THE planned R1.4bn extension of the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) is to be the greenest building in South Africa, sporting a planted green roof, wind turbines to harvest electricity and a water treatment plant, amongst others. Plans for the 30 000 sqm development (of which 9 500 sqm will be exhibition space), were revealed at a press conference in Cape Town by Rashid Toefy, ceo of Convenco, the holding company of CTICC. He said CTICC was poised to go ahead with the construction of the new wing pending final negotiations with the Department of Public Works, which owns the site of the old Customs House on Cape Town’s foreshore. The proposed agreement would result in a unique partnership in which all three tiers of government – the city, the province and the national department – have equity in Convenco. “If we get the go-ahead in the next three months we could expect building completion in mid-2012,” he said.

How ‘Green’?

Construction will be done to the requirements set by the Green Building Council of South Africa. The building will use 40% less energy per sqm than the present CTICC, 95% less potable water and produce 25% less waste.  The reduction in energy will be through extensive daylighting, renewable energy sources including solar and wind turbines to harvest electricity and vent garages. Potable water will be reduced by recycling rainwater and there will be an on-site water treatment system, while waste will be reduced through on-site sorting and recycling. There will also be bicycle facilities for staff and visitors, and CTICC will be integrated into planned city cycle routes.   

Toefy said comprehensive feasibility and economic impact studies were completed during the past six months. Apart from an unquestionable business need for the expansion, the report found the project would result in R2.27bn direct spending in Cape Town during the three years of construction. Key macroeconomic effects of the CTICC expansion include:
· Contribution to national Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of R456.9m in the 2012 financial year, increasing to more than R1.7bn per annum by 2018.
· Contribution to Western Cape Gross Geographical Product (GGP) of R164.2m in 2012, increasing to R548.8m by 2018.
· Creation of 513 direct jobs in the province and 720 indirect jobs in South Africa in 2012, increasing to 1 276 direct jobs and 1 892 indirect jobs by 2018.
· Cumulative contributions to taxes of more than R1.1bn, indirect household income of R5.87bn and the generation of net foreign exchange of more than R1.27bn by 2018.