It’s been a big year for Atterbury and for our fearless leader Louis van der Watt, who talks us through why the move to the innovative new HQ is so significant…
It’s a time of change at Atterbury – not only are you devolving some of your responsibilities to a new deputy CEO, but you are moving your company’s headquarters across town. Is there any particular reason that 2017 is ringing in so much change?
Each guy handles his mid-life crisis differently. I turned 50 this year and maybe there are worse ways of handling a mid-life crisis than to build a new office! I think it is very important to have a succession plan in place. Atterbury has created an extremely strong and successful platform over the past 23 years, with a particular entrepreneurial, innovative culture. Armond Boshoff’s corporate background at RMB with his deal-making and negotiation skills, coupled with his recent MBA experience at Oxford University, will ensure that innovation remains at the forefront and carries Atterbury to the next level where major corporate deals are on the cards.
Atterbury builds such innovative headquarters for other companies, did that have anything to do with the decision to build a new one for yourself?
It is a trend to consolidate offices, for teams to work together more effectively. The decision was made to consolidate the Johannesburg and Pretoria offices – it’s important for the company culture that we operate from under one roof. Then of course we still have the satellite office in Stellenbosch to be hands-on with projects in the Western Cape, and Atterbury Europe, operating from The Netherlands.
Why the name Die Klubhuis?
We are proud of our Afrikaans heritage and what better way, considering our business, than to build a modern, new, innovative building that reflects everything that is forward-thinking and positive about South Africa in 2017, and give it an Afrikaans name? No-one else will do that, so we are proud to be able to add one, when increasingly Afrikaans names are lost from public structures. And we like being Die Klubhuis – the hub of The Club!
What are you most excited about in terms of the new office space? Paint a picture for us of what the new headquarters provide that improves on the old space.
I am excited about the level of innovation; it is by far the most unconventional building we’ve ever had a hand in, there are signature touches everywhere, and it was really designed and built to accommodate the Atterbury team and our particular, specific character. Nothing is conventional; it is an innovative space with state-of-the-art finishes. I want to congratulate the architect, Tony Hofman and his creative team, interior architect Gysbert van Graan from Reddeco and our long-standing interior decorator Wytske van Wyk and her Labarint Interiors team for their creative efforts.
We’ve heard that you don’t have a personal office. Why is that? Did you have any specific requirements for yourself in the new building?
My concentration span is too short to justify my own office. I have a space, “Die Leeukuil”, that doubles up as a small boardroom when I’m not there, and it will work the same in Die Klubhuis.
Atterbury’s very particular culture is part of the reason of the company’s success. How is the culture physically manifested in the new office?
Atterbury has an informal, family culture that is definitely reflected in the design and layout of the office. Natural elements are used throughout to tie in with our down-to-earth nature. The reception area has our in-house barista and resembles a funky coffee shop; we have lots of open areas and boardrooms with glass walls; we love our lunches together every day, so there’s a big kitchen, a lekker stoep and a braai area. And everything is beautiful!
Tell us about the art that will be displayed in the new office space?
We acquired a number of David Krynauw’s wooden creations for the office, including a lovely dome, destined to become an innovative space, a think tank of sorts, in the reception area. Rina Strutzer’s beautiful Africa sculpture has travelled along with us ever since the first Lynnwood Bridge building, and is back in Die Klubhuis after spending a while in the Stellenbosch office. Pierre Cronje once again created our boardroom tables and servers. And of course we brought along our Atterbury class photos which were taken annually since 2006, and those are displayed with other Atterbury memorabilia collected since 1994.
Moving a whole office is a massive job… how did you deal with the disruption? Is the move across being done in stages and when will you be fully operational on the other side?
Thanks to our very capable team led by COO Stoffel van Beek, office manager Melissa Love and their operational teams. The last working day at the Bloukrans office was on Wednesday 27 September, staff worked remotely on 28 and 29 September, and from Monday, 2 October, it is all systems go from Die Klubhuis.
Can you share any info about the roof-wetting party yet? You have so much to celebrate, we imagine planning has already started and it will be a big party!
Atterbury’s client functions have become legendary and this year’s client function will double up as the roof-wetting! It is planned for Thursday 23 November and will celebrate all the innovation that the new office has to offer.
What’s next for Atterbury, and for you personally?
Atterbury is passionate about development that is a catalyst for growth and improvement in the economy and society. We are constantly busy with new deals, and looking at expansion. I love deal-making and want to keep doing what I love. I also treasure the time spent on my farm and with my family.
