Professional services firm PwC today announced that it had relocated to a new purpose-built building in the Ridgeside Office Park in La Lucia, on 4 January 2016.

The new building visibly and tangibly positions the firm as the market leader it is, with our clients and people.

Innovative green technology has been implemented to reduce the new building’s carbon footprint to provide a healthier and more productive environment, decrease the consumption of energy and other resources.

Kishore Kooverjee, PwC Durban Partner in Charge, said PwC and its more than 300 partners and staff had moved into the new office. The firm was previously based in Durban on the Berea.

“Our new address embodies our commitment to our clients, people and communities that we operate in. We have designed a ‘work place of the future’ that epitomises our ability as a firm to create and lead high performance teams that are capable of adding value.”

Kooverjee said the new office comes with a host of employee-and-client-friendly advantages, including more efficient use of space, better access to public transportation, as well as additional parking.

“We are very excited about the move. It will energise both our clients and staff.”

The newly constructed 4000m2 development by Hodari Properties Proprietary Limited is designed to be more economical, efficient,  and flexible for staff and clients. 

The building is located in the Ridgeside Precinct 3 estate, making it arguably one of the best corporate addresses in Durban. It provides some of the most scenic views from Umhlanga to Durban City to the Bluff.

The new building follows best practice in terms of energy efficiency, sustainability and green building principles, climate control and security. “We are committed to the environment and doing what we can is the right thing to do,” adds Kishore Kooverjee. “Innovative green technology has been implemented to reduce our carbon footprint to provide a healthier and more productive environment, decrease the consumption of energy and other resources.”

One of the highlights of this ‘building of the future’ is a thermal storage cooling plant, which reduces electricity usage in peak demand periods. The system works by freezing ice in tanks at low-demand times when electricity is plentiful and much cheaper, and using the ice for cooling at peak times instead of running the chiller. This will result in significant cost savings as well as assisting the economy by reducing pressure on the supply grid.

Other ‘green’ features include the installation of metering systems that monitor and manage electricity and water consumption; an acoustic design which maintains suitable internal noise levels; and a design that provides good daylight levels for building users. 

The building is designed to achieve a 4 Green -Star rating from the Green Building Council of South Africa for its sustainable initiatives.

In addition, the internal design is inspired by international norms with great attention to detail. Each internal area is unique and innovative, but functional. Although the work stations are compact, there will be plenty of space. Open spaces have also been introduced for high performance and glass panels for views while minimising passive solar gain and optimising daylight. Focus will be placed on creating a more inspiring and effective working environment conducive to even better collaboration. Workstations will capture the collaborative needs of the modern workplace.

The building will be equipped with a number of client meeting rooms, state-of the-art training room facilities and a client entertainment area on the roof terrace. While the interior design puts a focus on open-plan, employees will also be able to make use of pods with high-back chairs for informal meetings or discussions. In addition, staff and clients can break away from their work to the cafeteria and landscaped patio on the top floor. “We have created a stimulating environment in which employees can meet, exchange ideas, relax, as well as interact with clients,” says Kooverjee.

“This is an environment in which our staff will enjoy working â€" however, it goes beyond that of an office; it is a new lifestyle. We are confident that our new office will provide an excellent platform from which to further enhance our presence in the KZN region and extend our profile in Durban and to better service our clients across the wider region,” concludes Kooverjee.