Atterbury Property has confirmed it will develop the new R1.5-billion head office of professional services firm PwC at Waterfall City, in Midrand – the first high-rise building in the precinct.

This followed the signing of a lease agreement between PwC and Attacq on January 15 confirming the development of the 26-storey building, which would comprise 40 000 m2 of office space for 3 500 employees.

Attacq Waterfall Investment Company (AWIC) held the development rights to Waterfall City, and was 100% owned by JSE-listed Attacq. Atterbury Property Developments was responsible for coordinating this commercial real estate project for and on behalf of AWIC.

Atterbury Commercial Development director Jeanne Jordaan said in a statement that earthworks for the new PwC building had already started and construction would begin in the first quarter of the year.

The project was expected to take 36 months and was scheduled for completion early in 2018.

The PwC Tower was designed by LYT Architecture and would be built in phases owing to the unique design of the structure, which would gently twist through in its height to frame the urban park that formed the green heart of Waterfall City.

The building was also designed to conform to the internationally recognised Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design silver standard.

“The brief for the PwC Tower at Waterfall City called for an iconic building form that would be unique to the development and which would mark the property as a new top-tier destination for business.

“Given the height of the building, and that it is situated on a high point in Waterfall City, it will easily be the tallest structure on the corridor between the Sandton central business district (CBD) and the Pretoria CBD. The PwC Tower will be visible from almost anywhere within a 30 km radius,” outlined LYT Architecture director Guy Steenekamp.