Asset Magazine – Johannesburg precinct sets standards for sustainability
Integrated Sustainability
March 5, 2025
Asset Magazine | Issue 123 | March 2024
Asset Magazine – Johannesburg precinct sets standards for sustainability
Melrose Arch leads with recycling eco centre, cooling plant, water, and solar energy
As South Africa migrates to an off-grid economy, one mixed-use precinct is leading the way with its sustainability prowess. Melrose Arch in Gauteng has a thriving waste separating facility, underground cooling plant, gardens and rooftop solar system, providing its hotels, businesses and residential properties with an unparalleled experience.
After blasting and bulk earthworks commenced in 1998, Melrose Arch opened with Phase One consisting of only 11 buildings in 2001. It was constructed on a super-basement that connects all areas of the precinct and is one of only a few such basements in the country. Parking cars in the basement reduces traffic congestion and assist in reducing ambient air pollution above ground. Therefore, walking on street level is safe and pleasurable.
Renowned for its upmarket appeal and European street style aesthetic, Melrose Arch’s streets are lined with greenery. The precinct has over 700 trees planted within its border, as well as five internal garden spaces creating green lungs for residents and tenants to enjoy.
Melrose Arch has since expanded to house 106,000m2 of office space, 39,000m2 of retail space, 17,000m2 of hotel space, 29,000m2 of residential and conferencing space, and 8,600m2 accommodating health clubs. The integration of sustainability operations has expanded parallel to the 199,600m2, with the result being seamless integration.
The eco centre and waste separating facility
Melrose Arch’s waste separating facility, that operates 24/7, separates paper, cardboard, metals, plastics and glass, and sends these for recycling. At the property’s approximately 30 restaurants, cafés and bars, food waste is separated at source i.e. in the restaurant kitchens.
The food waste recycling works by implementing efficient waste separation methods, allowing each restaurant to divert food waste from traditional waste streams. Be separating the food waste at source, restaurants assist in thorough recycling and processing, transforming waste into valuable resources such as compost.
The food waste is taken directly to the Urban Farms Recycling Centre, where it is converted into organic fertiliser. This organisation’s vermiculite facility in Modderfontein is the largest of its kind in South Africa. After the majority of the waste is recycled, the balance goes to a landfill, with the eco centre aiming to minimise the amount each day.
In January 2024, of the 84,758 tons of waste collected across the precinct, 73% was recycled. A total of 70,920.72m3 of carbon dioxode, 653,621.28L of water and 286,692 kilowatt-hours of energy was saved. Additionally, the eco centre creates employment and enhances community participation in climate-relevant mitigation and adaptation measures.
Melrose Arch cooling plant
The provision of efficient indoor climate and comfort, particularly in the offices and commercial building, has been prioritised since the inception of Melrose Arch’s development. The precinct boasts its own 1,471m2 district underground cooling plant, that operates 24/7. This remarkable facility includes eight chillers that are 2722.94kW in size, 12 cooling towers and five building water pumps.
Operated by a Building Management System, the plant is energy-efficient. The cooling is centrally produced and distributes cold water to each building through a close distribution network. Environmentally-friendly and economically savvy, this centre helps to regulate the temperature inside buildings across the entire precinct.
The cooling plant’s machinery and equipment have a nameplate capacity of 4,324.74kW, but for safety reasons, are never operated at full capacity. The Kilo-volt-amperes (kVA) demand for the plant during the summer months is set to 8.5kVA. The average monthly kWh consumption for the plant is 494,914.08kWh. The cooling plant supplies chilled water for air-conditioning to over approximately 170,600m2 of hotel, retail and office space.
Renewable energy
Melrose Arch precinct’s rooftop solar system is intricately accommodated across 16 different roof surfaces, and every building under the precinct’s joint venture agreement that can host solar panels, does so. Currently featuring over 7,000 solar panels and multiple inverters, generating approximately 3.2 Megawatt (MW) of clean energy annually, the grid-tied system integrates with multiple generators during loadshedding.
Some of the commercial operators on the property such as the Johannesburg Marriott Hotel, operate their own solar systems, providing further sustainability. “We are committed to a target of 30% renewable energy across all of our properties by 2025, and becoming net zero for carbon emissions by 2050,” says Richard Collins, Area Vice President: Sub-Saharan Africa, Marriott International.
Back-up water
Melrose Arch has two sources of underground water. Through its water treatment plant, water is filtered and cleansed before being converted to potable water. This water is channeled to Melrose Arch’s standby tanks, which are in place to enable the precinct to continue to enjoy water when there are interruptions to the local supply.
This system keeps the precinct’s gardens green throughout the year and ensures that less water is wasted. Last year alone, the precinct saved 3,500,000 litres of water this way.
Furthermore, Melrose Arch has a water back-up system with sufficient supply to keep operations flowing for up to 72 hours at any given time.
“Melrose Arch’s prominence in the commercial and residential sector is underpinned by its robust operational sustainability integration that includes solar power, waste separation, a cooling plant, water backup and more,” says Reiner Henschel, Operations Director at Melrose Arch. “However, our commitment doesn’t end there. We are resolute in continually integrating sustainability into our operations, ensuring that the precinct maintains its position as a leader in environmental responsibility in South Africa,” he concludes.
