The University of Botswana Builds New Multi-disciplinary Offices & Classrooms
For centuries, this has been the issue of concern and debate in our psychological and social spheres. Many have thought and spoken about the uncertainty of life and the certainty of death. Death is the “great unknown” and this is what makes it so frightening.
Also, we perceive the inevitability of death long before it happens, which can be worrying, even tormenting. This fear and suffering keeps us from thinking seriously about death as it impedes our happiness.
Works on the P255.7 million project started with advanced piling and earthworks, followed by the construction of the main building which began in August 2007. When complete, the 32,000m² building will house multi-disciplinary offices and classrooms among other academic and administrative facilities. This project is expected to be completed by the end of March 2010.
Education is a major reflection of the economic status of any country. Thus, it is equally important that educational facilities provided for the community be of top notch quality, as is the current attempt to develop Botswana’s sole university, University of Botswana, in the country’s capital, Gaborone.
Building Planning Principles and General Description
The design development arranges the orientation of the building to maximize the preferred north south alignment to the majority of all usable spaces for daylight and cross ventilation.
The eastern façade has minimal exposure to direct sunlight with all usable spaces being protected by shade louvre or deep within the overhanging structures. Landscaping and tree-planting within the open courtyards on the eastern office façade also provides enhanced cooling zones to the office facilities surrounding these spaces. Deep narrow courtyards to the laboratories also provide cool shaded courtyards, protecting external facades from direct sunlight.
The western façade, which houses the heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) rooms against a service corridor, protects the building from major solar heat loads with solid masonry screen walls.
The basic principles of the design for movement and controlled access of the users is as follows: A centralized access point is through a foyer with security and reception facilities accessed at ground level. From this area, students and the public enter a naturally ventilated atrium provides space, light and air into the centre of the building. This is the main distributor of pedestrian movement within the building. The internal street can also function as a zone for exhibitions, and also host public functions without impact to those sensitive areas of teaching and staff office space, where security is essential.
Primary staff and student movement areas are separated to provide privacy. The internal main street effectively provides a distinction between staff and student zones. Access to all areas of the building is available to the physically challenged. The movement and service support for disabled people is therefore fully integrated into the proposal.
Site appraisal
Geotechnical investigations were conducted which identified that poor soil conditions will be met, and that a piled solution was required. Given the poor soil conditions and also the requirement to house substantial bulk water storage, HVAC plant rooms and archive storage space, the opportunity to cost effectively provide a semi-basement to house these facilities was available. An advanced piling and earthworks contract was therefore conducted to provide a dry basement solution to the building.
The basement also allows for the construction of music laboratories, and other specialized support workshops and maintenance facilities. With specific reference to the music laboratories, the acoustic isolation of this area is an important criterion. The design further allows for 24 hour access to be available as it is deemed appropriate for facilities of this nature.
The use of the 24 hr northern access located opposite to the existing dining hall, in association with the internet café and drop in computer lab, appears to be the optimum location for this facility.
Project Team
Client: University of Botswana
Consultants
Architects: Paledi Morrison Partnership
Quantity Surveyors: Mmile Mhutsiwa & Associates
Structural Engineers: Bergstan / NMA Joint Venture
Mechanical Engineers:ZMCK Consulting Engineers
Electrical Engineers: A.R. Edwards and Associates
Civil Engineers: M.T. Associates
Main Contractor: Complant Botswana
