An artist impression of the Chevron building to be built at Century City
Chevron South Africa plans to relocate its South African headquarters to Century City. The group has acquired a gateway site at Century City from the Rabie Property Group on which it is to build a new 9000 square metre green head office. The building is being designed by Louis Karol Architects who were up against three other shortlisted architectural firms in a design competition. Construction is due to start in the first half of 2012 with completion scheduled for end 2013.
The new Chevron head office is to be built according to environmentally friendly principles and is aiming for Green Star SA certification from the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA). If successful, this will be the second building at Century City to receive Green Star SA certification. The first was the Aurecon building, which was developed by the Rabie Group and which was not only the first certified green building in the Western Cape but was the first building in South Africa to be awarded a 5 Star Green Star SA – Office Design v1 rating by the GBCSA.
John Chapman, a director of Rabie Property Group, said they were delighted to welcome Chevron South Africa to the Century City family. “Their building will be the first office block to be built in a new 150 000 square metre office node at Century City to be known as Bridgeways and which is already home to the Virgin Active Health Club and the Hillsong Church”
Chapman said Rabie was looking at developing Bridgeways as a “green” precinct and would be implementing measures to provide a base measure to assist environmentally conscious corporates achieve accreditation for their green buildings in the future. In this regard, provision had been made for a multi-tiered parking facility which will allow tenants and owners additional affordable parking within close proximity to these offices.
He said a further two office blocks, each of around 4000 square metres, were also currently in the planning stages for the precinct which is in easy walking distance of not only the Virgin Active, Ratanga Junction and Canal Walk but also the convenience retailing and restaurants of the Colosseum, and the five star dining and spa facilities of the African Pride Crystal Towers Hotel and Spa.
The site of the Chevron head office faces onto Century City Boulevard, the main thoroughfare of Century City, and is directly opposite the Colosseum and the planned bus station for the Bus Rapid Transit System which is expected to be extended to Century City by the end of 2012.
It is also in easy walking distance of one of Century City’s two Public Transport Interchanges for those commuters relying on bus or taxi services as well as the Century City Station.”
