Frans du Toit Building (E9)

• In the 1950s departments of the Faculty of Arts were still housed in the Main Building. It was already decided in principle in 1948 to build an own building for Arts, but there were more pressing needs, such as a new library and laboratories.
• The Committee for Grounds and Buildings indicated that the area east of the library was earmarked for a building for Arts. 
• In 1960 the building project was approved, but only after the completion of other projects. Hence the building could be planned more purposefully. 
• It was hoped that the building would provide enough space for all the departments of Arts, but due to a lack of funds only 19 departments could initially be housed here. 
• Prof AL Meiring of the firm, Meiring and Naudé received the commission. The building was to, apart from offices and lecture halls, also have space for specialised teaching, including seminar rooms, a language laboratory, an ethnology museum, offices for the dean, a conference hall, a staff room and exhibit space. There was not enough space for each staff member to have an office. Only professors had such privilege. 
• Tenders were requested early in 1963. Costs were estimated at R239 000 and the completion date was set for September 1964.
• Only half of the building was built by this date and it was eventually completed in April 1965. 
• The building was named after a former Chancellor of the University, Dr FJ (Frans) du Toit. He held the office from 26 November 1954 and took over after Prof JC van Rooy had passed away. On 17 March 1961 Dr Du Toit died in Bangkok, Thailand while he was on a trade mission to that country. Through his endeavours about R70 000 was contributed to the building fund of the University in 1957. Later in 1961 it was announced that the new building for Arts was to be named after him.