Property

New R2 billion skyscraper rising in South Africa’s richest square mile – Photos

Shaun Jacobs • 30 June 2026

Construction is well underway on the two towers of the R2 billion Olympus Sandton, with cranes once again filling the skyline of South Africa’s richest square mile.

Daily Investor recently visited the site to see how the construction was progressing on Sandton’s first new skyscraper since the Covid-19 pandemic.

Backed by Tricolt and Growthpoint, the development is part of the Sandton Summit precinct, which is anchored by Discovery’s head office.

This precinct is part of Growthpoint’s ambitions to create a walkable mixed-use development on the edge of Sandton City.

The location on the Sandton ridge also ensures that The Athena Tower will be one of the highest points on the skyline when completed.

Built by Barrow Construction, Olympus Sandton is seen as a vote of confidence in the city and its economic centre.

Barrow itself has emphasised its commitment to Johannesburg, despite ongoing mismanagement at a municipal level.

It said Gauteng recently reclaimed its position as South Africa’s top revenue region for residential property, and Johannesburg still houses the majority of the country’s corporate headquarters.

A major shift in Johannesburg’s property market has been the growing demand for residential property, particularly near the business hubs of Sandton and Rosebank.

This has seen a flurry of construction of apartment buildings in these areas, as well as the conversion of office buildings into residential properties.

Johannesburg’s estimated housing shortfall is 400,000 units, and with the municipality unable to build low-cost housing at this scale, much of the shortfall has been left to private developers.

The lack of new units coming to market has also led to a proliferation of informal settlements, overcrowding, and the occupation of hijacked inner-city buildings.

While the units constructed by Tricolt at its developments in Sandton and Rosebank are relatively expensive, they help to alleviate the housing crisis.

This is because the construction of these properties frees up older homes and apartments for lower-income buyers.

The chain reaction helps reduce overall market pressure by increasing the supply of housing and stimulating new development.

Olympus Sandton

Construction on Olympus Sandton began earlier than expected, thanks to strong buyer demand for the apartments.

Over R1 billion in sales were concluded on the launch day, pushing Tricolt and Growthpoint to open sales for both towers simultaneously.

The companies announced the start of construction on 26 November after 85% of the apartments had been sold.

Olympus Sandton comprises two towers – The Athena and The Apollo. The Athena will be 24 storeys tall, with The Apollo slightly shorter at 16 storeys.

The Athena is also where much of the retail and dining space will be, given its location on Rivonia Road. The Apollo is further east, away from the main thoroughfare.

In the taller tower, there will be a Marble restaurant on the 18th floor and a Pantry by Marble convenience store on the ground floor.

The heart of the development is the premium residences offered across the towers, which range from one-bedroom units through to super penthouses.

Prices for the apartments range from R1.86 million to R5.01 million. Studios go up to R7.2 million, with penthouses beginning at R14.28 million.

The most expensive super penthouse will go for over R45 million and will occupy nearly an entire floor of the building, offering 360-degree views over Sandton.

Olympus Sandton also aims to be a landmark, designed by award-winning ClarkeHopkinsClarke Architects.

Set to be one of the highest points in the Sandton Central area, Olympus will redefine the CBD’s skyline.

The design of Olympus Sandton incorporates sustainable building practices, including post-tension slabs and smart energy management systems.

The development will target a 4-Star Green Star rating from the Green Building Council of South Africa.

Daily Investor visited the construction site of Olympus Sandton to see how it was progressing, as it is the first new skyscraper to be built in the area since the pandemic.