in Property Development in the Industrial Development category for its first joint venture with Investec Property Group on a turnkey development for pharmaceutical giant Fresenius Kabi.
Announced at the SAPOA Convention at Sun City, the award was in recognition of a project which has contributed to the high standard of property development in Southern Africa. One of the unique aspects of the development was the successful integration of three totally separate uses, a custom-built head office for Fresenius Kabi SA, a high tech laboratory and a warehouse for pharmaceutical products.
Located in Growthpoint Business Park, Midrand, the building was designed and constructed to meet the specific space requirements of Fresenius Kabi, for a 10 year lease period.
Investec Property Group managed the project on behalf of owners Growthpoint in a partnership that has enhanced Growthpoint's capability to offer the prospective tenant a comprehensive development service.
The Fresenius Kabi building consists of a 3,150m² office facility including a laboratory component, and a 3,750m² warehouse. The development was completed in nine months at a cost of approximately R20 million.
The result of the development is an aesthetically impressive head office building for the blue-chip international pharmaceutical company, which maximises its highway frontage through unique lighting, ensuring prime visibility around the clock.
Architect Chris Steel of CSAR Architects, specialists in commercial and Industrial head offices, created a relationship between the prominent glass panels and building to maximise visibility and exposure for brand while ensuring the building remained functionally elegant and economically appropriate.
Specific space requirements for the warehouse component included flooring strength and height clearance criteria.
Rudolf Pienaar, Fund Manager (Commercial and Industrial) for Growthpoint Properties Limited said: “This project started with a dream and ended with a team. The vision became a reality when our Growthpoint Board financed it, our tenant, Fresenius Kabi SA bought into it and Investec Property Group project managed it. An unique cooperation between Chris Steel, the architect and Andre van Eeden, Investec Property Group project manager ensured the client’s expectations were met.
Philip Morkel, Exco Member of Fresenius Kabi and responsible for the supply chain and operations of the company, said: “The design and final product is exactly what we had envisaged and all our requirements were met 100%. Whatever was discussed and agreed around the table in the pre-development stage was what was produced in the final product – even the agreed cost was the final cost.”
“Growthpoint is now able to develop tailor-made premises for its clients, from initial site selection to the final stages of completing the finishes," said Pienaar.
Growthpoint Business Park consists of 23 buildings with a gross lettable area of approximately 62,000m².
There are still two remaining stands available for similar developments, from site selection to final interior design, within the business park.