capping beams also served to underpin existing façade foundations during basement excavation .
Huge RC transfer beams were introduced at ground floor level , which span up to 15m and have a depth of up to 2m . It facilitated a columnfree basement lecture theatre space beneath , optimising viewing sightlines , while allowing a change in columnar grid for the four floors above . These upper levels were designed in weightsaving ‘ composite construction ’ – a system of steel beams working together with thin RC slabs – reducing loads on transfer structures . Potentially high deflections , symptomatic of the composite construction , were reduced to almost nothing by pre-cambering of steel beams , allowing the beautifully functional polished concrete floor slabs to shine with an even shimmer .
All these concrete and steel beams were designed with numerous sizeable penetrations to accommodate the passage of a multitude of HVAC and electrical services commensurate with the functional requirements of a modern facility of this kind .
On the uppermost level , the existing RC columns were extended , and the existing 21m long heritage-graded structural steel lattice girders were reinstalled . These girders worked together with reimagined roof trusses that thoroughly respected the original roof , but with modifications to allow large triangular skylight-like protrusions that now bathe the previously hidden roof structure in natural light .
Most of these structural challenges and engineered solutions are now essentially veiled by the preserved façade , leaving visitors non-thewiser to the complexity involved in this project .
Chris Hani Remembrance The Chris Hani Remembrance Project was initiated by Jakupa . Its purpose is to illustrate and celebrate the legacy of Chris Hani throughout the building . Chris Hani stood for collective empowerment and social change . Cultivating awareness amongst our youth about South Africa ’ s painful past is part of a broader process of social , economic and cultural transformation within our universities and our society at large . Following consultation with the Hani Family , the project draws on identifying feature walls within the building and transforming them to function as illustrative installations , graphically developed by Jakupa .
Conclusion In the race for empty land and new developments , it is easy to demolish and forget the rich architectural history behind old buildings . Especially in the context of UCT ’ s Upper Campus . The Chris Hani Lecture Theatre is making the case for readapting older buildings and enriching the architectural vocabulary of our universities and cities by creating a spacious and inviting space with its eclectic interior design approach that encapsulates the spirit of the practice .
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