View Full Version : FNB Regional Offices - 9F - Complete


waltjie
January 25th, 2012, 05:30 PM
I don't see anything on this having been posted... So here's an article from last year...

FIRST National Bank in the Eastern Cape has invested R150-million in the construction of a state- of-the-art new office block for its various business units in Newton Park.

Construction is expected to be complete in December.

FNB said the project was based on a “long-term view in terms of the overall economic viability of Port Elizabeth and the greater Eastern Cape region”.

“Against this background, we decided to embark on a multimillion-rand investment in the city of Port Elizabeth, in spite of the difficult economic circumstances at the time,” FNB Eastern Cape provincial chairperson Sagren Ramalingum said.

http://i571.photobucket.com/albums/ss155/Waltjie/FNB_PE_1298539731.jpg

The project, with a total investment in the region of R150-million, started in October following initial bulk earthworks to the site. Principal contractor SBT Construction then took over the site.

Ramalingum said the bank believed it to be the largest office block construction project the city had seen in recent years.

“The initiative was also to consolidate the various [business units] into A-grade space and so achieve all the attendant operational and financial benefits, as well as to raise the branding profile of the organisation.”

He said the building would be occupied by FirstRand group business units and would include group companies like Rand Merchant Bank, FNB Private Clients, RMB Private Bank, Global Transactional Services, International Banking, FNB Insurance Brokers, FNB Commercial Banking and Wesbank.

“We have created capacity for future growth and expansion, but our immediate aim is not to let out space to third parties at this stage,” Ramalingum said.

Once completed, the building would have 6237m² gross leasable area comprising a basement, four levels of parking and five office levels.

“We have made a firm commitment towards job creation and the local economy. The retention of investment capital in the Eastern Cape and Port Elizabeth was important to us and it is against this background that we decided to ring-fence and restrict the tender process to local contractors and companies as far as possible.”

Companies involved in the project include SBT Construction, Stauch Vorster Architects, Clinkscales Maugham-Brown, De Leeuw Group, Sigma Consulting and Eris Property Group.

musiccity
January 26th, 2012, 01:35 AM
Nice! I've actually seen this project but forgot to post it. Port Elizabeth seems really dry when it comes to projects.

dysan1
January 26th, 2012, 09:32 AM
great to see that something has been built recently in PE! guess projects there slip through the gaps. Decent enough looking place. is Newton Park a suburb?

Caisson Boy
January 26th, 2012, 12:11 PM
Newton Park is the suburb in which Greenacres and The Bridge are located. Cape Road extends through it, and has some beautiful old houses that have been converted into office space during the last 20 odd years.

dysan1
January 26th, 2012, 01:59 PM
my question on area is will the height of this and the mass of exposed concrete be out of place?

Caisson Boy
January 26th, 2012, 02:42 PM
It depends whether it is close to the Greenacres Hospital, which is a block of probably no more than 5 or 6 floors, where most of the office blocks of some height are located. Newton Park is relatively flat. The exceptions are probably the Provincial Hospital which is about 8 floors (not sure whether this is still part of Newton Park) and the Police Station (ex Louis La Grange), which is 6 floors. Maybe Waltje can shed some light?

waltjie
January 26th, 2012, 09:06 PM
my question on area is will the height of this and the mass of exposed concrete be out of place?

I personally don't think it looks out of place. As Caisson Boy mentions, Investec is just down the road, and so is the Greenacres Hospital, so it's not like a sore thumb sticking out or anything :lol:

dysan1
February 4th, 2012, 03:05 PM
As i do not know a thing about the area i asked the question. Its not the most attractive bank development we have seen recently

dysan1
February 4th, 2012, 03:18 PM
Ok looks better in these pics, but still not like the new ones in Pretoria and Bellville

http://www.eris.co.za/uploadimages/mall_76/030_large.jpg

http://www.eris.co.za/uploadimages/mall_76/032_large.jpg

annman
February 5th, 2012, 01:12 PM
The Cape Town Integrated Traffic Control Centre looks similar, but even more attractive (and that's a government building). FNB could have really have done more. :ohno:

Pule
February 6th, 2012, 11:05 AM
It looks cool for an area that is starving from developments.

dysan1
February 6th, 2012, 12:01 PM
^^ so mediocrity should be accepted then if you not getting much?

Nostra
February 6th, 2012, 12:07 PM
^^Really now...What's so mediocre about that building? It looks like a nice and solid addition to the skyline, personally I like it...

dysan1
February 6th, 2012, 02:27 PM
^^ It looks cheaply made. compare it to the ones they are putting up in Bellville and Pretoria for comparison

Lydon
February 6th, 2012, 09:20 PM
^^ It looks cheaply made. compare it to the ones they are putting up in Bellville and Pretoria for comparison

I don't see what's so wonderful about either the Pretoria or Tygervalley branches...they all look pretty mediocre to me.

dysan1
February 7th, 2012, 11:54 AM
just from the renders of them you can tell they alot better than this. i never said they were amazing, but compared to this they are.

Lydon
April 16th, 2012, 12:31 PM
FNB's new regional offices in PE
16 Apr 2012

http://images.property24.com/FetchImage.ashx?type=image&id=11e98281-0581-48b6-8d80-5e923020eb86.jpg

FNB Newton Place in Port Elizabeth is the bank’s new regional office and the largest office block under construction in the city over the last few years.

According to the bank, FNB Newton Place will house all FirstRand Group Business Units and will be occupied by group companies including Rand Merchant Bank (RMB), FNB Private Clients, RMB Private Bank, Global Transactional Services, International Banking, FNB Insurance Brokers, FNB Commercial, Premier Banking and FNB Online.

Sagren Ramalingum, FNB provincial chairman says the city of Port Elizabeth’s economy is increasingly modern and export oriented, with great potential for growth of existing and the establishment of new industries.

“We strongly believe in the economic growth potential of the Eastern Cape and the building of the regional office complex is part of our continued investment into the city,” says Ramalingum.

Ramalingum says the bank’s total investment in the region is in excess of R160 million with plans to invest a further R30 million on the upgrade of the FNB Newton Park Branch.

The design of the building boasts mechanical and electrical installations, which are energy efficient and are arguably the first of a few in South Africa with the flexible sprinkler installation, he says.

Source: Property24 (http://www.property24.com/articles/fnbs-new-regional-offices-in-pe/15120)