Net zero

78 Corlett Drive is an innovative new office development located on a brownfields site in the heart of Melrose North, Johannesburg. The project is leading the local green building sector into a new phase of evolution by achieving a Net Zero Carbon Level 1 Certification as well as a World Leadership 6-Star Green Star Office v1.1 Design Certification. These accolades have led 78 Corlett Drive to be awarded the Highest Rated Building Award for 2018, presented by the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA). The GBCSA Net Zero Certification awards projects go beyond the partial reductions recognised in the current GBCSA tools and have taken the initiative to reach the endpoint of completely neutralising their environmental impact.

Fixed modular shading louvres, designed with advanced modelling software, act as both a dynamic façade treatment giving the building an iconic street presence, and as a highly efficient passive shading system.

The building’s design incorporates strong minimalist geometries with a simplified rectilinear floor plate, elevated on columns to provide sheltered tenant parking. The building gently interfaces with the ground plane through a glass-fronted lobby, housing the reception concierge and main circulation core. Elevated above it is an array of fixed modular shading louvres, acting as both a dynamic façade treatment and a highly efficient passive shading system. This was achieved through an interconnected process with lighting and façade specialists, as well as advanced modelling software. The result is an iconic street presence that protects the building’s occupants from the harsh summer sun while ensuring the modular aluminium-clad construction method created almost zero material wastage.

Sliding shutters along the adjacent façades creates an ever-changing aesthetic, affording occupants the ability to adjust the amount of natural light, heat and glare that can enter their space.

The design allows a direct visual connection to the external environment for 80% of the Office Usable Area, thus optimising natural daylight within. A high level of thermal comfort has been ensured by addressing the internal operative temperatures for at least 98% of occupied hours. 100% of the Usable Area is mechanically ventilated and provides ample good quality outside air by demonstrating a 66% improvement over and above the SANS 10400-O:2011 requirements.

Not only are there ample outdoor areas, but 80% of the office area allows a direct visual connection to the external environment, optimising natural daylight and good quality outside air.

Cooling is provided to the building via air-cooled chillers, which means the building does not need to use water to cool it.

The extension of architecture into smart urbanism is incorporated into the project’s fundamental planning. The incentive to utilise electric cars is promoted by providing dedicated parking bays complete with an electric car charging station, powered by the high-performance solar array that crowns the building. The solar array has an annual output of 92 000kWh and will tie directly into the grid. The building is also one of the few in Johannesburg to actively promote cycling to and from work by including safe and sheltered bicycle storage racks, together with a cyclist’s bathroom and changing facility. With the building located less than one kilometre from six major bus transit stops, as well as numerous taxi drop-off points, it is uniquely positioned to seamlessly integrate alternative transportation strategies into Johannesburg’s existing infrastructure.

78 Corlett will accommodate a mixture of vibrant open co-working spaces and cellular offices, interspersed with social and formal meeting spaces organised around a central coffee bar located in the triple-volume daylit atrium.

By setting ambitious targets for more sustainable construction practices, backed by a client that firmly believes in fundamentally changing the way buildings in South Africa are created, 78 Corlett demonstrates sector leadership in considering context, environment and occupant wellbeing – redefining the way people work and experience their built environment.