UCT Chemical Engineering Building

The Chemical Engineering Building, situated on the upper campus of the University of Cape Town, was the product of a three-year collaborative process involving academics, researchers, architects, engineers, artists, builders and students.

Materially the building blends in with the rest of the campus using “university plaster”, however it blends this with contemporary elements in order to contrast the new with the old. The base of the building is clad in stone and three storeys are raised up on piloti to form a glazed entrance on ground level. The plastered facade steps away from the glazed skin of the building in order to provide shading to the inside spaces, while allowing views and ventilation. The top storey steps back to create balconies that also have picturesque views of the city. Meshed “fins” attach to the edges of the roof in order to shade the inside spaces on this level.

• Client University of Cape Town
• Location Cape Town, South Africa
• Year 2005
• Status Built
• Awards CIA Merit Award | SAIA Merit Award
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