The new development for Barloworld Equipment consists of a head office and a world class showroom, housed in a series of elegant curved forms. The new campus, developed in conjunction with Eris Property Group, is currently under construction, with the showroom already completed and the head office completion date scheduled for end November 2019. The project was conceptualised as a series of iconic buildings nestled in an indigenous landscape, with the showroom facing the highway for maximum exposure. “The new head office buildings through its forward-looking design will deliver a productive agile working environment dedicated to employee wellbeing ensuring the Barloworld Equipment staff are able to provide exceptional customer performance.” states Emmy Leeka, CEO of Barloworld Equipment.
The head office, comprising of two elongated buildings linked by an enclosed glazed bridge, consolidates all corporate staff into one cohesive team here. Its design also encompasses flush-glazed strip windows, creating a tasteful floor-to-ceiling contemporary look; while the prevalence of glass in both buildings also ensures maximum sunlight, because of their purposeful North-facing orientation. This was mindful of green considerations, in minimising the need for artificial heating and lighting.And both the head office and showroom roof structures were designed to cater for photovoltaic panels.
In 2002, when speaking at the Barloworld centenary celebrations, the late President Nelson Mandela, described the partnership between the Barloworld Equipment and Caterpillar as “the builders of our economy” who helped “create the magnificent road network that connects places and people, to build dams for fresh water and to construct harbours and airports to open up South Africa to the rest of the world.”
Indeed, the entire head-office and showroom complex is designed with this kind of finely-tuned fusion of form with function in mind. And while not necessarily being created as a green building per se, this too has been taken into account. All the essentials are in place for a 3-Star Green-Star rating, including roofs that are purposefully strengthened to carry a variety of photovoltaic panelling, as well as water consumption and waste management systems.
Leeka says” Ultimately, this beautiful behemoth is living testament to what happens when inspired combinations come together to co-construct the monumental and co-create the iconic. It stands as a definitive symbol, not only of the historic past that Barloworld Equipment and Caterpillar share, but of their future together as bulwarks of development, who can unleash the power to build nations and tangibly transform lives.”
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