Speculation and interest surrounding the nature of the iconic, concrete tower structure situated along the N1 highway near Allandale interchange, have recently peaked. This tower constitutes the central shaft of the new landmark 26-storey PwC headquarters building that is being constructed in Waterfall City for the owner Attacq by property developer Atterbury. This is the first high-rise development in Africa’s booming new corporate headquarter destination.
Aerial view of the 26-floor PcW tower overlooking Attacq's Mall of Africa and the landscaped lawns of Waterfall City.The central tower of the construction is already drawing attention. Motorists driving along the N1 should also be on the lookout for the #Rise Get Behind Your Team banner being showcased on the middle section of the building shaft. Attacq proudly supports the South African Olympic team and the banner encourages all citizens to get behind the South African athletes, who will be competing in the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games from 5 August to 21 August this year.
The R1.5 billion skyscraper comprising 40 000sqm of modern offices, is designed to house about 3 500 PwC employees in an efficient, optimally designed workplace. The tower is being developed in a prime location overlooking the rapidly expanding Waterfall City, the landscaped park areas and the 131 000sqm Mall of Africa super-regional shopping centre, which are both under development and set to open in 2016.
The PwC development marks the consolidation of various Gauteng offices to a central headquarters for the leading accounting and business services provider. “The office consolidation enables PwC and a number of other large businesses that are moving their corporate headquarters to Waterfall City to reap the business efficiencies and cost benefits of being in a central easily accessible Gauteng location,” says Morné Wilken, Chief Executive Officer of Attacq.
The construction for the new PwC building began in the first quarter of 2015. The project is well under way and expected to take 36 months, scheduled for completion in early 2018.
Waterfall City is South Africa’s largest urban concept development, designed to provide everything expected of a world-class modern city, with all the conveniences of a leading-quality urban environment. Waterfall City is strategically and conveniently located next to Gauteng’s main arterial route, the N1 between Pretoria and Johannesburg, and spans land on both sides of the N1 highway, stretching from the Woodmead off-ramp in the south to just beyond the Allandale interchange in the north.
The PwC Tower is designed by LYT Architecture and will be constructed in phases, due to the unique twist-design of the structure. It gently twists through in its height to frame the grand urban park, which forms the green heart of Waterfall City. The building is also designed to conform to the internationally recognised Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) silver standard.
Guy Steenekamp, a director at LYT Architecture says: “The brief for the PwC Tower at Waterfall City called for an iconic building form that would be unique to the development and which would mark the property as a new top tier destination for business. Given the height of the building and that it is situated on a hillside rise in Waterfall City, it will easily be the tallest structure on the corridor between the Sandton CBD and the Pretoria/Tshwane CBD. The PwC Tower will be visible from almost anywhere within a 30km radius.”
Waterfall City is a true work, live, play destination. “The landscaped lawns of Waterfall City will provide lush green space and is positioned atop five levels of super-basement, which are already under construction, and encircled by the bustling Waterfall City, with its mixed-use development including offices, as well as the mall itself,” says Wilken.
“The attractive lawns will provide a landscaped playground for a multitude of outdoor activities and a venue for recreation options, including an intimate amphitheatre with an interactive fountain and stage area,” adds Wilken.
“We are proud to work with PwC as the developer of its new head office, which is set to become a landmark building for South African business in Attacq’s pioneering Waterfall City,” says Jeanne Jordaan, Atterbury Property’s Director of Commercial Development, emphasises.
In addition to PwC, the burgeoning Waterfall City continues to attract leading businesses, including Servest and Colgate Palmolive, Cell C, Group 5, Altech, Digistics, Massbuild, Cipla, Golder & Associates, MB Technologies, Virgin Active, Premier Foods, Dräger S.A, Westcon Group, Novartis, Covidien, Cummins and Honda Motor SA. Atterbury has offices at Waterfall City and Attacq’s head office is also based there. Waterfall also features a Netcare Hospital.
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