Bulk earthworks for the 42 500 m2 property that hosts auditing and consulting firm Deloitte South Africa’s new Gauteng office are excepted to start in August, with construction expected to start in the fourth quarter of this year.

Property development company Atterbury announced last month that it had been awarded the tender to develop the project, beating 14 other applicants.

Atterbury – a leading South African property investment and development business – will be developing the new Deloitte Gauteng office on behalf of a 50:50 joint venture between co-owners Atterbury and JSE-listed real estate capital growth fund Attacq Limited.

“We are thrilled to win this tender in a highly competitive environment, once again highlighting Atterbury’s ability to provide a deep understanding of Deloitte’s business and property strategies and to develop solutions to help achieve them,” Atterbury CEO and cofounder Louis van der Watt said at the time.

He added that the company looked forward to working with Deloitte, and that this development continued Atterbury’s record of creating flagship corporate head offices and “top-quality real estate assets for leading national and international blue-chip businesses.”

Deloitte’s new premises will be developed in the sought-after location of Waterfall, in Midrand, Gauteng, joining a number of leading corporates consolidating their operations in what is fast becoming South Africa’s leading business destination in the megalopolis that spans Johannesburg, Pretoria and Ekurhuleni. The total estimated development cost is in excess of R1-billion.

Deloitte Africa COO Mike Jarvis noted in the joint statement: “The consolidation of our Johannesburg and Pretoria offices into one Gauteng office in Waterfall City promises to be an exciting journey. We are quickly outgrowing both existing office spaces and are now in a position to bring together [about] 3 700 of our people into one, new, custom-designed building in what is clearly an attractive corporate destination.”

He commented that the firm is constantly looking for ways in which its people can make a meaningful impact for their clients and the communities they serve, stating that “this move will help us do exactly that by gearing our operations to attract the best talent and serve our expanding market”.

The “ultramodern” premises will consolidate Deloitte’s current Woodmead and Pretoria offices in a single central location. The building has capacity for close to 5 000 people.

Atterbury noted that the office will be situated in a prime position right on the Allandale interchange of the N1 highway. “The offices will boast exceptional access and visibility, with a major highway frontage at the eastern side of the bustling and burgeoning Waterfall City.”

The new premises will consist of a ground floor with six storeys of offices and four basement parking levels, including nearly 2 000 parking bays. The premises were designed by commercial architecture practice Aevitas, and will comply with a Silver leadership in energy and environmental design Green Rating on completion.

The property development company commented that green building is about designing, building and operating buildings in a sustainable way, and producing environmentally innovative workspaces that promote productivity and wellbeing. “Green buildings are proven to be cost effective and have meaningful impacts in mitigating against climate change. In this way, its new Gauteng office complements Deloitte’s purpose to make an impact that matters.”

Atterbury commercial and industrial director Coenie Bezuidenhout added: “This is a culmination of a combined effort of the multidisciplinary team of experts within our Atterbury team, backed by our competitive deal-making acumen. We look forward to welcoming Deloitte to its new premises.”

The development will be complete in the first quarter of 2020. Deloitte will begin operating from its new South African base from April 2020.