AECOM has inaugurated its new KwaZulu-Natal head office in Umhlanga Ridge, believed to be the first building in Durban to have achieved a five Green Star rating from the Green Building Council of South Africa.
The building’s four Green Star rating for interior design was expected to be ratified within the next couple of weeks, according to Imraan Mahomed, Business Unit Lead for Buildings & Places in the Durban hub. He was speaking at the official inauguration of the head office on the evening of Tuesday 12 April 2016.
This proactive approach to sustainability and energy efficiency was emblematic of the innovation and passion that AECOM brought to the built environment in the province.
“In line with our economy’s key theme of growth, Durban is poised to grow substantially over the next couple of decades. AECOM’s values, professionalism and technical expertise are very much aligned with this.
“Today we are more than just consulting engineers, architects and quantity surveyors. From master planning through to feasibility design and detailed engineering design on all discipline fronts, to contract delivery via alternative mechanisms such as EPC and EPCM, we are a true partner to our clients,” Mahomed asserted.
“The vision of the City of Durban is to be the most liveable and caring city in South Africa by 2030. AECOM’s expertise is key in delivering this vision, both in the public and private sector, whether that be projects related to the provision of basic water and sanitation, or roads in rural areas, right through to high-end private-sector development in the regeneration of our CBD, commercial, retail and tourism projects, all the way to the delivery of the Commonwealth Games in 2022.”
Carlos Poñe, newly-appointed Chief Executive – Africa commented that the ongoing development of Durban played a critical role in the promotion of the tourism industry in KwaZulu-Natal. Poñe added that AECOM was also playing a vital role in mitigating the impact of the recent ongoing drought in South Africa. “We have a team of scientists and engineers here that is world-class.”
Steve Morriss, Chief Executive for Europe, India, Middle East and Africa, hailed the inauguration of the Durban hub as a historic milestone for the company. “It is a physical manifestation of our commitment to this city, country and continent. We anticipate to grow our business in Durban significantly.”
Morriss concluded that the Durban office would provide expert support for AECOM worldwide, with South Africa as the centre of its expansion into Africa.