Growthpoint Properties has initiated a green office refurbishment of its 36 Hans Strijdom Building, the Cape Town headquarters of Ninety One, reaffirming both companies' commitment to the Cape Town CBD and sustainability.
Ninety One, a global investment manager with South African roots, has been based in the Growthpoint-owned building on the Cape Town Foreshore for over two decades.
After evaluating several office options, including new construction, Ninety One chose to remain at 36 Hans Strijdom, driven by its net-zero carbon aspirations.
Growthpoint welcomed this decision, committing to an extensive green revamp as Ninety One signed a 15-year lease for the building’s entire 12,800 sqm of lettable area. Growthpoint's net-zero goal aims for carbon neutrality by 2050.
Paul Kollenberg, Growthpoint's head of Asset Management: Offices, stated: “At Growthpoint, we are thrilled to continue our longstanding partnership with Ninety One. Remodelling this landmark building to the highest environmental standards is a testament to our mutual vision for a more sustainable future.”
The refurbishment of 36 Hans Strijdom focuses on sustainability over aesthetics, delivering a lower-carbon building with most changes visible inside. Significant embodied carbon is being salvaged by re-using the entire building structure.
Eco-friendly improvements include an on-site solar plant, energy-efficient displacement air conditioning, and high-performance glazing. Energy-hungry escalators will be replaced by circulation stairs to reduce power consumption.
Notably, 36 Hans Strijdom was the first building in Cape Town to receive clean, green energy wheeled via the city’s energy grid, part of the City of Cape Town’s wheeling pilot project.
This is possible through Growthpoint’s partnership with licensed electricity trader Etana Energy, a selected pilot participant. Solar energy generated at Growthpoint’s The Constantia Village shopping centre is already being exported for use at Ninety One's long-term home.
Growthpoint’s investment in this green refit underscores its belief in the value of the Cape Town CBD and the power of projects like this to support sustainable built environments. Growthpoint owns 360,000 sqm of offices in the Western Cape.
“Choosing to refurbish rather than relocate cements our commitment to a vibrant Cape Town CBD,” said Thabo Khojane, MD of Ninety One. “At the same time, it was imperative for us to ensure we inhabit a more energy-efficient environment in line with our drive to achieve net zero by 2050.”
Commenting on their decision to sign a 15-year lease for the entire lettable area, Khojane said: “Ninety One is a growing global business. This building has the space to accommodate a growing staff complement, as we’re increasingly onshoring many of our global roles for South Africans, thus creating much-needed jobs locally.”
Construction will take approximately 12 months to complete, with the building’s milestone installation of its new flush-glazed facade taking place in the final quarter of this year. Ninety One has relocated to temporary offices for the construction period and will return to its greener home upon completion, which is scheduled for July 2025.
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