ENGINEERING BUILDING UNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN In a time of changing education in South Africa, the architectural updates to the engineering buildings at UCT signify a bold step towards upgrading and modernising the aging university facilities.
ENGINEERING BUILDING UNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN An innovative architectural design solution by SAOTA delivers a contemporary complex facility in an environment which is steeped in both history and tradition as well as rapid transformation. The university is currently engaged in an extensive development and transformation programme, which given its size and rapid growth, demanded serious financial, spacial and implementation considerations. The two buildings that were redesigned are the New Engineering Building (NEB) and adjacent Teaching and Learning Building (TLB) which are located on the south-western edge of the historic Upper Campus of the University of Cape Town. Two of Cape Town s prominent mountain peaks, Devil s Peak and McClear s Beacon, are prominent features towards the west, with the campus and city towards the east and False Bay towards the south. Upper Campus building vocabulary and proportions underlie the architecture, but are reinterpreted and expressed in a more contemporary way. Inspired by mountains behind (and the tectonic movement that created them) the external walls are expressed as heavy plates that delaminate towards the south, opening the internal spaces towards the mountain views, allowing new connections to be made to the campus fabric and landscape. The prevalent UCT hipped, tiled roof is deconstructed and expressed as planes that float over the traditionally rendered walls.
The accommodation addresses the needs of office, teaching, lecturing and laboratory space, equipment and service space, as well as a dedicated level for advanced post graduate research. Pedestrian linkages into the precinct are promoted by cascading steps along the south edge which flows into smaller landscaped terraces where students can relax or study between lectures. A new landscaped pathway along the western edge allows safe and easy access to the bus stops and the parking areas to the west. The primary student movement axis from the Chemical Engineering Building is continued through the precinct and links students to the southern parts of the campus. Departments are arranged around a southern-lit atrium and a prominent east-west break in the building which allows views to the mountain. The lower atrium and adjacent courtyard are activated by the Social Learning space on the entrance level that overlooks the activities in the new Civil Engineering Laboratories below. The exterior finishes include the obligatory university plaster and Italian clay roof tiles. The perforated aluminum screens introduce colour to the facades that relate to the ivy that is prevalent on the campus. Internally the expression of the architecture is softer and lighter. Curved off-shutter concrete balustrades accentuate the atrium that enlarges towards the south facing skylights. Shading devices and high-performance glass limit solar heat gain and glare in the extensive east and west facades whilst allowing maximum light to the spaces. Energy efficient light fittings, occupancy detection and light sensors further ensure efficiency in the lighting system. Rainwater is collected and used for flushing the WCs whilst low-flow fittings and water-wise landscaping limit the use of potable water. Energy modelling and analysis show that the building will use approximately 40-50% less energy than a notional building designed in accordance with SANS 04.
Level 4 Level 5 Level 6 Roof Aerial Views Axonometric Level Views
GALLERY Full library of images, including those featured in previous pages. Previously featured images indicated with an asterix *.
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DRAWINGS
1 10 11 1 9 1 6 6 6 10 10 8 6 4 7 5 5 13 7 5 1 3 1 1 LEGEND 1. Teaching Space. Circulation 3. Urban Stair 4. Entry Lobby 5. Electron Microscope Laboratory 6. Laboratory 7. Office 8. Services 9. Foyer-Civils 10. Store 11. Structure Lab 1. Lift 13. Terrace 0 1 500 3 000mm Floor Plan Level 01 1-300
A B 13 19 4 13 15 3 7 LEGEND 3 A 3 3 B 1. Entrance Lobby. Office 3. Teaching space 4. Laboratory 5. Store Room 6. Meeting Room 7. Courtyard 8. Terrace 9. Surface Science Facility 10. Lift 11. WC block 1. Services 13. Double Volume 14. Post Graduate Space 15. Social Learning Space 16. Deans Suite 17. Ring Road 18. Computer Lab 19. Loading Bay 0 1 500 3 000mm Floor Plan Level 0 1-300
A B 7 3 4 4 5 14 5 9 3 13 14 1 5 6 8 LEGEND 3 A 3 3 B 1. Entrance Lobby. Office 3. Teaching space 4. Laboratory 5. Store Room 6. Meeting Room 7. Courtyard 8. Terrace 9. Surface Science Facility 10. Lift 11. WC block 1. Services 13. Double Volume 14. Post Graduate Space 15. Social Learning Space 16. Deans Suite 17. Ring Road 18. Computer Lab 19. Loading Bay 0 1 500 3 000mm Floor Plan Level 03 1-300
A B 3 4 10 6 13 14 LEGEND 8 6 6 6 15 A B 1. Entrance Lobby. Office 3. Teaching space 4. Laboratory 5. Store Room 6. Meeting Room 7. Courtyard 8. Terrace 9. Surface Science Facility 10. Lift 11. WC block 1. Services 13. Double Volume 14. Post Graduate Space 15. Social Learning Space 16. Deans Suite 17. Ring Road 18. Computer Lab 19. Loading Bay 0 1 500 3 000mm Floor Plan Level 04 1-300 (Level 05 Similar)
A B 6 6 0 8 8 LEGEND A B 1. Entrance Lobby. Office 3. Teaching space 4. Laboratory 5. Store Room 6. Meeting Room 7. Courtyard 8. Terrace 9. Surface Science Facility 10. Lift 11. WC block 1. Services 13. Double Volume 14. Post Graduate Space 15. Social Learning Space 16. Deans Suite 17. Ring Road 18. Computer Lab 19. Loading Bay 0 1 500 3 000mm Floor Plan Level 06 1-300
0 14 16 4 15 8 6 14 4 4 13 15 8 1 8 4 3 13 8 13 4 15 L 3 8 8 1 1 1 1 3 1 1 1 Section AA 1-300 Section BB 1-300 LEGEND 1. Entrance Lobby. Office 3. Teaching Space 4. Laboratory 5. Store Room 6. Meeting Room 7. Courtyard 8. Terrace 9. Surface Science Facility 10. Lift 11. WC block 1. Services 13. Double Volume 14. Post Graduate Space 15. Social, Learning Space 16. Dean s Suite 17. Ring Road 18. Computer Lab 19. Loading Bay
CREDITS & CONTACTS Project name: Project Location: Architecture: Project Architects: Interiors: Project Manager: Quantity Surveyor: Town Planner: Land Surveyor: Structural Engineer: Mechanical Engineer incl. Gas Supply: Electrical Engineer: Wet Services Engineer: Lift Engineer: Project Photographer: Engineering Building Rondebosch, Cape Town SAOTA (Stefan Antoni Olmesdahl Truen Architects) Michael Wentworth Phillippe Fouché Barbara Du Toit & Associates Msingi Projects LMC Project Management LDM MLH Architects JGT Sutherland Engineering Solution Station Solution Station Solution Station Solution Station Adam Letch For more information: Sandy Dobrin SAOTA Head of Media & PR W +7 1 468 4400 E sandyd@saota.com