Oxford Parks Precinct in Rosebank

Compiled by Tanya Olckers with technical input from Jazzman Sanitary Engineers

Rosebank in Johannesburg is a bustling hub of business, retail and residential buildings. Indeed, there is a great deal of development happening in the area.

Oxford Parks Precinct in Rosebank. All images by © Plumbing Africa

The Oxford Parks Precinct is no exception, with development taking place in terms of creating sophisticated office space. Jazzman Sanitary Engineers stepped up to the challenge and began work on the Park Boulevard Project in January 2024.

The 16-month project saw the offices opening up for occupancy from May this year. With 7 551m² of leasable area across five storeys, the scope included fitting the building with premium sanitaryware, as well as providing heat pumps and hot water storage.

This involved the installation of 55 toilets, 60 WHB, 18 urinals and 8 showers. Two heat pump systems with 400-litre hot water storage capacity were also installed.

The stormwater system was conventional, with cast iron full-bore outlets all cast into the concrete. There is also a Geberit Pluvia system with 37 outlets all cast into concrete from the roof down to the basement.

The impressive project began with pre-planning and a client brief, before moving onto the design and documentation phase. After that, it was time to engage in site mobilisation and basement works, and a concrete structure was erected, setting up the Geberit Pluvia system cast into concrete columns and slabs.

Next on the to-do list was the installation of the services, namely plumbing and drainage, first being fixed into walls, then below soffits, followed by the installation of sanitaryware. After the interior fit-out and commissioning it was time for landscaping and interface works, with attention placed on stormwater, sewer and water connection to council mains.

Among the challenges Jazzman encountered was working on two separate building projects at the same time. Scheduling was also a challenge with timelines being tight and fast tracked. It was also a tough task working with tight urban site logistics.

To make the system sustainable and eco-friendly, Jazzman worked to achieve a targeted 6-Star Green Star rating. This was done using energy saving heat pumps with the appropriate thermal insulation on piping. All water meters are integrated into the Building Management Systems (BMS).

Part of Oxford Parks Phase 2 involves transforming Rosebank into a high-end, sustainable business district. The site is made up of a super basement with two structures on top: 10 Parks and 55 Eastwood. The two projects share the same resources – including plant like the crane – running concurrently with 55 Eastwood, scheduled to finish only two months after 10 Parks. Both buildings also share the same project team and specification.