avenue of Cork Oaks . Along the southern boundary , where the d-school address the UCT campus , this translates into a seamless experience of landscape and building .
The building design went through a number of iterations to ensure that when viewed from Rhodes Drive the d-school presents as a modest two storey structure above ground , in keeping with the adjacent Woolsack Residence and existing avenues of mature trees . However , the building section was developed to make maximum use of the significant 8.5m fall across the site to in fact provide 4 storeys , all entered off grade from the southern circulation spine .
The character and materiality of Middle Campus differs significantly from Upper Campus . Wheaten facebrick , brutalist concrete and Luytens plaster were previously the predominant material palette . In recent years two new notable buildings , the School of Economics and Masingene have evolved and softened this palette and introduced structural steel elements and flat roofs into the campus character . The d-school takes it cue from these two fine buildings , making use of similar materials and colour palette , with the exception of facebrick and Luytens plaster , which has been replaced with locally sourced sandstone cladding providing a similar but elevated finish . The resulting external finishes , comprising structural steel , aluminium sun shading , sandstone cladding , glass and planted screens result in a building that integrates into the campuses evolving character .
The new d-school building will form a centre of excellence at UCT and provide an environment in which collaboration and new ideas can flourish . In keeping with the ethos of the d-school , the project was made possible through innovative and collaborative thinking and teamwork . This integrates well with UCT ’ s goal of being a living laboratory , a campus where students and staff can interact with research and real-life examples in their fields – in this case , an innovative building , designed , fabricated , and built through collaboration , with environmental sustainability at its core .
Project Manager & Principal Agent : Fluid Projects Architect : KMH Architects Quantity Surveyor : Rider Levett Bucknall Civil & Structural Engineer : Welby Solomon Electrical Engineer : Ifindo Electrical Engineers Mechanical & Wet Service Engineer : WSP Fire Engineer : De Villiers & Moore Transport Consultant : ITS Global Green Building Consultant : PJC and Partners Acoustic Engineer : SRL South Africa Landscape Architect : Tarna Klitzner Health & Safety Consultant : Safetycon Interior Design : Design Lab Main Contractor : H & I Civil and Building
SAPOA Awards 67