He says thanks to a host of clever ’green building’ features incorporated into the design, it will also be among the most environmentally friendly and provide the company with significant savings on its energy bills.
The two-storey, open-plan building has a south facing orientation which vastly reduces heat gain.
Maximum use will be made of natural light with floor to ceiling windows on the south and north facades. High performance glazing on 80 percent of the windows will help reduce glare and cut down on radiant heat.
External sun control on key exposed windows on north, east and west facades will prevent heat load.
A highly energy efficient chilled water air-conditioning system will be installed and the basement will be entirely naturally ventilated with no mechanical assistance required.
A high-tech building management system will optimise power usage and equipment control with motion sensors automatically switching lights on and off in zones outside of core office hours, depending on activity.
No escalators and few lifts will be required due to the low rise design.
The company is investigating the use of solar panels and the Eskom rebate scheme.
Rainwater will be harvested from the building and stored in tanks to irrigate the landscaped gardens which will comprise almost entirely of indigenous plants.
“We're excited at the prospect of moving into such a cutting edge, environmentally friendly new headquarters, purpose built with one primary aim in mind - to provide the optimal working conditions to serve our customers,” says Penwarden.
He says at SA Home Loans, they pride themselves in being totally open and transparent with their customers.
There are no hidden charges, no fine print to hide behind in the future, no unpleasant surprises –it’s an approach that's perfectly reflected in the open-plan, no barriers design of our new offices, he adds.