Steel Construction Vol 40 No 4 - Metal Cladding and Light Steel Frame | Page 26

SAISC profile

New Generation Program alumna
Emma Nel shares her steel story
I studied civil engineering at Stellenbosch
University (BEng), graduating in 2010.
During my final year, in the subject of
Detailed Design which focussed on steel
structures, I had the privilege of being
taught by Professor Peter Dunaiski. His
course ignited my interest in steel and the
detailed design of structures using steel.
As an acknowledgement of the keen
interest I had developed in steel, Professor

Dunaiski offered me a bursary to study my
Masters of Science in structural engineering
under his guidance and supervision
starting in 2011. Tragically on the 14th of
September in 2011 he passed away. He was
irreplaceable as a mentor and icon in the
steel industry and his presence is missed
greatly by all who knew him. I will forever
be grateful to him for the way in which
the opportunities that he afforded me have
changed my life.
The New Generation Programme
In 2011 I was one of 3 students from
Stellenbosch University selected to
attend the New Generation programme
hosted by the South African Institute of
Steel Construction (SAISC). Being a part
of this programme was a very exciting
opportunity. We were exposed to award
winning designs exhibiting the versatility of
structural steel. The structures highlighted
its competence as a standalone material
and celebrated steel as an architectural
feature.
In addition to attending the Steel Awards,
we were taken around to various sites in
Johannesburg that exhibited inspiring uses

TOP: Emma Nel.
ABOVE: The New Generation Programme
participants at Steel Awards 2011.

Exciting design work
Over the last two and a half years (from feasibility to detailed design and fabrication),
I have had the wonderful exposure opportunity to do the structural design component
of an entire treatment plant for a marine vessel. This entailed the detailed design of the
steel structures making up the treatment plant component of the most advanced marine
diamond sampling and exploration vessel in the world. This year the structures have been
fabricated and are due to be rigged on board in August when the vessel (SS NUJOMA)
arrives from Norway.
There could be no greater tribute to the use of steel in structural design than this project
exhibits. The entire structural design component (in excess of 700t of steel), as well as
the vessel on which it shall be constructed, which constitutes the structures “foundations”
is all made of steel. Through this project I have seen steel in all its glory, with its endless
applications and versatility. It has been a vertical learning curve, which I can only imagine
is incomparable to any other opportunity I could have had, and has cemented my love of
steel and interest in the industry.
I will remain a Steel ambassador and hope to contribute to the industry in any way possible
moving forward.

24 Steel Construction Vol. 40 No. 4 2016