The Devland SOWETO Education Campus has a compact, low-slung volume. Photo © Ken Gerhardt
In 2010, when Deborah Terhune pivoted from a decades-long career in private-sector real estate to one in social entrepreneurship, she founded the nonprofit Growing Up Africa, with a two-pronged education mission. The New York–based organization develops secure and technology-ready education facilities in South Africa with local labor, so that community members gain valuable field experience in the construction trades. In addition, upon conclusion of those projects, buildings are donated to school operators to perpetuate a culture of learning. The recently completed Devland Soweto Education Campus in Johannesburg is Growing Up Africa’s first foray into a higher-education program.
The campus was built by the community. Photo © Ken Gerhardt, click to enlarge.
The 21,500-square-foot building, which comprises administrative offices and flexible learning spaces, anchored by an auditorium in its northeast corner, was designed by New York–based William Reue Architecture, with Africa’s largest firm, Boogertman + Partners, serving as architect of record. Both studios worked on the commission pro bono, and 225 companies donated materials and labor to the effort in all. These goods and professional services make up 80 percent of the total cost of the facility, which is equivalent to $6.9 million.
The large daylit flex room. Photo © Ken Gerhardt
The Devland campus occupies a 1.7-acre parcel overlooking a highway that connects its namesake community—part of the Soweto townships, which a segregationist government established as a Black ghetto in the 1930s—to Johannesburg. Although Terhune says her expansive network of corporate sponsors and private donors are committed to Growing Up Africa’s goals in principle, architect William Reue notes that givers needed a highly resolved schematic design to galvanize tangible commitments. In turn, Reue conceived a low-slung volume, parallel to the artery at its east, with a roofline that rakes upward dramatically to accommodate the auditorium within. “It was important to have a bold and dignified presence at the street to create a center of gravity, while scaling the rest of the building to the informal development that surrounds the site,” he says.
The initial drawings of the school secured the donated concrete that makes up the building’s superstructure, and the design evolved as subsequent gifts fell into place. Responding to an offer of more than 20,000 sandbags, for example, Reue thickened the walls to make use of their thermal and acoustical properties. When that framing prevented Reue from punching geometrically complex openings into the north and west elevations, he approximated that idea by installing donated windows in a seemingly random pattern. Alternatively, when Reue thought that the aluminum extrusions cladding a nearby Johannesburg gallery would make an evocative skin for the auditorium, Terhune was able to raise funds for a direct purchase.
The buildings feature playful fenestration. Photos © Ken Gerhardt
Because few of these transactions took place in single swoops, Terhune orchestrated construction based on the availability of supplies and laborers. Occasionally work would pause until the planets realigned in her favor. Even so, she says, “it was important that I was on-site every day. I made a promise to the community and to everyone who committed time and resources to this project.” Fulfilling that promise, in 2021 Terhune turned the campus over to the University of Johannesburg, which will run the facility as a satellite specializing in the STEAM curricula for its undergraduates and local continuing-education students. The university, moreover, has partnered with the global IT services and consulting company Accenture, so that students may be assigned to one of its projects upon completion of their coursework.
