Johannesburg’s affluent suburb of Bryanston is experiencing an upsurge in the number of businesses moving to the area, resulting in an increase in office developments currently under construction.
Uhlmann says The Crossing and Culross on Main offer suitable tenants the advantage of a prominent and convenient location.This is according to Mark Uhlmann of Barrow Properties, who says in recent years, there has been a noticeable trend towards an increase in demand from businesses seeking to relocate, and these are adding to numerous existing office buildings along Main Road and William Nicol.
Uhlmann says this stretch of Bryanston along Main Road is rapidly becoming Africa’s own Silicon Valley, due to the many leading technology and communications companies operating in the vicinity.
“Since its early beginnings in the 1940s, the northern Johannesburg suburb of Bryanston has been sought after among residential property investors,” he says.
“More than 70 years on, and the area has retained its appeal, seen solid increases in its residential property values, and now appeals to both residential and commercial property investors,” he says.
Uhlmann says Bryanston currently has over 560 000sqm of office space, with more land available for development.
Culross on Main office park, which was completed in 2013, brought to the local market 7 000 rentable square metres of A-Grade office space.
The park is currently fully tenanted, and on the back of the positive demand for the office space, Barrow Properties is expanding Culross on Main to include an additional building of 2 400sqm scheduled for completion by mid-2016.
The group was also behind Metmar’s new head office, Corner Main, situated opposite the Dimension Data Campus and across the road from Culross on Main.
Uhlmann says another development is nearing completion, The Crossing, located close to the new Virgin Active gym at 1 Cross Road Bryanston, will be ready for occupation on 1 October.
Asking rentals are R153 per square metre plus assessment rates.This development is situated in a prime location in Bryanston at the busiest intersection of Main Road and William Nicol. It comprises 4 765sqm of rentable office area. It is also topographically the highest point in the general area, and enjoys visibility and views northwards towards the Magaliesberg.
The building is three storeys in height, with two full parking basements below. This provides a total of 239 parking bays at a healthy ratio of 5 bays per 100sqm of rentable area, he says.
According to M/Architects, the design of the building is modern and bold. Clean planes define the architecture and extensive use is made of flush glazing on the north and south facades. A dramatic entrance canopy announces the approach to the building with extensive visitor parking outside the entrance.
The features of the design are the courtyards at ground level, with sliding doors spilling out onto rest areas for office workers amid planters and seating. Another feature of the design is a large terrace at second floor level which looks out both west and north over Johannesburg, as far as the Magaliesberg mountains.
The terrace will become an entertainment area for the building and will include a kitchen and bar. Again, extensive use is made of sliding doors permitting access from the offices onto this terrace area.
The building has been designed with energy efficiency in mind, and high-performance glass is used throughout. The building is also designed for a VRV central air-conditioning system which is currently the most energy-efficient option available.
Intelligent sensors will be used throughout, as well as LED lighting. The west sun is managed by means of solid facades which will insulate the interiors of the offices against overheating. This provides for exceptional signage opportunities facing Main Road.
DDV Landscape Design Group (Pty) Ltd has prepared an extensive landscaping plan. This plan uses indigenous vegetation as well as a dramatic water feature at the main entrance.
Uhlmann says The Crossing and Culross on Main offer suitable tenants the advantage of a prominent and convenient location, nearby retail amenities, a backup water supply and full diesel generator standby power at competitive rentals.
Asking rentals are R153 per square metre plus assessment rates.
For more information, contact 011 727 3600.
