GE AFRICA INNOVATION CENTRE
GE AFRICA INNOVATION CENTRE
EXPERIENCE CENTER
The three-storey GE Africa Innovation Centre (GEAIC) building was designed to support the company’s commitment to industrial innovation and African collaboration within a wellness-driven work environment. The interior design incorporates leading global workplace principles combined with an African geometric design language including abstracted circular, angular and linear fractal elements. Bespoke furniture and fittings were commissioned from over 30 contemporary African artists, industrial designers and manufacturers, actively supporting SME development. Local materials were prioritised. A stand-out feature at the entrance is the hand-made metal canopy by Peter Mabeo. It extends into a three-storey-high wooden mural and hand-made indigenous wood reception desk. A ceiling-art installation carries through the fractal theme. GE’s industrial and technological focus is expressed in metallic finishes and exposed services. Advanced technical requirements include virtual reality, 3D printing, writable surfaces and high-tech telepresence within a modular, ergonomic environment. Facilities include a health-focused work café and a digital experience centre and ideation rooms on the ground floor. The first floor includes a fully equipped training centre. The top floor is dedicated to a learning and development centre with re-configurable spaces, hot desks and a multi-disciplinary laboratory. GEAIC is the first LEED- and GBCSA-rated GE building in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Location: Melrose, South Africa
Size: 2,454 m²
Completion Year: 2016
Sector: Commercial Offices, Innovation Centre