Architect and Builder Magazine South Africa January/February 2014 | Page 30

PROJECT

Process
Engineering
The University of Stellenbosch’s Process Engineering Department
presents a contemporary face to the Stellenbosch streetscape

PROCESS ENGINEERING
University of Stellenbosch
CLIENT
University of Stellenbosch,
Facilities Management
END-USER
University of Stellenbosch,
Process Engineering
Department
ARCHITECTS
Jonker+Barnes Architects
QUANTITY SURVEYORS
De Leeuw Group
CONSULTING ENGINEERS:
STRUCTURAL
AECOM

CIVIL
SMEC (incorporating Vela VKE)
MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL
Triocon
FIRE
BE Fire
SAFETY
Smartsafe
MAIN CONTRACTOR
Rémey Group
PHOTOGRAPHY
Paul Hopkinson
Jonker+Barnes Architects

30

T

he University of Stellenbosch has only just officially opened the new extension to their
Process Engineering Faculty, completed in December 2012.

Background
The brief called for an extension to the over-capacitated Process Engineering workroom and
tutorial rooms, as well as the creation of much needed office and post-graduate study spaces.
The client expressed a need to break away from the stark, functionality of the existing
engineering building’s elevations in favour of a more pleasing visual aesthetic, while at the
same time ensuring optimum functionality within the workings of the building.
One of several architectural challenges was to efficiently combine large, loud workroom
conditions with more personal, quiet study areas in a single building within a tight footprint.
Utilising every square meter to create opportunities for learning, whether formal or
informal, presented the architects with interesting challenges. Various site constraints such
as the existing position of Block E (the storage facility), the coral tree and existing services
informed design decisions.
Architectural Conceptual Response
The site, due to its prominence on the corner of Banghoek Road, provided the opportunity
to create a building of visual importance for the Engineering Faculty.
The existence of an important movement connection between Block C (the existing
workroom) and Block E (the storage for raw materials), gave rise to the idea and placement of
the most prominent feature within the building composition – the Atrium.
Through this movement spine, the conveyance of raw and waste materials to the
workrooms occurs on a weekly basis, but its function is manifold: circulation, natural lighting,
informal learning area, compositional “spine” and plan ordering device.
The Atrium is the buffer zone between a semi-private north-facing block, housing mainly
offices, and a public south-facing block, housing laboratories, teaching and study facilities.
It is the latter that presents itself to Banghoek Road, while the former looks out onto an
existing water canal. In addition to the primary Atrium axis, a secondary north-south axis and
movement line exists between amenities (ablutions and vertical circulation) and educational
spaces. Every zone in the building benefits from a direct link to the Atrium, with the intention
of creating numerous moments for interaction, informal learning and discussion.

Process Engineering