Green award for literary museum

THE National English Literary Museum (NELM) in Grahamstown has achieved a five-star rating from the Green Building Council South Africa (GBCSA).

It has become the first building certified a Green Star SA Public and Education Building As Built in the country.

The museum was constructed using recycled steel, non-toxic adhesives and paint, and comes complete with a roof garden, bamboo flooring and carpets made from recycled rubber.

Rainwater is also used in the ablution facilities.

GBCSA chief executive Dorah Modise said: “This is an achievement every South African can celebrate.

“We’re incredibly proud to confirm this significant rating for the NELM building.

“We applaud the Department of Public Works for this outstanding building and for setting a worthy benchmark for public and education buildings in South Africa.”

NELM director Beverley Thomas said the building was part of a pilot project of the Green Building Council of South Africa to develop a rating tool for public and education buildings.

The design, submitted in 2013, achieved a five-star rating.

This the first museum in South Africa to be assessed.

On completion and assessment this year, the building was awarded five stars out of a possible five.

“We received the plaques yesterday and are delighted that our museum has achieved this five-star rating,” Thomas said.

Thomas also commended Dr Eben Greyling, project manager at the national Department of Public Works in Port Elizabeth, who spearheaded the project.

Greyling said: “The department is proud to be associated with this project and proud to work with the GBCSA.”