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Multi Purpose Building (Old Administration Building)

Multi-Purpose Building (Old Administration Building)

  • In 1982-3 the erection of a steel structure, for use by the Department of Mechanical and Metallurgic Engineering, commenced. Building work came to a standstill when the Council of the PU for CHE decided to use the Goodyear Building to house the engineering departments.
  • The Goodyear Building, in the northwest area of Vanderbijlpark, was bought in 1976 to house the Vaal River Branch of the PU for CHE as it was known at the time.
  • The steel structure at the Vaal River property was reassigned for administrative staff as well as academic staff teaching humanities and economic subjects. The centre part of the building had to be redesigned. Apart from the library, this building housed offices of which most were in walled areas in the centre of the building.
  • After 1993, when academic staff and the library moved out, it was known as the Administration Building.
  • On 21 August 1995 students broke down the front door of the Administration Building and trashed the building. Damage amounted to thousands of rand. The South African Police Service arrested 98 students. Some of them appeared in court a month later, but the PU for CHE decided to drop the case against them. Disciplinary action was taken by the University itself.
  • With the completion of the new Administration Building in 2021, the old Administration Building was repurposed as a multi-purpose hall.
  • The multi-purpose hall project started in July 2022, and it was completed in March 2023. The hall was planned for hosting events and public gatherings such as graduation ceremonies, examinations, conferences, workshops, social and indoor sports events and public lectures. It can accommodate more than 1 700 people and is equipped with state-of-the-art features.
  • DVC Prof Linda du Plessis said: “This building will definitely enhance the student value proposition on the campus and will allow us to do even more to create a vibrant student life. All graduates can now look forward to graduating on campus, next to the picturesque Vaal River.”

 

Multi Purpose Buiulding

PHOTO: Multi purpose building in the 1980s

CAPTION: This is how the multi-purpose building, later the Administration Building, appeared in the 1980’s.