Earlier this year it was announced that FNB Namibia Holdings’ @Parkside building achieved the first 4-Star Green Star design rating in Namibia and was aiming for an ‘As Built’ rating.
With further innovations, this has been achieved and the building was awarded a 5-Star Green Star Africa As Built rating by the Green Building Council – making it the first 5-Star rated building in Namibia and Africa, outside of South Africa.
Greg Rice, Sustainability Consultant, WSP Building Services Africa, says: “As the first As Built rating outside South Africa, this is a remarkable achievement for the sustainable construction industry in Africa. The As Built rating verifies that the building has been constructed and has been optimised to perform in the most efficient way possible, ensuring that the efforts put into design are carried through to completion.”
Comprehensive energy modelling – performed by WSP in the design phases – used the building specifications and efficiencies built into the design to evaluate the expected energy consumption of the building.
Sarel van Zyl, CEO of FNB Namibia Holdings, says: “Our building is the first As Built rated building outside South Africa, as well as the first 5 Star rating outside South Africa. This is a great achievement and a testament to hard work by the construction and operational team.”
Building owner, FNB Namibia Holdings, worked closely with WSP to identify further opportunities to increase the efficiencies and sustainability of the building. This process included the following:
- Community accessible bicycle racks, for use by building visitors and community members for nearby amenities.
- Significant energy savings as each light fitting in the office area is fitted with an occupancy sensor to reduce energy consumption or wastage where there are no occupants.
- Community trader stalls and amenities have been installed on the active street network along Independence Avenue, helping to revitalise the CBD and bringing tourists to the commercial zone of Windhoek.
- A Waste and Recycling Management Plan that addresses operational waste production, suitable storage and how operational waste is diverted from landfill for the life of the building.
- Inclusion of an access flooring system that contains recycled content, which is also fully recyclable after use.
“This is a comfortable 5-Star rating – at 64 points – and has pushed the boundaries of sustainable construction in Namibia, as the country continues its journey to a more sustainable and less harmful developing built environment,” concludes Rice.
More information from Elaine Porter, T: +27 11 300 6095 / E: elaine.porter@wsp.com
