The brief from the Client was to design a high quality, contemporary, urban office park type development that had to comply with the greater Ridgeside Precinct Development Guidelines. The brief included the requirement for the building to become certified under the Green Building Council of South Africa’s (GBCSA) Green Star design rating system for offices. A Four Star Rating that rewards ‘Best Practice’ was targeted. In meeting this target, the building became only the second office development in South Africa to be fully accredited under these stringent design specifications, and the first in KZN.

The office buildings are arranged around a landscaped central avenue, each with its own access to the multi-level parking basement providing 1400+ parking bays. Short term visitors’ parking is provided at “podium” level. The buildings stretch to the extremities of the site, allowing for generous and high quality ‘pedestrian priority’ public realm. Alternative modes of transportation for commuting to work has been explored. Dedicated parking bays have been allocated to fuel efficient vehicles & the use of bicycles by occupants and visitors are encouraged by providing tenant & visitor bicycle storage as well as cyclist showers, changing facilities & secure lockers.

Each office will be designed to optimize rentable space within, provide spatial flexibility and be able to accommodate both large and small tenancies. The first office building developed at Ridgeside, Umhlanga was for Nedbank and will provide new office accommodation for approximately 600 occupants.