Architect: William Reue Architecture 1133 Broadway, Suite 1025 New York, NY 10010 PH: 917.992.8229 Website: www.wreue.com
Personnel in architect's firm who should receive special credit: William Reue AIA (design lead), Joshua Bailey (design team), Tyler Stowell (design team), Jennifer Wong (design team)
Architect of Record: Boogertman + Partners Block C, Main Straight Office Park Bryanston, South Africa 2194 PH: +27.11.790.1600 Website: www.boogertmanandpartners.com
Associate Architect(s): ML Architects 37 Old Kilcullen Road Sandton, South Africa 2191 PH: +27.72.316.9650 Website: http://mlarchitects.co.za
Interior Designer: Development & Design Consulting
Engineers: Civil: SMEC South Africa Civil: Earth Civils Structural: SMEC South Africa Electrical: Spoormaker & Partners Electrical: MRT Electricians Plumbing: Ferro Plumbing Traffic: The WSP Group Africa
Consultants : Plant & Equipment Supplier: Tiber Construction Group Quantity Surveyor: Norval Wentzel Steinberg Surveyor: Samsara Survey Solutions Zoning & Planning: Urban Dynamics Permit Consultant: Mandy Pietersen, MPBC Pest Control: Johannesburg Pest Control Specialist Pest Control: Pestatermite Waterproofing: Tintinger Concrete Testing: David Tite Soil Testing: Roadlab Kitchen Design: Famous Brands
General Contractor: Growing Up Africa
Structural System: Concrete Structure: Metier
Exterior Cladding: Masonry: CEMblocks Metal panels: Alania Building Systems Aluminum Shopfronts: Govender’s Aluminium & Glass
Roofing: Built-up roofing: Sikalastic by SIKA South Africa; Light-weight Screed by Pratley; Cement and Aggregate by PPC Limited; Rigifoam Insulation; Impact Drill & Anchors by Upat Waterproofing: Cement Waterproofing by Chryso SA Waterproofing: Pluvia Siphonic Roof Drain System by Geberit
Windows: Metal frame: Govender’s Aluminium & Glass
Glazing: Glass: Govender’s Aluminium & Glass Skylights: Govender’s Aluminium & Glass
Doors: Entrances: Metal framed entry doors by Govender’s Aluminium & Glass Fire-control doors: Hufcor products by iFUBA Special doors: Hufcor products by iFUBA
Hardware: Locksets: Hufcor products by iFUBA Locksets: Govender’s Aluminium & Glass
Interior Finishes: Acoustical Ceilings: Siniat, a division of the global Etex Group Suspended Ceilings: Suspension cables & attachments by Gripple SA Demountable Partitions: Toilet Partitions by iFUBA Cabinetwork and Custom Woodwork: Dokter & Misses Paint & Special Finishes: Versus Paints, SA Wall coverings: Magnastrut Special surfacing: Granite countertops by Ohlhorst Marble and Granite Floor and wall tile: Vinyl Floor by Belgotex; Porcelain floor & wall tiling by Mazista Tiles Carpet: Carpeting by Belgotex Floor Leveling: Floor leveling by ITE Floor Leveling: Movement Joints by Kirk Marketing
Furnishings: Office furniture: Dokter & Misses Chairs: Punk Chairs by Green Company Tables: Dokter & Misses Other furniture: Benches by Dokter & Misses
Lighting: Interior ambient lighting: AURORA Lighting Group Exterior: Eurolux
Plumbing: Sinks, Basins,Toilets/Urinals: Geberit
Energy: Sandbag Wall System: African Olive Concepts Sandbag Framing System: MiTek Industries SA Sandbag Fabric: Fibertex Sandbag Fabrication: Stitchwise
Other: Scaffolding & Formwork: WACO Africa Group Int’l. Exterior Site Fencing: ClearVu Fencing by Cochrane Stainless Steel Handrails: Steel Studio Exterior Granite Stairs: Ohlhorst Marble and Granite Exterior Concrete Paving: Bosun Exterior Tile Paving: Smartstone Exterior Concrete Lintels: FabCon Concrete Guardhouse Roof: CSS Rebar for Concrete: Steeldale Core Drills: HILTI Building & Plaster Sand: Sandshifters Electrical Boards: EBM Electrical Cables: Aberdare Powertech Building & Plaster Sand: Sandshifters Building & Plaster Sand: Gomes Building & Plaster Sand: PPC Limited Building & Plaster Sand: CEMblocks
You must have JavaScript enabled to enjoy a limited number of articles over the next 30 days.
Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the Architectural Record audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep.
Credits: 1 AIA LU/HSW; 1 AIBD P-CE; 0.1 IACET CEU May qualify for learning hours through most Canadian architectural associations
This presentation will explore fresh, new innovative concepts for appropriate systematic solutions, as well as guidelines and recommendations for the housing of these resources.
Credits: 1 AIA LU/Elective; 1 AIBD P-CE; 0.1 IACET CEU May qualify for learning hours through most Canadian architectural associations
This webinar brings together firm principals and project managers who have established protocols. They'll share best practices for effective collaboration, coordination, and communication, which produces better projects with fewer change orders and errors.
Copyright ©2022. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.
Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing