BALWIN Properties is developing the R2bn Malakite Park in Greenstone Hill, which includes 50000m² of AAA-grade offices, a four-star residential hotel, The Malakite, and an upmarket sectional title residential development, Strelitzia, with 376 apartments.

Phase one of the office park will be completed by May next year. The entire office park is set for completion by the end of 2012. The hotel is planned for completion prior to the 2010 World Cup, and the residential units will be completed in five phases. The first phase will be handed over in June and the last phase by the end of next year.

The 12ha Malakite Park is part of the new node, the Greenstone Hill precinct, and close to retail draw cards — the 75000m² Greenstone Mall, the 55000m² Stoneridge Centre and Longmeadow Business Estate.

“This low-rise, low-density Malakite Office Park development complements and links with the retail, residential and business locales surrounding it,” says Rodney Gray, MD of Balwin Properties.

Malakite Park will have 13 office blocks, the hotel, conference facilities, franchised food outlets, a gym and a jogging track.

Malakite Park is situated at the confluence of the N3 highway — connecting Pretoria, western Johannesburg and Sandton with Bedfordview, Germiston and Alberton — and the R24, the main route from Johannesburg to OR Tambo International Airport.

Gray says Malakite Office Park will be developed in two phases, with the first, or southern, phase consisting of about 20000m² of flexible office space in six buildings sized from 2400m² over two storeys to 5735m² over four storeys.

The second phase will include about 30000m² of office space and incorporate the hotel and seven office buildings.

He says sustainability has been a concern from the park’s conception, and the design of the buildings is environmentally sensitive, with an efficient thermal envelope including energy-efficient lighting.

Balwin Properties chairman Steve Brookes says Malakite Park is also taking a responsible approach to water usage, including the harvesting of rainwater and recycling water. To overcome the challenges posed by the city’s infrastructure, standby power is available.

Source: Business Day