WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff Africa, one of Africa’s largest multi-disciplinary engineering consultancies, has achieved a six star rating for its Nobelia Office Tower in Kigali, Rwanda. Not only is this the first Six Star rated green building in Rwanda, but on the entire continent outside of South Africa.
Nobelia Office Tower, will be a 19-storey tower, of which 16 floors will be dedicated to office space. With a total gross floor area of 11 469m2, the building site is on previously developed land, to prevent urban sprawl. The project owner is lobbying for funding to proceed with construction.
Eloshan Naicker, sustainability consultant with the company says: “The owner’s brief was for a design that would set the bar for green buildings in the country – and we have certainly met that brief.”
Eudes Kayumba, Green Building Council of Rwanda said: “We are aiming to use Nobelia Office Tower as the benchmark for all future green buildings in Rwanda and the Central East African region.”
As the Green Building Council in Rwanda is in its infancy, a local context report had to be developed to establish the groundwork for the Green Star and set the appropriate standards for the climate and environment in Rwanda.
Some of the innovative and significant sustainable features of this building include:
1.Volcanic ash, widely available within Rwanda, was substituted for imported materials to reduce cement’s CO2 footprint.
2.The building’s façade is made of a polycarbonate mesh structure that allows plants to grow under it. Vegetation can grow over the mesh, creating natural shading. Also, the entire façade is manufactured for 100% disassembly – for reuse or recycling.
3.Sophisticated HVAC system had to be incorporated to dehumidify the fresh air, which will be distributed through hollow-core floor slabs, where the air is fed at floor level, displacing the air in the room and extracting it at ceiling level.
4.Onsite waste management needed to address as all organic waste will be used to create compost onsite.
5.An onsite water treatment system results in a 90% total reduction of water discharge.
6.A 430 panel PV installation generating 198 804kWh/year will reduce the building’s peak energy demand building by 53.4%.
7.All usable areas have 100% LED fittings, with intuitive daylight sensors as well as occupancy sensors.
8.No formaldehyde products, or ozone depleting products, will be used in the construction of this building.
More information from Elaine Porter Tel: 011 300 6095 Email: elaine.porter@wspgroup.co.za / www.wspgroup.com; www.pbworld.com.
