Grundfos Head Office

PROJECT
Grundfos
Head Office
The building is an iconic architectural statement,
reflecting the Grundfos worldwide ethos
GRUNDFOS HEAD OFFICE
Germiston
CLIENT
Grundfos
DEVELOPER
Growthpoint
PRINCIPAL AGENT
Aurecon
ARCHITECTS
Empowered Spaces
QUANTITY SURVEYORS
AECOM
CONSULTING ENGINEERS:
STRUCTURAL, CIVIL,
MECHANICAL, ESD
Aurecon
ELECTRICAL
Conscius
FIRE
Specialised Fire Technology
(SFT)
MAIN CONTRACTOR
WBHO
TEXT & PHOTOGRAPHS
Empowered Spaces
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G
rundfos’ new headquarters are located on one of the most prominent sites in
Germiston/ Ekurhuleni, at the junction of the N1 and R24 highways, which means
great exposure potential. With the site on a freeway intersection, exposed to the main
route to the ‘OR Tambo international airport’, it was imperative that an iconic architectural
statement, reflecting the Grindfos worldwide ethos, was reflected.
Design
Grundfos was intimately involved in the design and aesthetic that they wished to portray. While
the site is owned and developed by Growthpoint Properties, it incorporates both the new head
office (3,000m2) and a warehouse (6,500m2) for Grundfos South Africa. From the start, it was
envisioned that the head office should be green and that a 4- star Green Star rating would be
targeted. With this in mind, every decision was made in consideration of the environment.
The office block is conceptually constructed from two inter-connecting blocks around a
central full- height atrium, and consists of two office levels over a ventilated basement level.
Using insulated concrete roofs, brick walls and a large span of glazing, the design had to stay
true to Grundfos’ unique global architectural language, but also incorporate a South African
impression. Linking this high end office development to a functional industrial space was a
big challenge, to ensure both an aesthetic and functional integration. This was ensured by
Empowered Spaces Architecture who created the contemporary style.
Unique Features
There are a number of unique features, the most distinctive of which are the two white boxes
that intersect to form the main entrance with the glass façades cut from it. The main entrance
is another statement space, although fairly challenging in that the natural ground level was
2,5m lower than the ground- floor entrance. It was decided to have access from all directions
and to break up the entry into various levels to make the height difference less noticeable for
the visitor approaching the entrance.
Grundfos South Africa
The prominent orange façade is created
from the vertical shading louvres made up of
Grundfos’ solar panels and mesh. The mesh was
created to allow enough shading onto the glass,
yet keep good views to the outside. The louvres
also harness the west sun by means of solar
panels, which generate the electricity to run the
filtration system for the building. Aaesthetically,
this is the architects’ favourite feature, and it’s
also the view that one gets from the freeway. The
water feature also stands out and is a reference
to Grundfos, the biggest pump supplier in the
world. It is made up of slabs sliding past each
other, penetrating out of the ground - a subtle
reference to geological dynamics with water
pumped through.
Exterior & Interior Finishes
Lynne Blumberg Interior Design took on the
challenge of the exterior and interior finishes,
which also had to stay true to the worldwide
Grundfos buildings and Green Building Council
regulations. The colour palette consists of
shades of crisp white, warm charcoal and black,
injected with the bold Grundfos blue, dynamic
red and fresh lime. The clean, powerful lines
of the building are reinforced in the reception
Grundfos South Africa
area, which is also home to a floating reception
desk. A glass image of a raging waterfall,
backlit with LED strip lighting against watery,
silver porcelain, showcases the magnificently
designed Grundfos pumps. Oversized palms,
bold Grundfos blue seating, white swivel chairs,
a trio of stainless- steel low- slung coffee tables
and Nguni hides, complete the picture. Large
pumps are used as pieces of art, creating an
integrative sculpture display area, which in turn
leads to the atrium.
A water- jet feature and a largely green space
are surrounded by oversized white umbrellas,
providing the perfect relaxation area. The atrium
is also a fully functioning water- recycling plant.
Further on, a funky, colourful canteen boasts
a glass graffiti wall. The space has certainly
been designed for both efficiency, and the
wellbeing of the staff, and this was important to
the company.
The architect believes that the project, as
a whole, has pretty much achieved what was
originally envisaged: improved ability to deliver
outstanding customer service, fantastic working
environment for their staff, maximum brand
exposure and - of course - the great engineering
and aesthetic of the actual building.
There are a number of
unique features, the
most distinctive of
which are the two white
boxes that intersect
to form the main
entrance with the glass
façades cut from it
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Lynne Blumberg Interior
Design took on the
challenge of the exterior
and interior finishes
Sustainable Initiatives
•The building is orientated south to allow
maximum light penetration with minimal heat
gain from the sun;
•Insulation used on all the roof slabs, under all
exposed concrete soffits and even of the glass
façades;
•Grundfos solar panels to generate enough
electricity to run the entire Grundfos waterfiltration system;
•Building designed to allow external views
and light penetration to 80% of the floor area,
reducing lighting requirements;
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•All lights to be low energy fittings, with light
and motion sensors;
•
Wind turbines on the roof to generate
electricity;
•All building materials guided by the Green
Building Council of South Africa Green Star
requirements - low VOC and 0% formaldehyde;
•Materials from demolished buildings on site
reused in the construction of the building;
•Landscaping requires almost no watering endemic to area;
•70% of construction waste redirected from the
Grundfos South Africa
ADVERTISERS ON THIS PROJECT:
AECOM
Quantity Surveyors
Afrisam South Africa
Manufacturers and suppliers
of concrete, readymix,
aggregate and premixes
Aurecon
Consulting structural, civil,
mechanical and EDS Engineers
Empowered Spaces
Architects
Grundfos
Client
Specialised Fire Technology
Fire Consultants
landfill due to reuse or recycling of the waste;
•Fresh air provided at a rate of 12.5l/s/p,
exceeding minimum regulatory requirements
by 150%;
•Daylight glare control via vertical fixed shading
devices;
•High frequency ballast provided for 100% of
usable area (UA);
•
Variable speed drives for mechanical
equipment installed to reduce operational
energy consumption;
• Heat pumps for domestic hot water production
Grundfos South Africa
for kitchen, emergency rooms and gym;
•Energy uses of 100kVA or greater submetered, and energy consumption effectively
monitored through the BMS;
•Dedicated parking spaces provided for fuelefficient vehicles;
•Cyclists’ facilities provided;
•Rainwater harvesting system present, with
treatment of water to drinking quality;
•Efficient water fittings;
•Water meters for all major water users;
•A recycling waste storage facility
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