Inospace, the country’s leading owner of last-mile logistics parks, says it has acquired the historic Telkom building at 15 Lower Long Street in Cape Town’s Foreshore.
It marks a strategic expansion of Inospace’s urban logistics and last-mile delivery network into the heart of Cape Town, the group said.
Inospace leases and sells industrial, logistics, storage and office space in serviced logistics parks with a range of added value business benefits.
Originally constructed in the early 1970s on reclaimed land in the Foreshore district, the building initially functioned as a post office and the central telephone exchange for South African Post and Telecommunications, which oversaw communication services nationwide.
For years, the building stood relatively isolated, surrounded by parking lots and the nearby Imperial Cold Storage facility.
By 2004, the post office had moved, and Telkom repurposed the building as a dedicated telephone data centre. However, advancements in technology rendered much of the facility redundant, leading to its eventual sale to Inospace.
Although many Capetonians have never set foot inside the building, it is often considered an unappealing relic of the apartheid era. Nevertheless, it stands as an example of Brutalist architecture, a style characterised by bold, geometric forms and extensive use of concrete.
This has spurred a lively debate on social media about whether the building should be preserved as part of the city’s heritage.
Advocates of preservation argue that the building is a key element of Cape Town’s architectural legacy. Brutalist structures, while controversial due to their imposing designs, are viewed by some as valuable historical artefacts.
Despite this, many developers favour more modern designs. Still, a growing movement supports safeguarding such historic buildings to maintain the city’s architectural diversity.
Despite the ongoing debate, Rael Levitt, CEO of Inospace, said the building as a prime candidate for revitalisation.
“We recognise the historical significance of the Telkom building, but at the same time, we’re excited to give it a new lease on life. We aim to merge its Brutalist identity with modern functionality, converting it into a flagship logistics and data centre hub serving Cape Town’s growing demand for data, business storage, and last-mile delivery,” Levitt said.
With its nine stories, including underground parking, retail, and office spaces on the lower floors, the building is well-suited to Inospace’s urban logistics model.
Five floors feature 6-metre-high floor plates, making them ideal for storage and logistics operations, while the top floor provides premium office space with sweeping views of Cape Town and the V&A Waterfront.
The building’s high load-bearing capacity and robust power infrastructure are among its key assets. “We plan to invest significantly in upgrading and repurposing the building to meet the city’s growing demand for urban logistics and storage solutions,” Levitt added.
"With 13,500 square meters of space, we will deliver a facility that’s not only highly competitive but also well below the rental cost of typical industrial buildings."
Soon to be renamed the City Exchange, the building offers prime visibility and accessibility. Positioned across from the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) and bordered by four streets, it enjoys excellent connectivity to key transport routes, making it an ideal location for last-mile delivery operations.
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