Stellenbosch University’s (SU) faculty of engineering is still undergoing renovations to a few of its buildings aimed at addressing safety concerns following an increase in its annual student intake.
This is according to Enzo D’Aguanno, faculty director at SU’s faculty of engineering. The construction, which began in 2015, was granted an initial budget of approximately R750 million, said D’Aguanno.
This was later adjusted to R850 million adjusting for inflation and the expected date of completion is November 2026, according to D’Aguanno.
Stellenbosch University budgeted approximately R850 million towards the construction and refurbishment of the entire engineering faculty, according to Enzo D’Aguanno, faculty director at the faculty of engineering. According to D’Aguanno, the project forms part of a plan to increase student capacity and to address safety concerns raised by fire marshals. PHOTO: Nkululeko Ndlovu
Increase in student intake
“About 20 years ago our [faculty’s] first-year intake used to be about 250 students,” said D’Aguanno.
Now, the faculty has an intake of approximately 1 200 first-year students which, according to D’Aguanno, exceeds the current capacity of the lecture hall and laboratory spaces.
Stellenbosch University (SU) recently began construction at the general engineering building. This is part of a broader project of the refurbishment of the entire engineering faculty complex, according to Enzo D’Aguanno, faculty director of the faculty of engineering at SU. PHOTO: Nkululeko Ndlovu
The increase in student intake came from a request by the department of higher education and training (DHET), according to D’Aguanno.
“One of the priority fields that [the DHET] wanted more graduates in was in the engineering field because they needed to support the growth projected for South Africa in terms of infrastructure investment,” said D’Aguanno.
More students, more safety measures
“We also had a risk analysis on our buildings which had issues because of our numbers. […] Fire chiefs didn’t feel that there were enough emergency exits and emergency staircases in the event of a fire,” said D’Aguanno
A lack of earth leakages across the engineering complex was an added concern for safety marshals, said D’Aguanno.
“If you were to have one exit point in an emergency, everyone would trample one another in that emergency, or even be trapped in that building,” said Felicia Menze, an occupational health and safety officer at the Cape Winelands District Municipality.
“So, for each floor, you should have two exits, depending on the building,” said Menze.
Construction at the faculty of engineering at Stellenbosch University has resulted in a decrease in accessible entrances to the faculty building as well as usable communal student spaces. This is according to Callum Wilcox, a representative of the Engineering Student Committee. PHOTO: Nkululeko Ndlovu
The construction has caused logistical problems for students in terms of access, according to Callum Wilcox, a representative of the Engineering Student Committee.
“There are also fewer places to spread out the classes. For instance, […] when one class comes out of the two doors that are never both open, it creates so much traffic because everyone is exiting the same entrance,” said Wilcox.
Editor’s note: This article was updated on 5 August to correct Felicia Menze’s place of work to the Cape Winelands District Municipality.