GBCSA achieves 600 Green Star certifications, award winners announced

Green Building Council South Africa (GBCSA) announced during the recent virtual 13th Green Building Convention that it had reached the 600-mark in Green Star certifications.

“This is amazing. Thank you to everyone who supported us in reaching this milestone, it has been an amazing journey,” said GBCSA CEO Lisa Reynolds in her closing remarks. “This milestone is indicative of the growing momentum of green building in South Africa and a commercial property sector that is committed to sustainability.”

During the closing plenary of the convention, outgoing chair Ilse Swanepoel officially handed over the reins to incoming chair Giles Pendleton by “virtually” handing over the ceremonial knobkerrie to him.

Pendleton is the chief development officer at Attacq. He has over 23 years’ global experience in commercial property development in both public and private sector businesses. Prior to joining Attacq in 2018, he was based in Dubai and has worked for numerous prominent property sector companies across Africa, Australia, Europe and the Middle East.

GBCSA Annual Award winners

The winners of the GBCSA Annual Awards were also announced during the 13th Green Building Convention. The criteria for qualifying green projects are based on submission data gathered during the GBCSA’s Green Star certification process and the strength of the submissions. Individuals are nominated by the industry and their Green Star engagement is also taken into consideration.

Highest rated building

Winner

Old Mutual Mutualpark (Cape Town)
Six-star, Green Star – Existing Building Performance v1 rating
Project owner: Old Mutual | AP: Zoë Rushin (Old Mutual)

Runner-up

FormFunc Head Office (Johannesburg)
Six-star, Green Star – Interiors v1 rating
Project owner: Formfunc AP: Terramanzi

Best quality submission

Joint winners

Nicol Grove – Saatchi & Saatchi (Johannesburg)
Four-star, Green Star – Existing Building Performance v1 rating
AP: Claire Holton, Ecocentric | Project owner: Investec Property Fund

Woolands Office Park Buildings 1 to 8 (Johannesburg)
Four-star, Green Star – Existing Building Performance v1 rating
AP: Adrie Fourie, Aurecon (at the time of the project) | Project owner: Growthpoint

Runner-up

82 Maude (Johannesburg)
Four-star, Green Star – Existing Building Performance v1 rating
AP: Sally Misplon, Misplon Consulting | Project owner: Redefine Properties

Established Green Star

Winner

Francois Retief, Sow&Reap

Runner-up

Yovka Raytcheva-Schaap, Zutari

Rising Green Star

Winner

Catherine Luyt, Ecolution

Runner-up

Hlolo Manthose, WSP
Non-standard Awards: Net Zero

Winner

Hotel Nieu - First Level 2 carbon (modelled) and as well as net positive
AP: Zendrè Compion, Solid Green and founded by Anthony Fitzhenry and Paul Boshoff

Runner-up

House Balwin Ragaven - First Level 1 waste (measured) net positive waste;
AP: Marc Sherratt | Building owner: Dr Laurel Baldwin Ragaven