The New Administration Building
As early as the 1990s, the need for an administration building closer to the majority of lecture halls and academic staff offices was identified, as the Administration Building was then located in the River Complex, about half a kilometer away. This need was finally addressed with the opening of the new Administration Building on 27 August 2021 by the Vice-Chancellor of NWU, Prof. Dan Kgwadi.
Prof Dan Kgwadi Vice-Chancellor of the NWU officially opened the new Administration Building on 27 August 2021. With him is Prof Linda du Plessis, DVC.
The building, 2246 m2 in extent, was designed by award winning firm Mathews and Associates Architects.
Pieter Mathews is the lead architect for the new Administration Building of the NWU, Vanderbijlpark. Photo: Carla Crafford via Wikipedia.
According to their website, lead architect Pieter Mathews and his team made certain master plan suggestions which would be implemented in phases, the first being the new administration building. The article on the website continues:
The new administration building is located at the entrance to the campus to serve as a landmark building, a first point of call for the visitors. Two tall, branded towers ushers them closer.
The building is built on a higher ground level requiring the user to ascend to reach the entrance. This symbolises the academic notion of how hard work allows the student to reach their academic goal of higher learning. Photo: maaa.co.za
The client had a very pragmatic brief, dictated by the norms and standards as set out by the Department of Higher Education. The building serves many functions, all of which had to be well considered and designed for. As there are many different users including prospective students, visitors, people with financial queries, university students and staff as well as the Deputy Vice Chancellor, the complexity of access and use had to be well choreographed. The different functions were grouped together in a hierarchy ranging from very public to very private.
Many more-established university campuses are known for their symmetrical main buildings. Mathews and Associates Architects decided to contradict this notion by creating a definite asymmetrical building, thereby establishing a new aesthetic for the campus – looking towards the future. One of the two wings of the new administration building is dedicated to public interactions whilst the other is staff-oriented: office spaces, meeting rooms etc.
The building is built on higher ground level requiring the user to ascend to reach the entrance. This symbolises the academic notion of how hard work allows the student to reach their academic goal of higher learning.
A generous staircase leading to the main entrance is defined by a diagonal wall which serves to lead the visitor to the entrance. The public entrance was designed with a spacious horizontal entrance to allow for students to queue when registering in a long line on the stramp; a combination of stairs and ramps. The entrance to the Deputy Vice Chancellor’s office protrudes from a design focal point – a pixelated map of the Vaal River translated onto a façade canvas with a dark brick. This major artwork celebrates the site-specific nature and unique spirit of place.
The pixelated map of the Vaal River is depicted in bricks. Photo: maaa.co.za
The client had a very pragmatic brief, dictated by the norms and standards as set out by the Department of Higher Education. The building serves many functions, all of which had to be well-considered and designed for. As there are many different users including prospective students, visitors, people with financial queries, university students and staff as well as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, the complexity of access and use had to be well choreographed. The different functions were grouped in a hierarchy ranging from very public to very private.
Many more established university campuses are known for their symmetrical main buildings. Mathews and Associates Architects decided to contradict this notion by creating a definite asymmetrical building, thereby establishing a new aesthetic for the campus – looking towards the future. One of the two wings of the new administration building is dedicated to public interactions whilst the other is staff-oriented: office spaces, meeting rooms, etc.
The building is built on a higher ground level requiring the user to ascend to reach the entrance. This symbolises the academic notion of how hard work allows student to reach their academic goal of higher learning.
A generous staircase leading to the main entrance is defined by a diagonal wall which serves to lead the visitor to the entrance. The public entrance was designed with a spacious horizontal entrance to allow for students to queue when registering in a long line on the stramp; a combination of stairs and ramps. The entrance to the Deputy Vice Chancellor’s office protrudes from a design focal point – a pixelated map of the Vaal River translated onto a façade canvas with a dark brick. This major artwork celebrates the site-specific nature and unique spirit of the place.
About fifty pieces of art were incorporated in the New Administration Building. During the opening, Prof Linda du Plessis, DVC, said that displaying these works of art is “very important for the culture we want to cultivate.” Photo: Courtesy of Coro brick.
The garden and landscaping were not part of the architect’s contract and were to be carried out by the client; MAAA however, offered their design expertise to ensure a complete, final, and comprehensive design. By working closely with the NWU’s botanists and facilities management the design proposed to enhance the project and pick up on the corporate colours. Fields of purple Agapanthuses in full bloom complement the new vision for the North-West University Vaal Triangle and its new administration building.
New Admin Building - architects drawing