Growthpoint Properties (JSE: GRT) has undertaken the major aesthetic refurbishment of its landmark office property at The Place at 1 Sandton Drive in Sandton Central, and its own Gauteng head office, which is in the building. The refreshed office building showcases amenity-rich flexible space and provides a glimpse into what the future of working looks like from an industry trailblazer.
Growthpoint’s new offices reflect the changing work environment and are designed to be conducive to the new way of working. They bring to life Growthpoint’s purpose of creating sustainable and innovative property solutions and reflect what this industry leader can achieve for its clients.
“Our people and our business are interdependent,” says Growthpoint SA CEO, Estienne de Klerk. “We want our offices to reflect our values and embody a healthy working environment where our staff enjoy spending their time in a workplace that supports them to be their best. This upgrade ensures that Growthpoint’s offices have adapted to the new world of working.”
For all tenants of The Place at 1 Sandton Drive, the refurbishment adds a wealth of sought-after shared amenities for businesses and their staff, which reduces private office space needs.
“The pandemic saw much speculation about whether offices will become a thing of the past, and certainly, the traditional cellular office spaces have fallen out of favour. But businesses globally, including our own, have instead been reminded of the pivotal role offices play in corporate culture and productivity,” reports Paul Kollenberg, Growthpoint Head of Asset Management: Office. “The upgrade of The Place at 1 Sandton Drive is our response to the changing role of the workplace. It is designed to optimise connections and collaboration, which is undoubtedly the way of the future.”
True to Growthpoint’s community values, in preparation for the renovation, it sought sustainable ways for this project to contribute to corporate social responsibility. It disposed of its old furniture by reusing it in satellite offices, donating it to non-profits and selling it to staff to raise R100,000 for Impilo Child Protection and Adoption Services, Genesis Safe Place, Meals on Wheels, Door of Hope, Home of Hope, She Stands Tall, Action Development Agency, and education support of Botshabelo and Thandanani.
The refurbishment also improved electricity consumption with energy-efficient lighting, and the energy performance of the building is being assessed for further environmentally innovative improvements.
Growthpoint worked with Paragon Interiors for the new lobby design at The Place and with Thinkspace for its new reception, meeting area and office interiors. Removing the hard divides between spaces to create an atmosphere that is more energised and connected was key to the design briefs for both areas.
The ground floor arrival area at The Place at 1 Sandton Drive has been defined to create a single welcoming point of entry for the building. However, once signed through the concierge point, which includes a waiting area and meeting pods, people can move freely around the new lobby area.
The previously cavernous lobby is dramatically changed and activated with multiple meeting, collaborating and working options, inviting people to connect informally and spontaneously. A new lobby coffee shop for the building will open this March.
A dedicated community manager is responsible for a programme of amenities, activities and events in the lobby that appeal to building users. Services vary from nail technicians and hairdressers to drycleaning, stationery, and health checks. Many of these amenities take the stress out of meeting the personal needs of tenants’ staff, while also supporting various small businesses.
Moving inside Growthpoint’s office space, the new reception and meeting area is open to the lobby, so the common amenities form part of its work ecosystem.
Instead of featuring Growthpoint’s signature ‘Midnight Cherry’, the unexpected colour palette in the public areas was carefully selected to set a nuanced tone. The result is an inviting space evocative of Growthpoint’s brand without being overly formal. The colours and rich textures in the furnishings balance “comfort and corporate” in this warm, appealing space.
Growthpoint’s new reception also introduces an easily updatable installation showcasing the impacts of its long-running corporate environmental, social and governance (ESG) initiatives.
“Growthpoint is best known for our property investments, but we also invest extensively in communities and the environment. The stories featured on our walls show the human side of our business, and we are incredibly proud to share them. They remind us how we are connected and inspire us to do more and be better. We hope they are conversation-starters about different aspects of Growthpoint for everyone at our offices,” says Nadine Briers, Head of Marketing and Communication for Growthpoint.
These stories are displayed around a new coffee bar with an in-house barista, stationed at Growthpoint’s front door, extending a hospitable welcome to staff and visitors alike.
Those familiar with Growthpoint ground-floor meeting areas will immediately notice a major change in the visibility of the vertical access. This continues a theme of creating strong connections within Growthpoint’s office space, which spans four floors of the building. Its exposed staircases also create opportunities for friendly nooks to pause and connect. The area is designed with the ability to see into meeting rooms, making it more energised.
Behind the scenes, Growthpoint’s newly renovated offices include a variety of different rooms and spaces for different purposes, from small private rooms from which to conduct online meetings, to lounge areas, desks, hot desks, stand-up desks, meeting pods, and pause areas.
“Our new offices showcase ways to optimise the collaborative and social elements that are vital for the workplaces of tomorrow. To do this, we introduced a variety of spaces, big and small, formal and relaxed -- all designed to promote interconnectivity and enhance communication between people, creating new opportunities to work more informally. The different spaces consider how people work in different pockets throughout the day and enable people to connect or work independently,” says de Klerk. “These spaces encourage the strategic thinking, brainstorming and discussion essential to advance the innovative and sustainable solutions we offer our clients and the value we create for our stakeholders.”
More change is still to come at The Place at 1 Sandton Drive. Less than six months ago, Growthpoint launched its agile ready-to-occupy office concept, WorkAgility, which has taken off on a tremendous trajectory, and garnered significant interest from businesses that want office strategies that support their performance, not detract from it. Growthpoint will be introducing a WorkAgility show unit at its iconic Sandton address, which will be ready for plug-and-play occupation in April 2023. In addition, the bathrooms on level B1 will also be upgraded to make them more amenable to people who cycle or run to work.
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ABOUT GROWTHPOINT PROPERTIES:
Growthpoint creates space to thrive with innovative and sustainable property solutions in environmentally friendly buildings while improving the social and material wellbeing of individuals and communities. It is an international property company invested in real estate and communities in South Africa and across the African continent, Australia, the UK and Eastern Europe. Growthpoint is 50% co-owner of the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town. Growthpoint is South Africa’s largest primary JSE-listed REIT. It is an established leader in commercial green developments and owns and manages the biggest portfolio of green-certified buildings in Africa.
Released by CATCHWORDS FOR:
Growthpoint Properties Limited
Nadine Briers, Head, Marketing & Communication
Tel: +27 (0) 11 944 6251
VISIT growthpoint.co.za for more information.
FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO BOOK AN INTERVIEW:
Bronwen Noble
083 453 6668
