The third phase of Atterbury’s Club development is in full swing, with the building to house the advocates chambers taking shape amid the dust and drama of construction. Wiehan Strydom gives the low-down on the exciting new energy this will bring into the precinct.
How far is phase 3 of the Club now? How long to go until the new building is finished?
Site handover to the contractor was done at the beginning of July and we plan on opening the advocates chamber building on 1 November 2017, together with the structured parking. The construction of the planned medical building and residential units will follow later and the dates are yet to confirmed.
What are the specs of the new building?
The advocates’ building is a total of 5 500 sqm and comprises ground floor plus four more floors.
Can you tell us more about the client?
Back in 2008 Atterbury built offices for the advocates chambers at Brooklyn Bridge. The rest of Pretoria’s advocates stayed behind in the city, and a large number of them are now moving to The Club. It is more central, and in a prestigious part of Pretoria, right across from the Pretoria Country Club. There are 119 offices that will be occupied, 20 typists’ offices, arbitration rooms and boardrooms.
What is the significance of having the advocates chambers as a tenant for Atterbury?
Aside from the fact that there is continuity after the 2008 project, this is a highly sought-after, A-grade tenant that will fit right in with the ambience of the development. Having the advocates chambers here differentiates the development from pure retail and commercial, and because the chambers attract many daily visitors, the retail and other activities in the precinct will benefit from that.
What are the particular challenges of this part of the development?
Dealing with the advocates and their expectations are already challenging as they are very discerning clients, but add to that the dust and noise and limited parking that go hand in hand with the construction and we have our work cut out for us! We will manage and contain the impact of ongoing construction within reasonable limits throughout the duration of the contract. The majority of tenants are extremely positive about what the finished precinct will offer, so it is worth the current discomfort.
Aside from the advocates, who will be the tenants in the new phase? What do the people working in the area have to look forward to once everything is completed?
For the precinct we are planning a gym, a medical building with a day clinic and consultation rooms, a pharmacy, structured parking, 15 residential units and more offices. Watch this space!
