Growthpoint Properties and FNB open Willowbridge Place in Cape Town
Where there are opportunities for economic growth, there you will find new building development and redevelopments; and Willowbridge Place in Cape Town is the embodiment of a financial institution and a property company taking advantage of just such an opportunity. On 19 July 2013, Willowbridge Place was opened for use in the northern suburbs of Cape Town, by First National Bank and Growthpoint Properties.
Willowbridge Place constitutes the consolidation of nine different FirstRand Group offices, which were previously dotted across Cape Town's northern suburbs. FirstRand owns part of the sectional title development with Growthpoint Properties; and FNB and RMB occupy one of the office blocks, with 8 500 sqm of floor space available for their regional office. Growthpoint owns the other office block, which provides 6 000 sqm of floor space to their current tenant, Visa. The Growthpoint building consists of seven levels, made up of five levels of offices and two parking levels. Willowbridge can accommodate approximately 300 employees for FNB and 250 employees in the Growthpoint building.
FNB's Western Cape Provincial Head, Stephan Claassen, sees Willowbridge Place as not only an investment into FNB's banking business, but also a show of its support and commitment to Cape Town and to the Western Cape. They have identified their role in the economic growth of the province and are committed to ensuring that it becomes a reality. Within the sphere of FNB's business, however, their Willowbridge offices are not only fully equipped to deal with the bank's functional requirements, but it is also a green building, which has been designed and built with a special focus on recycling and operational efficiencies, especially with regard to power consumption.
Willowbridge Place has already been identified as one of the northern suburbs' new landmarks, and can be found on the corner of Carl Cronje and Old Oak Roads, with its modern architecture, lots of glass frontage and brand-new signage. Situated across from the Tygervalley Centre, employees in the building will not have far to go to make use of these convenient shopping amenities.
Stephan Claassen emphasised the development of Willowbridge Place as proof of FNB’s "ongoing commitment to sustainable and responsible development in South Africa."