PROJECT
59
By
Mofenyi Maimela , wet services engineer at WSP
WSP Africa was entrusted to design its new offices in Knightsbridge Office Park , situated in the redevelopment of Bryanston . The design was to comply with latest regulations and contribute to a 4-Star Green Star GBCSA-rated park .
Knightsbridge Office Park is a multi-tenant office park that was divided into three phases of design and construction . WSP Africa is privileged to be a tenant for one of the three buildings in Phase 1 .
WSP is a global business providing consulting in the engineering and built environment and this state-ofthe-art office park would be the base for WSP ’ s Africa operations . Emira appointed WSP ’ s multidisciplinary team for the project feasibility , strategic planning , concept development , detailed design , and construction monitoring for the 30 000m 2 green office park .
The architects and landscape architects ( Boogertman + Partners and The Gardeners , respectively ), exercised their aesthetic muscle to bring a modern look with a South African taste .
DESIGN CRITERIA Although not as glamourous as other building services , wet services forms an intricate part of the office environment . As South Africa barrels down to an increasingly water-scarce region , WSP was to ensure that minimal water is wasted . Moreover , where it was achievable , WSP had to design systems that would capture rain and groundwater to be re-used . Emira shared the same sentiments and together with WSP Sustainability Consultants , looked for ways to not only save water but also use it as efficiently as possible .
The wet services system comprises the internal plumbing and drainage system for the office ablutions of all three buildings and HVAC condensate drainage . Emira required a three-day storage capacity for the potable water that would serve Phase 1 offices from a domestic storage plant . Furthermore , Emira required no hot water in ablutions ; instead , as a compromise , to provide a cyclist facility with showers , to serve the entire office park ’ s tenants .
WATER HARVESTING Although WSP explored the possibility of water harvesting with Emira , the difficulty was to introduce a separate plant . In addition , there would be a double piping system , which would have been difficult to co-ordinate , especially with the waste and soil water separation . Moreover , latest regulations stipulate that an environmental impact assessment ( EIA ) would be required , as well as approval from council for these systems . As a viable compromise , the team settled for a rainwater harvesting system that would serve the park ’ s irrigation . The landscaper would then use plant life that was already on the park or bring in indigenous plants that require little water .
Although the majority of the concrete slabs were constructed , there was no dedicated plant room for the rainwater harvesting plant .
Some of the installation of the cold water plant .
All photos by WSP
Continued on page 61 >>
www . plumbingafrica . co . za August 2018 Volume 24 I Number 6