Trade Park’s energy-efficient features include a host of energy-efficient lighting solutions in the warehouses and office spaces, as well as in external and security areas. Its design allows for as much natural light as possible within the buildings, which helps reduce electricity costs, hot water heat pumps, roof insulation and external sun louvres, designed to reduce the energy needed for heating and cooling.
Growthpoint Properties has broken ground on Phase 2 of Trade Park, a prime industrial park in the Mount Edgecombe industrial precinct in KwaZulu-Natal, north of Durban. The Trade Park comprises two phases of approximately 20 300m2 and 21 600m2 respectively. The highly successful Phase 1 was completed in 2019 and Phase 2 broke ground at the end of January 2023.
This R180-million development comes in response to strong demand for quality A-grade warehouse facilities in the region. It is located in the Mount Edgecombe North area close to large residential, industrial and retail developments, the park provides easy access to the R102 and N2 freeways and is halfway between the busy Durban Harbour and King Shaka International Airport – about 20km from each.
Mount Edgecombe has become an established logistics node, adjacent to the new C3 Corridor road where there is a dearth of new industrial land around Durban Harbour. The increasing growth of the nearby Cornubia development and the recent upgrading of the N2 and M41 interchange make access to this desirable location a strong drawcard.
“Trade Park has been designed to meet this need with a first-class industrial park designed for businesses that rely on excellent transport access,” says Greg Worst, Growthpoint Properties regional head – KZN. “Strong take-up in Trade Park Phase 1 is a testament to the fact that it is fulfilling a real requirement in the market.”
The functionality of the warehouses, the movement of trucks and industrial processes are all kept separate from the office links, where staff and visitors can move about freely.
“Separating the offices from the industrial processes allows for a different treatment of the office spaces, which include more contemporary features and materials. It also provides the opportunity to create more outward-focused offices which overlook green areas,” says Worst. Beautifully landscaped gardens within the precinct are all fully maintained.
The external form and aesthetic quality of the warehouses is simple, functional and modern with subtle touches to modulate the visual scale of the warehouses and elevate the aesthetic quality of the park.
Each warehouse will have its own offices and ablution facilities as well as cantilevered roof canopies to all roller shutter doors to ensure adequate weather protection at loading areas.
Trade Park Phase 2 boasts extensive features, including 24/7 Security and access control, a three-phase power supply, roof heights of 14m to eaves, and automatic sprinkler systems spec’d for complete compliance.
Sustainable building practices ensure that every aspect of this development is efficient, cost-effective and sustainable. Energy efficient air-conditioning, lighting and structural compliance for solar panels have been included in the design.
“Environmental sustainability is at the core of Growthpoint’s business, and we are committed to integrating ‘green’ building principles into all our developments,” Worst notes.
Supplied by PR and edited by Eamonn Ryan