The Towers | Foreshore's Green Team

Thanks to Redefine Properties’ redevelopment of the old Standard Bank Building in Foreshore, now called The Towers, a more social and eco-friendly ambience has been introduced to Cape Town’s central business district.

The ‘green-over’ of The Towers started in February 2013 and came to a cost of R533 million, but, along with various other developments to transform the Foreshore into a commercial empire, the goal is to boost CBD appeal and obtain return investments worth over R30 billion by 2020.

‘Redefine Properties has redeveloped a well-located, under-parked, historical building and upgraded a formerly under-utilized public space to add significant value to this part of the city,’ says Andrew Konig, Chief Executive Officer of Redefine Properties.

The original (old) Standard Bank Building on Heerengracht Road

The Social Factor

In order to form a more user-friendly space, a pedestrian area has been created between the Civic Centre and Hertzog Boulevard, which will also include the new Christiaan Barnard Memorial Hospital and an expansion of the Cape Town International Convention Centre. Access and appeal of this area has been ensured by a walkway that links the North and South Towers and allows retail tenants to access the public atrium. Retail tenants include the Redefine Properties Cape Town head office, Standard Bank of South Africa, Fairbridges Wertheim Becker Attorneys, three embassies and a Food Lover’s Eatery.

The Art Factor

To add additional appeal to the revamped structure, illuminated fins depicting Cape Town landmarks have been added to the building’s glass façade. Landmarks displayed include Table Mountain, Signal Hill and the Cape Peninsula. Definitely worth having a look when next you pass through the CBD area at night.

The Green Factor

The historic, non-energy-efficient, structure of old was turned into a ‘green’ building with a flush glazed system on the external façade that reduces cooling demand by about 30%, energy-efficient lighting used in all the public spaces, and current investigations to add photovoltaic panels to The Towers’ roofs.

“Greener, more energy-efficient buildings also attract better quality tenants,” says Daryl Sher, Development Manager of Redefine Properties.

Contact Details
www.redefine.co.za

Text: Andy Moller
Photographs: Andy Moller and Supplied