Vopak Terminal Lesedi Admin Building by Zutari for Vopak South Africa Developments in Joint Venture with Royal Vopak and Reatile Resources, Gauteng

PROJECT TEAM

Principal Agent & Project Manager:

Vopak South Africa Architects: Fokkema & Partners Architects (Netherlands), Messaris Wapenaar Cole Architects (South Africa) Main Contractor: Enza Construction

Quantity Surveyor; Wet Services; Structural, Civil, Electrical, Mechanical

& Fire Engineer: Zutari

Vopak South Africa Developments (VSAD) – a joint venture between Royal Vopak and Reatile Resources

– is undertaking the development of a bulk storage facility known as the Vopak Terminal Lesedi, in Heidelberg, Gauteng.

The admin building design incorporates an extensive range of environmentally sustainable initiatives in line with the Green Star South Africa Office v1.1 certification tool from the Green Building Council of South Africa.

The building is designed with increased mechanical outdoor air rates in accordance with the Green Star requirements, as well as with hopper windows that open upwards to the inside of the building. The windows will be mechanically controlled by actuators linked to indoor temperature sensors when external temperatures are favourable. A roof-mounted weather station is linked to the natural ventilation control system, which locks out the windows when external conditions are not favourable.

There will be multiple openings at roof level, which link airflow from various building zones on the ground- and first-floor spaces to each staircase and atrium, creating a natural stack effect. A mechanical outdoor air system functions as a variable air volume system. As the CO2 levels increase/decrease within the individual rooms, the motorised dampers will modulate, causing the fresh-air-fan variablespeed drives to change frequency.

A variable refrigerant flow (VRF) plant will be installed with heat recovery modules to recover heat during intermediate seasons. The VRF condensing units are to be located in a plant room area on the first floor of the building and connected to multiple indoor heat recovery modules via refrigerant gas piping. The VRF heat recovery module will connect to the indoor evaporator units, which will control the space temperature.

The building’s glass façade will be equipped with performance glazing, complemented by design features that serve to shade the building. Energy performance simulation indicates an expected 173% reduction in energy consumption compared with a notional SANS 204 compliant building.

The holistic ‘green’ design includes features such as appropriately zoned lighting that automatically switches on and adjusts to suit natural light levels and occupancy, and on-site power generation with a photovoltaic plant on the roof, essentially creating a net-zeropower facility.