MUTUAL GAINS
Mutualpark, located on Jan Smuts Drive in Pinelands, Cape Town, is a vast 166 000m² commercial office precinct comprising numerous buildings dating from 1954 to 2002. In 2016, South African investment, savings, insurance and banking group Old Mutual achieved a 5-Star Green Star rating for an existing building from Green Building Council South Africa (GBCSA). Last year, the precinct was awarded the coveted 6-Star Green Star Existing Building Performance (EBP) V1 certification – the highest possible rating.
Today, Mutualpark houses Old Mutual staff alongside third-party tenants providing support services. Home to approximately 10 000 people, the precinct offers far more than office space. A conference centre and training venues are complemented by extensive on-site amenities, including retail, medical and personal services. Occupants have access to everything from a crèche, ATM and superette to a hairdresser, physiotherapist, optician and dentist, as well as sports facilities that include padel and tennis courts, a gym and sports fields.
Zoë Rushin, Old Mutual’s Senior Facilities Manager: Corporate Property Management, oversaw the pursuit of the 6-Star Green Star rating. For her, this achievement was never about “box ticking”. Sustainability, she explains, is intrinsic to the organisation’s values. While there is pride in achieving the rating, the focus remains on doing the right thing – consistently and deliberately. “We’re not doing it for the stars, but because this is what we do.”
That commitment is also attractive to third-party tenants. There is prestige attached to operating from a 6-Star Green Star building, and tenants quickly become aligned with Old Mutual’s sustainability principles.
Smart sorting
On-site retailers are required to adhere to strict green standards, particularly around waste management. Waste is separated, measured and weighed, and forms part of the site’s environmental performance portfolio. These principles are applied across the precinct – right down to the hairdresser, where hair waste is collected as organic waste rather than disposed of via drains.
Mutualpark operates under a Waste Generator Licence, enabling waste processing to go well beyond basic on-site sorting. All tenders and contracts are closely evaluated to ensure suppliers and contractors adhere to micro-sorting requirements, supported by appropriate infrastructure funded through capital investment. Every stakeholder – from tenants to event organisers – is aligned with these waste-management principles.
A strong emphasis is placed on education. In some cases, compostable packaging is prioritised over recyclable options, even where cost premiums apply. The rationale behind these decisions is clearly communicated so that tenants and retailers understand the impact of their choices. These measures are delivering tangible results. Robust on-site waste sorting and continuous measurement have resulted in waste diversion rates exceeding 86%.
Circular flow
Water sustainability is a cornerstone of the precinct’s resilience strategy. Mutualpark’s Waste Water Treatment Plant converts black water and municipal-treated effluent into potable, SANS 241-compliant water, supplemented by a back-up borehole. The system allows the precinct to operate largely independently of municipal supply, supported by strict compliance protocols.
Educational initiatives play a vital role here too. Fat traps, for example, are carefully managed to prevent fats entering the sewerage system. Removed fats are diverted to organic waste streams, reinforcing the circular nature of Mutualpark’s water system.
Across the extensive grounds, all indoor and outdoor plantings are selected for their waterwise properties, with irrigation supplied using recycled treated effluent.
Power shift
Old Mutual’s sustainability approach extends beyond installing new technologies to include responsible disposal of old infrastructure. When eight energy-efficient lifts were installed (with six more planned for 2026), the decommissioning of 1994-era lifts was treated as an accountability issue. “We are the waste generators,” says Rushin. “The lifts are ours, so we take responsibility for their disposal.” Components were carefully separated into recyclable streams, with contractors integrated into the solution.
All new escalators are fitted with sensors that reduce speed and energy consumption during periods of low use, while lighting across Mutualpark is fully energy efficient, employing LED technology, occupancy sensors and daylight harvesting.
Energy resilience is further strengthened by a substantial solar photovoltaic installation. Initially launched as a 1kW project, the system has expanded to include rooftop and parking garage arrays, delivering approximately 3.56MWp of DC capacity and enabling the precinct to significantly reduce its reliance on municipal electricity.
Clean breathing
Indoor environmental quality is rigorously monitored and exceeds legislated standards. In addition to assessments conducted by occupational hygienists, Internet of Things (IoT) devices continuously measure air quality across different buildings. Daily monitoring provides data on carbon dioxide levels, temperature and humidity, enabling informed responses to occupant concerns and ensuring a healthy working environment.
Temperature control is managed through a centralised chilled-water system using R134a refrigerant, which offers improved ozone depletion and global warming potential compared to older R22 gas systems. This formed part of Mutualpark’s submission under the Green Star Emissions tool. Older, inefficient heater banks have been replaced with electronically controlled, localised heating units to further reduce energy consumption.
Advanced metering is central to performance management. Buildings and tenants are sub metered for both energy and water, allowing Old Mutual to work collaboratively with occupants to reduce consumption and support the City of Cape Town’s demand reduction targets through load curtailment programmes.
A lasting impact
The comprehensive amenities at Mutualpark mean staff seldom need to leave the precinct. Transport impact is further reduced through carpooling, public transport access, and proximity to a train station and taxi rank. Ongoing developments such as the Bus Rapid Transit system, MyCiTi routes and cycle lanes form part of the broader mobility strategy.
As one of South Africa’s largest companies, Old Mutual recognises the responsibility that comes with scale. “It’s about our legacy,” says Rushin. “We can push boundaries in areas where others may not be able to take the risk.”
Large-scale initiatives such as the solar installation and wastewater plant required extensive engagement with local and provincial authorities, challenging existing legislation and setting new precedents through collaboration.
Beyond infrastructure, Old Mutual has strengthened its social impact through responsible donation practices. Office furniture that once went to landfill is now donated to schools, NGOs and NPOs. Each donation is carefully measured and tracked to quantify environmental and social benefits.
In the end, Mutualpark’s 6-Star Green Star certification is not about accolades. It stands as evidence of a long-term commitment to responsible stewardship, innovation and leaving a legacy that extends far beyond the precinct’s physical boundaries.
