Giles Pendleton is the Chief Development Officer at Attacq Limited and currently a Non-Executive Director and Chair elect of the Green Building Council of South Africa. We chat about Waterfall City South Africa's 1st Smart City, how Covid-19 is impacting projects and clients, his worst case scenario of the pandemic, smart technologies and positive vibes.
Waterfall City, the 1st Smart City in Africa
Covid-19 impact on projects and clients
Giles’ worst-case scenario for the impact of Covid-19
Smart tech will become part of our lives
Positive vibes
About Giles, Attacq, Waterfall City and the Green Building Council of South Africa
With over 20 years of global experience in Africa, Australia, Europe, and the Middle East, Giles joined Attacq as the Head of Developments on the 13th March 2018. His most recent role was in Dubai as the Development Director for Omniyat a premier Dubai developer in the Dubai International Financial Centre’s (DIFC) 2 Tower mixed-use complex that includes a 60 story Rosewood Hotel, Serviced Apartments and Residential tower and a 40 story office tower. Prior to that, he was Vice President of Property Development and Head of Master Planning for the Dubai International Financial Centre Authority (DIFCA), a $25 billion, leading international financial hub for the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia (MEASA) region. From 2011 to 2013 Giles was the Managing Director of Development at Liberty Properties and prior to this has been based in Poland, Australia, and the UAE
Attacq’s vision is to be a premier South African-based REIT, delivering sustainable income and capital growth through a focused approach in real estate investments and developments.
Attacq has four key value drivers:
- A premium quality South African portfolio including retail, hotel, office and mixed-use and light industrial properties
- The development of Waterfall City and Waterfall Logistics Hub in Gauteng
- Investment in MAS Real Estate Inc. which is Attacq’s entry point into central and eastern European markets
- Retail investment in the rest of Africa (outside of South Africa)
Waterfall is the latest growth node of Gauteng, the economic hub of the African continent. Poised to be the new CBD of Gauteng, the largest urban concept development – Waterfall offers the ultimate Work-Life balance. Waterfall is rapidly developing into a true lifestyle and blue-chip business destination between the metropolis of Johannesburg and Pretoria. Waterfall sprawls from Modderfontein in the east beyond Kyalami in the West on both sides of Gauteng’s pulsating N1 highway.
Waterfall City, the CBD of Waterfall is conveniently located at the Allandale Road exit. This new commercial hub of Gauteng boasts the largest single phase mall in Africa, appropriately named The Mall of Africa. Mall visitors can look forward to a retail and lifestyle experience second to none with vogue international brands and esteemed South African brands offered in an elegant mall with more than 131,000m² retail space. Waterfall Corner and Lifestyle extends the lifestyle offering of Waterfall. Trendy restaurants, leading high street retailers and a top gym lure visitors. The vibrant piazza at Waterfall Corner offers a lively family-orientated shopping, eating and relaxation destination.
At Waterfall, state-of-the-art spacial design is taken to the next level. Beautiful green surroundings, provide the ideal setting to live, work and play. Green building design and many lifestyle features including running lanes and a luscious green park, ensures the enjoyment of nature as part of this modern destination development.
Green Building Council of South Africa is inspiring an environment in which people and planet thrive. The GBCSA works with its membership community to inspire a built environment in which people and planet thrive. “We are passionate, collaborative planet shapers that operate across the commercial, residential and public sectors to ensure that buildings and homes are designed, built, and operated in an environmentally sustainable way. Our combined influence drives competitive, viable and professional membership advantages. GBCSA’s affiliations enable access to a community of experts at home and abroad.
The GBCSA is one of about 75 members of the World Green Building Council.”