Construction World December 2023

ARFRCIHSIATMECITNSNOVATION AWARD FOR SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION

SOWETO EDUCATION & TECHNOLOGY CAMPUS

G rowing Up Africa envisioned a building that would facilitate a variety of community education programmes that might change over time as the needs of the community evolve. In addition to satisfying the programmatic requirements for the project, the organization wanted the building’s architecture to be a strong visual statement that communicated its commitment to providing resources necessary to improve educational opportunities for the Devland community. The organisation made it clear that the design must be tough, durable, and easy to maintain – and that the entire building would be constructed of donated materials. Growing Up Africa, aware of the risks and knowing full well that the challenges may be insurmountable, committed to building a world class campus for a deserving community. The SOWETO Education & Technology Campus will provide a blended mix of education opportunities, from basic skills to uplift the community to advanced

technical training to develop techno-preneurs in the community and its surroundings. The idea is to support the community with multiple education opportunities that will provide offerings related to the advancement of the community but also provide entrepreneurship opportunities in Industry 4.0 to the talent pool within. A major aim of this project is to ensure that historically disadvantaged communities, like SOWETO, are included in Fourth Industrial Revolution and technology development. This was an important aspect for Growing Up Africa’s design choice to donate the campus on to The University of Johannesburg. A contrary approach may see individuals, who are already poor, being further marginalised by lack of technology. The primary structure of the project was designed as a robust concrete superstructure with generous open space, expansive overhangs, infill of sandbag walls for thermal performance, and glass curtain wall at the street-facing façade. The design strategy for

88 22 nd Best Projects Awards 2023