Professional property owners in South Africa have voted Soccer City in Soweto, Johannesburg as the best designed and developed 2010 Soccer Stadium at the South African Property Owners Association (SAPOA) Innovative Excellence in Property Development Awards 2010, sponsored by Nedbank Corporate Property Finance, held at Sun City today.
The Department of Foreign Affairs' new offices and conference centre development in Tshwane was announced as the overall winner in the prestigious Awards.
The R1,2-billion O.R. Tambo Building in Tshwane, is a Public Private Partnership between government and Imbumba Aganang consortium. Designed by TC Design Architects in JV with ACG Architects, the structure embodies a functional and efficient use of space for staff and the public which is further enhanced by high standards of green design principles.
Accommodating some 2 500 employees, with 1 500 parking bays, the 138 570 m2 building includes a state of the art Conference Facility designed to house the African Union and South African Development Community (SADC) conferences.
The O.R. Tambo Building was also joint winner in the ‘Office' development category together with The Boulevard Park, owned and developed by Faircape Property Developers, designed by dhk Architects, Peerutin Architects and Rennie Schurr Adendorff.

Scooping top honours in the ‘Retail' development category is the stylish Morningside Shopping Centre in Sandton, owned and developed by Flanagan & Gerard Property Investment & Development and Grapnel Property Group, and designed by MDS Architecture.
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Morningside Shopping Centre, Sandton,

winner of the SAPOA Retail Innovative Excellence in Property Development Award

Waterstone, a R400-million residential development in Century City, Cape Town, owned and developed by Rabie Property Group and designed by Maas & Coetzee, was the winner in the ‘Residential' development group.

In the ‘Industrial' development category, Consolidated Facility for ABB South Africa in Longmeadow, owned and developed by Improvon Properties, received the winning vote. This development also received a special Green Building Award. 

With its fresh new look, 9 Fredman Drive, owned and developed by Eris Property Group, designed by Boogertman & Partners took the award in the ‘Refurbishment' category.

Other category winners include: 15 on Orange owned by A Million Up Investments 105, developed by New City Group and designed by dhk Architects (‘Other' development category), and Healthcare Facility - Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital, owned by the Provincial Government of the Western Cape, developed by Red Cross Children's Hospital Trust and designed by KMH Architects (‘Social' development category). 

Old Town Commercial Island and Residences, Dubai, owned by Emaar Properties and developed by Mirage Mile was the winner in the ‘International' development category and also received the overall ‘Special Mention'. 

In a new, once-off category for 2010 World Cup Soccer Stadiums - Soccer City Stadium in Soweto, owned and developed by the City of Johannesburg, designed by Boogertman Urban Edge & Partners in association with Populous, was named as winner of this topical group. Special mentions included the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, Cape Town Stadium and Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit. 

No winner was chosen in the ‘Mixed-use' development category, however merits were awarded to Melrose Arch Piazza, owned by Melrose Arch Investment Holdings, developed by Amdec Property Development and MontClare Place, owned by Growthpoint Properties.

Neil Gopal, SAPOA CEO, says "the awards highlight quality, excellence in design and innovation - all paramount to the property development industry. The awards also demonstrate the determination of developers to keep abreast of the latest trends and to cater for clients' building requirements."

The awards attracted a record number of entries this year, up from last year's 46 submissions to 59. "Given the quality and scope of the entries, we're delighted to see this response to the Awards and the recognition that they provide, both locally and internationally," says Gopal.