This photograph captures the PwC Tower under construction at Waterfall City in Midrand, Johannesburg, during the development of one of Gauteng’s most distinctive modern office landmarks. Taken during the construction phase, the image shows the tower’s reinforced-concrete structure rising above its surrounding podium and development site, with a tower crane positioned directly in front of the building. The central concrete core is already clearly visible, together with the progressively constructed office floor plates and the structural elements that would eventually create the tower’s distinctive twisting form. The photograph provides a valuable construction-stage record of a building that became one of the defining landmarks of the rapidly developing Waterfall City precinct.
The PwC Tower was developed as the new South African headquarters of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) by Atterbury for Attacq Waterfall Investment Company. Designed by LYT Architecture, the project was conceived as an iconic high-rise that would establish a strong architectural identity for the emerging Waterfall City business district. The building rises approximately 106 metres and comprises 26 office levels above five basement parking levels. PwC’s headquarters provides approximately 40,000 square metres of office accommodation and was designed to accommodate around 3,500 employees. Construction began in the first quarter of 2015, following earlier earthworks, and the project was completed in 2018.
The defining architectural characteristic of the PwC Tower is its twisting geometry. Each successive floor rotates approximately 1.2 degrees relative to the floor below, producing a gradual helical movement through the height of the building. This rotation creates the tower’s distinctive sculptural silhouette while also helping it frame the landscaped urban park at the centre of Waterfall City. At the time of construction, the tower was described as the only twisted high-rise building in Africa and one of the world’s notable twisted structures. The structural system presented significant engineering challenges because the twisting floor plates had to be coordinated with the building’s central concrete core, façades and vertical circulation systems.
The central core was constructed using slipforming, an efficient continuous-construction technique that allowed the concrete core to rise rapidly ahead of much of the surrounding structure. WBHO specifically records that its work involved slipforming the 116-metre-tall, approximately 20-metre-diameter central core, incorporating three lift wells and associated walls, beams and openings. The photograph captures this important construction methodology particularly well: the tall central core dominates the image while the tower crane and surrounding formwork provide a clear indication of the complex construction activity taking place around it.
The wider project team included Arup as structural and façade engineer, WSP for mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineering, and WBHO as the main contractor. The project represented a major investment in the emerging Waterfall City precinct and formed part of the rapid transformation of the area between Johannesburg and Pretoria into a significant mixed-use commercial and residential development node. The tower’s strategic position close to the N1 highway and adjacent to the Mall of Africa helped establish it as a highly visible landmark for motorists and visitors entering the Waterfall precinct.
Beyond its role as an office building, the PwC Tower represents an important stage in the evolution of Waterfall City. It was the first high-rise within the precinct and helped establish the visual identity of the emerging central business district. The building achieved LEED Silver certification and was subsequently recognised with the 2018 SAPOA Innovative Excellence in Property Development Award for Best Commercial Office Development. Its distinctive geometry, innovative structural engineering and prominent location have made it one of the most recognisable contemporary commercial buildings in Gauteng.
Location: Waterfall City, Midrand, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa, adjacent to the Mall of Africa and close to the N1 highway.
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