Our ability to deliver accurately and consistently is well recognised throughout the construction industry
High quality genuine semi-face and stock clay bricks
Visit Oconbrick Online to order your bricks maxiCall: 0861 11 OCON (0861 11 6266)
www.oconbrick.co.za
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Tel: 016 428 7300 Fax: 016 428 7325 8/12/10 12:47 PM
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for staff and clients, and to be located within the Sandton location. With seven of South Africa’s major law firms all located within a kilometre of each other
Iconic architecture and environmental impact
within the Sandton Central node, the attorneys wanted to stay within this area – which has become
15 Alice Lane is not only iconic in its design, but it
the central financial and legal district of Johannes-
is also pushes the boundaries in the environmental
burg.
principles that were used during construction. Careful thought and environmental consideration
The building offers the requisite infrastructure in
was given to every element of the building – from
terms of functional offices complemented by ad-
its position in the heart of Africa’s most vibrant and
equate consulting rooms and an auditorium to
prestigious business hub, to the building’s energy
host seminars.
footprint.
Alice Lane Office Towers also meets the practice’s
Material selection, the placement of the building
need for future expansion options within the build-
itself and attention to detail were used to achieve
ing. With some 500 staff members the building of-
the best possible energy performance for this
fers the occupants the space they require, with room
high-rise commercial property. Both the eastern
to spare for future expansion.
and western facades are thermally insulated with
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site
Head Office (Centurion) Tel: +27 (0)12 667 2780 Fax:+27 (0)12 667 4104 96 Koranna Ave Doringkloof, 0157
info@insitegroup.co.za www.insitegroup.co.za
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punched windows to reduce glazed areas; and the
Eclipse Advantage Grey and 6mm Armourplate®
northern and southern facades are double-glazed
clear; Armourscreen ® Low Iron 6mm Toughened
to cut energy costs. The design ensures that the end
Safety Glass. This was the first major installation
wings of the northern and southern façades are
of the GraphixArt™ range of glass in an architec-
shaded with blinds to reduce the heat load. The
tural project. The glass was manufactured at Ad-
building’s green nature is highlighted by its loca-
vance Armour Glass in Isando.
tion in an extensive green-scape surrounded by reflective ponds and water elements.
Glass printing technology
Quality clay brick production 15 Alice Lane Towers is one of the latest high-profile, high-rise structures where Oconbrick’s leader-
The project uses glass printing technology new to
ship in quality clay brick production was harnessed.
South Africa, and innovative facade assembly techniques that minimise scaffolding costs and ensure
More than 1 500 000 Oconbrick clay stock bricks
that more of the building cost ends up in the built
were rolled onto the Sandton site since construc-
product, and less in the building process itself.
tion began. The first delivery was on 1 April 2009, and the last truckload from the company’s Meyer-
Glass South Africa (GSA) supplied the glass from
ton plant unloaded on 4 November 2010. Through
the new GraphixArt™ range. Various glass types were
the 18-month construction period, priority deliver-
used which included 24mm Insulvue®; double
ies to building contractor, Tiber Bonvec, were
glazing comprising Eclipse Advantage Grey with and
done regularly and met deadlines.
without a stripe; Armourplate® Eclipse Advantage Grey 6mm Toughened Safety Glass; complement-
15 Alice Lane Towers was one, amongst many, of
ing Armourplate® single glazing comprising
Oconbrick’s production and delivery challenges, at
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Tel: (011) 795 3556
Fax: (011) 795 3669
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a time when new corporate headquarters, hotels,
Another big order for Oconbrick has been 2.5-million
shopping malls and business complexes were rising
bricks for a mosque, school, clinic and shopping
above the city horizon.
centre in Midrand.
Large clay stock brick orders have included 2-million
Although the current downturn in the building
bricks for ABSA Towers, the bank’s new three-block
construction industry has seen a slowing demand
Africa corporate headquarters in central Johannes-
for bricks, Oconbrick is maintaining production
burg, and roughly the same quantity was required
levels that continue to ensure ‘off-the-shelf’ avail-
for construction work at The Zone commercial and
ability of stock.
shopping centre in Rosebank. Other important projects are the expansion of the Hobart Road re-
“We understand that some clay brick suppliers
tail centre in Bryanston, and the Station Place hotel
have been forced to scale back on production,
and retail complex and Protea Place office block in
leading to some supply shortages, but Oconbrick
Sandton, also designed by Paragon Architects.
continues to have a healthy order book,” says Kemp. “Even though we are not running at full ca-
“These are all high-profile corporate projects
pacity, we are well-equipped to meet all current
which carry specifications for brickwork of equally
and future demand for bricks.”
high quality,” says Nico Kemp, operations director, Oconbrick.
In addition to commercial and private developments projects, Oconbrick’s order books identify
Décor Wallcoverings is engaged in the development, production and distribution of high quality and well thought out wall coverings. We are market leaders in the southern African contract and hospitality market. Thanks to a varied and comprehensive range of colours and designs, our products greatly enhance the appearance of every possible interior in the contract market.
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infrastructural projects too – typically schools, uni-
achieved when well-integrated teams meet
versity buildings, and other public educational facili-
around singular challenges. The best design and
ties in the region.
management skills of all involved companies were focused on this project, and exceptional value and
Investing in Johannesburg
skill is embedded in a building that would have been difficult to build at this cost and with this level of technical ambition in a more pressurised
The development of 15 Alice Lane is a continuation of Zenprop Holdings and Tiber Projects’ company strategy to be invested in Sandton, South Africa’s premier office node. Commissioned and built entirely within the hardest economic recession that the world has seen, this building is a statement of faith in the future of Johannesburg, and a measure of what can be
economic environment. <
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ELEVATING THE INDUSTRY
A
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Ferro Eleganza pride themselves in their assistance of previously disadvantaged individuals, having assisted a number of employees financially and educating them in starting and successfully managing their own construction companies. The highly trained artisans and experienced management of Ferro Eleganza enable them to deliver a service that is professional, and efficient. The personal attention of the owners ensures that all projects are completed to the client's expectations, and that safety and reliability are maintained. Structural Steel Fabrication and Erection Cutting / Punching Drilling / Bending Welding
208 Vonkprop Street Samcorpark - Silverton x2 - 0127
Tel: (012) 803 - 8035 www.ferroe.co.za
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