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Cape Town - The first phase of the V&A Waterfront’s new Canal District reached completion on Tuesday, with the head office of British American Tobacco South Africa (Batsa) taking up residence in the new Waterway House.
The move marks a significant milestone for Batsa, which has been based in Stellenbosch since the company’s early formation as the United Tobacco Company in 1904.
Speaking at the launch of the company’s new headquarters, Batsa managing director Soraya Zoueihid said: “Stellenbosch has been home to the company since formation. Our move to the V&A Waterfront is more than about geography - it is an important part of introducing a new, modern culture to the company. The move is an opportunity for us to be located in the heart of a dynamic and rapidly growing city that holds its own with the best in the world."
Batsa is the second largest company listed on the JSE and the first corporate to relocate its head office to the V&A Waterfront’s newly constructed Canal District.
V&A Waterfront CEO David Green said the initial plan for the Canal District was to create a seamless link to Cape Town’s CBD and the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC).
"As with our other developments we wanted to create a holistic space in which people can live, work and play," said Green.
“We are delighted that a multinational of the scale of Batsa has selected the Waterfront as the preferred destination for the relocation of its head office. This is significant and speaks to the popularity of the Waterfront’s development initiatives and its positioning as a prime destination for business.”
Batsa will occupy 8 000 m² in the south wing of Waterway House, the first building in the 7.6-hectare Canal District. Boasting a canal at its heart, the building is now the first one that visitors encounter on entering the Waterfront from the city.
As with all other V&A Waterfront developments, Waterway House has been designed according to best practice green design principles, and has achieved a 5-star Green Rating using the Green Star SA Office Design VI rating tool. The minimum threshold for a 5-star design is 60 Green Star points, while Waterway House targeted and achieved 70 points. Internationally rated environmentally sustainable features have been used throughout.
