GBCSA - SA

Project: Green Building Council South Africa office, Cape Town, South Africa

Country/city: South Africa/ Cape town

Architect: Green Building Council South Africa

Photographer: Rodger Bosch

The sound quality of the space in the open plan desking area is really quite incredible, almost like a concert hall, quiet and clear even when there is so much activity going on in the adjoining kitchen and informal meeting areas.
Donne Putter, Architect, Green Building Council South Africa

Leading by example
The Green Building Council South Africa (GBCSA) leads the transformation of the South African property industry to ensure that buildings are designed, built and operated in an environmentally sustainable way. They moved into their own new offices in Cape Town at the end of 2013. Ecophon got involved in the fit-out of their new office premises and collaborated with the acoustic engineer and the architect to secure that the room acoustic comfort was included as a crucial part of the sustainable workplace design for this leading organisation. A combination of Gedina, Akusto Wall and Solo panels were installed and created an effect that went beyond everyone’s expectations.

“When the Ecophon panels were included in the design, I thought Wow, what a great extra! But honestly they have added so much more to the quality of the space both from an acoustic as well as an aesthetic perspective than I would have expected,” says Donne Putter, Architect at GBCSA. "I would not consider excluding them in any future design and would highly recommend them for any project wanting to create a high quality working environment."

Sustainable acoustics that fits the activities taking place

The new, completely open-plan space had to cater for a range of activities; both collaboration between colleagues but also a fair degree of focus work.

“The Ecophon panels have completely changed the way that one experiences this potentially extremely distracting environment. The sound quality of the space in the open plan desking area is really quite incredible, almost like a concert hall, quiet and clear even when there is so much activity going on in the adjoining kitchen and informal meeting areas. One is able to very easily hear what is being said without any trouble which means people tend to keep conversation volumes low without feeling like they need to whisper,” says Donne.

The GBCSA is in the process of attaining the highest Green Star rating for their new office as they want to set an example for new and refurbished buildings in South Africa.