feel . Planting of vertical creepers which will eventually grow up the tensioning cables of the staircases will add some greenery and further soften the hard elements of the space .
Sustainability The building incorporates rainwater harvesting . Locally sourced materials were used where possible . The sun glare on the western façade is minimised due to the use of screening and airconditioning in the foyer was kept to a minimum .
Challenges The nature of the building , with its scientific and research elements , required quite specific
design and services installations . For example , a laboratory dedicated to research on Metal and Carbon could not contain any metal elements within the design and finishes . These challenges were overcome by working closely with the University and end users from the outset to identify each specialised requirement .
Conclusion The new addition to the Ocean Sciences campus marks the beginning of a move to a new , contemporary vision at Nelson Mandela University which connects the campus and the visitor more directly with the academic pursuits being undertaken therein .
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