African Design Magazine ADM #37 February 2018 | Page 24

Blinds are installed on all offices floors to reduce the glare of direct sunlight. In addition, care
has been taken to ensure that all interior finishes have low Volatile Organic Compounds
(VOCs), thereby reducing the risk of adverse health complications due to toxic fumes which
often off-gas within enclosed spaces.
Energy-saving light fi ings have been installed throughout the building, and office floors and
meeting rooms have been fi ed with occupancy sensors with lighting zones of no greater
than 100 m 2 . An energy-efficient chiller and other power systems in the building have
resulted in the building being approximately 47% more efficient than conventional buildings.
Multiple roof layers contribute towards the reduction of external noise pollutants travelling
into the workspace. These include steel roof-sheeting, slip-sheet roof, layers of gypsum
plaster and acoustic ceiling tiles. The concrete used on the project has low embodied ener gy
when compared to 100% OPC mixes as it has been mixed with a considerable amount of
alternative material such as fly ash.
CONCLUSION
The architectural style of the BCX headquarters dominates the local environment and is
indicative of the importance for developers to align themselves with a team that is well
versed in overcoming the design challenges imposed by a demanding geotechnical profile.
All design elements provide not only an overall appealing aesthetic, but contribute to the
demands of the client for a highly functional facility.
Energy-saving light ttings
have been installed
throughout the building, and
ofce oors and meeting
rooms have been tted with
occupancy sensors with
lighting zones of no greater
2
than 100 m . An energy-
efcient chiller and other
power systems in the
building have resulted in the
building being approximately
47% more efcient than
conventional buildings.
24 africandesignmagazine.com