Balwin HQ Office highest ‘As-Built’ Green Rated Commercial Building in South Africa

Balwin Properties, recently announced that its Johannesburg headquarters, 105 Corlett Drive, achieved a Six-Star Green Star ‘As Built’ rating. This is the highest rating for any office building in South Africa, reflecting outstanding environmental standards.

According to Balwin CEO Steve Brookes, the ‘As Built’ Green Star rating, developed by the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA), assesses the actual performance and features of the building against initial design objectives. This comprehensive evaluation requires a minimum of 75 points to achieve a Six-Star rating. Balwin’s headquarters exceeded this benchmark, scoring an impressive 82 points, the highest ever for an ‘As Built’ office.

Acquired by Balwin in 2022, the building was extensively refurbished, increasing its gross lettable area to around 7,609 square meters and incorporating a range of green features. This Six-Star ‘As Built’ rating is the fifth sustainability accolade for the building, which also boasts a Six-Star Green Star rating for design, Net Zero Carbon and Net Zero Waste ratings, and a Level 1 waste diversion rating from landfill for all construction waste.

Balwin Managing Director Matthew Whalley highlighted the unique Net Zero waste rating, noting it had never before been achieved on a retrofit of this scale. The refurbishment also included a solar panel array, offsetting 40-50% of the building’s energy needs, and a supercapacitor to reduce generator reliance. Water-saving measures include rainwater harvesting for irrigation and low-flow water fittings.

Brookes emphasized that the corporate head office’s achievements align with Balwin’s commitment to sustainable development. This dedication is evident across Balwin’s portfolio, as the Group holds the title of the largest developer of IFC Edge and Edge Advanced apartments globally, with numerous certified units and 12 carbon-neutral lifestyle centers launched.

Additionally, Balwin’s green initiatives extend to homebuyers. Through its Green Bonds, Balwin has secured interest rate discounts of 0.25%-0.75% on home loans from major financiers, recognizing the lower carbon footprint of these developments. In the last financial year, this initiative saved Balwin homeowners a collective R80 million on 20-year bonds.

Balwin’s ongoing green efforts have not only delivered environmental benefits but also significant cost savings for both the Group and tenants, with the headquarters now fully occupied by tenants seeking eco-friendly workspaces.