Construction World June 2015

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PROJECTS AND CONTRACTS
The R43-million Tygerberg campus
residence, which is being built by
student accommodation group,
STAG African, will make use of
Light Steel Frame Building and incorporate
energy-saving features such as LED lighting
and heat pumps, which will use 50% less
electricity than a standard building. The
residence, which is due for completion in
November 2015, has set its sights on being
the greenest residence in Africa.
“Sustainability and innovation are at
the forefront of our green agenda; more
than being a key focus for the university,
our students expect it,” Pieter Kloppers,
the director of student communities at the
University of Stellenbosch said. “Based
on the success of Ubuntu House, our first
green residence developed by STAG African,
we look forward to the completion of the
new residence, which will go a long way in
addressing the accommodation shortage at
our Tygerberg medical campus.”
By focusing on the student themselves,
STAG African have pioneered a cost effec-
tive, green alternative to building. "We
wanted an optimal architectural design that
ensured every square metre of the building
was designed specifically for the needs of
the student," John Schooling, MD of STAG
African said.
While campuses are expanding, taking
on more students and adding new depart-
ments, the one area of university life that is
lagging is the issue of student accommoda-
tion. “The cost of student accommodation is
very expensive; the national norm is around
R280 000 per bed – for a lot of universities,
that’s unaffordable. We looked around for
a building method that we could apply to
the South African context and discovered
a substantially cheaper solution to bricks
and mortar; something that is much better,"
Schooling said.
Used to build the Eiffel Tower, the
Empire State Building and the old and new
SA’s greenest RESIDENCE
Using Innovative Building
Technology and optimal
architectural design,
Stellenbosch University’s new
208-bed student residence,
which is currently under
construction, will help address
the major accommodation
shortage at the university.
>
World Trade Centres, Innovative Building
Technology has been widely used in many
developed countries. Not only does it
reduce carbon footprint, it also dramatically
reduces the cost and time taken to construct
buildings. “Using this technology, we can
reduce building time by 40% and the costs
associated to it dramatically. For universi-
ties, where cost ultimately is the deciding
factor, it’s an obvious choice. By default,
it addresses the student’s need for a green
living environment,” Schooling said.
“Accommodation for students is more
than providing a place to sleep; it’s about
creating communities; a listening, learning
and living environment. This is crucial to the
success of the housing facilities provided
by the university,” Kloppers said. “Student
housing, over and above providing a place
to sleep, creates a sense of belonging; for
many, it’s where real integration and cama-
raderie takes place – its importance cannot
not be underestimated.”