Another award for city varsity
THE NEWER additions to Kimberley’s skyline have again received national recognition, with the Sol Plaatje University (SPU) building scooping another prestigious award.
After claiming a 2017 Fulton Concrete Award, the SPU Library and Student Resource Centre have been given yet another major accolade, winning a Consulting Engineers of South Africa (Cesa) Award, trumping 11 other contenders in the category for projects with a value of between
R50 million and R250 million.
The library is draped in a continuous concrete shell which takes on a strong angular, diamond-like shape. Each roof corner of the building is at a different level which corresponds with the neighbouring building tying the overall precinct together as the focal point of the central campus. The diamond shape of the building is reminiscent of the diamond mining history of the city.
One of the key structural elements of the project is the library’s floating facade. The integrated external skin of the building blends the walls with an origami-like roof which is functionally, structurally and technically independent from its inner building core.
A large sample wall and sloping roof section were constructed, to test and ensure that the geometry, design, proposed construction joint preparation and material placement techniques would work. Also tested were the curing strategy, formwork panel alignment, tie-through hole options, material workability and vibration techniques to ensure proper compaction and surface finishing.
After constructing the sample wall successfully, it was broken down to investigate the compaction of the material around the complex steel column shear connectors and reinforcement detailing throughout. The rigorous testing and success achieved with the sample wall established confidence in the various approaches.
Another important structural element on the project was the use of A-frames over the auditorium. It enabled the design team to omit two columns without using bulky transfer beams in the space, which provided better aesthetics and enabled cost savings as the floorto-floor height of the space didn’t have to increase as a consequence.
“This landmark library and student resources building provides a highly visible and sculptural presence to the central campus precinct, linking it to the surrounding Kimberley inner city regeneration project,” said Heinrich Stander, Aurecon structural engineer and technical director.
The other nominees in the category included the Grayston Pedestrian and Tugela River bridges as well as the rehabilitation work of major infrastructure and roads in various parts of the country.
Last year, SPU’s library was declared the winner of the prestigious 2017 Fulton Concrete Award for the category “Buildings more than 3-Storeys”.
The project also received a commendation in the category “Architectural Concrete” at the biennial event, widely considered the “Oscars” of the South African concrete industry.
– Murray Swart