Liberty Properties showcases sustainability at SAPOA Convention

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Giles Pendleton, Managing Director at Liberty Properties,  Mel Urdang: Liberty Properties: Director: Leasing & Retail Strategy. Liberty Properties stand at the annual event paid homage to the opportunities in reclaimed materials. Giles Pendleton, Managing Director at Liberty Properties, Mel Urdang: Liberty Properties: Director: Leasing & Retail Strategy. Liberty Properties stand at the annual event paid homage to the opportunities in reclaimed materials.

Liberty Properties believes green efficiencies are an essential ingredient to business longevity and it is a philosophy that was emphasised on its exhibition stand at the 45th annual South African Property Owners Association (SAPOA) Convention.

Giles Pendleton, Managing Director: Property Development, Liberty Properties says, ‘Sustainability is a priority on our agenda and we are determined to incorporate design principles and operational practices that are energy efficient, resource efficient and environmentally responsible’.

‘To drive home this message, our stand at SAPOA pays homage to the opportunities in reclaimed materials.’  Whilst the physical stand is not constructed from recyclable material, several of the fittings/furniture items were made from repurposed materials salvaged from the former Sandton Twin Towers site, which is currently being reinvented as the prestigious Atrium on 5th office development. A few of these were the award winning pieces from an organic recycling design competition Liberty Properties initiated with the Vega School of Brand Leadership to promote the value of sustainability.

84 2nd Year Creative Development students from Vega participated in the project which tasked them to create an organic functional object, manufactured mainly from recycled materials, to be incorporated into Liberty Properties exhibition stand at the SAPOA convention. The materials had to be sourced from the Atrium on 5th development site.

The students enjoyed a site visit to collect recyclable materials, including glass pieces, lights, wood off cuts, ceiling tiles, light wiring/ electrical cables and tiles. The brief was to ensure that 75% of the final product was constructed from re-used resources.

Maurice Mdlolo, Chief Operating Officer, Liberty Properties comments: ‘We saw tremendous synergy with this project. Not only does it align with the Liberty Group’s CSI strategy to focus on education, but provides the perfect opportunity to create awareness of responsible business. Utilising upcycled furniture on our stand sends a strong visual message of our commitment to the green revolution.’

Mdlolo also said that innovation often partners sustainable action, and this was an important element of the competition brief.

The Vega winners were invited to the Liberty Properties stand to receive their prizes and admire their products in action. Congratulations to the following students on their award-winning concepts that embraced functionality and innovation:

1st prize: R7000
Ryan Roby, Jason Ferreira, James Gross
The Arachne - bookshelf

2nd prize: R5000
Jacques Mollentze and Haydn Coeke
uNest - light

3rd prize: R3000
Jade Duncan and Hayley Pitout
Table

Merit award: 2 x R 500 Sandton City gift cards
Derryn Colborne and Shelbea de Klerk
Book Shelf

The stand also featured original lighting created from recycled plastic bottles by South African designer Heath Nash’s ‘Other People’s Rubbish’ range. Liberty Properties also commissioned chairs made from upcycled car tyres as a novel approach to seating on its stand.

Liberty Properties was a gold sponsor of the 45th annual South African Property Owners Association Convention which took place at Sun City from 14 – 16 May 2013. The forum brings together some of the most influential national and international commercial property professionals from around the globe.


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