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UFS infrastructure recognised at SAIA Regional Awards

12 November 2021 | Story Lunga Luthuli | Photo Andre Ferreira

UFS Council Chambe — The refurbished Council Chambers of the University of the Free State was recognised with a South African Institute of Architects Free State Regional Award for Architectural Projects.

Winning three South African Institute of Architects (SAIA) Free State Regional Awards is the embodiment of the University of the Free State’s (UFS) commitment to continually improve infrastructure and create accessible spaces.

Two of the UFS projects – the Council Chambers and the Modular Lecture Space and Assessment Centre – emerged victorious in the category for Architectural Projects, while Prof Jonathan Noble, Head of the Department of Architecture, won an award in Category B – Work of Social Importance – for his book, The Architecture of Peter Rich: Conversations with Africa.

SAIA members were invited to submit Free State- and Northern Cape-based projects, completed between 1 January 2019 and 31 March 2021, for regional adjudication by a panel of judges consisting of professional architects Jeremie Malan, Diaan van der Westhuizen, and Velka Laubscher.

Each participating project were visited on 29 and 30 September 2021; the panel was ‘delighted with the quality of workmanship’.

Velka Laubscher, President of the South African Institute of Architects in the Free State, says: “The Regional Awards Programme is held biennially, and each visited project was adjudicated and awarded based on merit, looking at design, aesthetics, commodity, and orientation.

“The panel of adjudicators also follows specific guidelines to ensure that the process adheres to SAIA’s standards,” says Laubscher.

Nico Janse van Rensburg, Senior Director: University Estates at the UFS, says, “It is a great honour to receive these accolades, as our buildings are constructed on carefully controlled budgets, but still manage to exhibit a refinement in terms of architectural aesthetics. The recognition also reflects how the institution’s infrastructure performs compared to university buildings in general.”

The Department of Higher Education and Training recently recommended the UFS to other universities in the country to learn from the institution how to undertake infrastructural development while adhering to budget constraints.

The main criteria for projects to receive SAIA recognition not only involve compliance with a functional programme, but should also deal intelligently with contextual informants, creating spaces that offer opportunities for meaningful interaction, and the use of materials and measures that are sympathetic to the environment in general, as well as to our local climate conditions.

“We welcome the recognition by the department, as it gives us an opportunity to also interact and learn from other universities, since there is always room for improvement. The university community can rest assured that the allocated budget is spent to reflect the institution’s objectives and to get value for money,” says Janse van Rensburg.

Anton Roodt, architect and urban planner from GXY Architects and Roodt Architects joint consultants, says: “The value for the University of the Free State lies in the fact that the university is seen, both by its internal and external stakeholders, as an institution that values the contribution that good architecture can add to academic programmes and projecting the image of the university as an enlightened institution.”

Projects awarded with a ‘Regional Award for Architecture 2021’ will now be submitted for national adjudication to become eligible for a SAIA Award of Merit 2022 and a SAIA Award for Excellence 2022.

News Archive

King Moshoeshoe comes alive on national television

2004-11-02

Honourable Bethuel Pakalitha Mosisili, Prime Minister of Lesotho, and his wife; King Letsie III of Lesotho and Dr Ezekiel Moraka, Vice-Rector: Student Affairs at the UFS during the première of the film at the Royal Palace in Lesotho

The ground-breaking documentary film on the life and legacy of King Moshoeshoe, the founder of the Basotho nation, will come alive on Thursday 4 November 2004 when it is screened on SABC2 at 21:00

The film, called Moshoeshoe: The Renaissance King, forms part of a larger project by the University of the Free State (UFS) to honour the Moshoeshoe legacy of nation-building and reconciliation and to explore his role as a model of African leadership. It was produced by the well-known journalist Mr Max du Preez and commissioned by the UFS as part of its centenary celebrations.

The SABC2 screening was preceded by a première in Bloemfontein last month, and was attended by provincial political leaders.

This past weekend there was a première at the Royal Palace in Lesotho, which was attended by King Letsie III, the prime minister, the chief justice, judges, the president of the senate, cabinet ministers and directors-general.

“Through this documentary film the UFS commits itself to developing a shared appreciation of the history of this country and to the establishment of the Free State Province as a model of reconciliation and nation-building. King Moshoeshoe is also a strong common element, and binding factor, in the relationship between South Africa/the Free State, and its neighbour, Lesotho,” said Prof Frederick Fourie, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the UFS.

“Not all people in South Africa know the history of Moshoeshoe. Many Basotho – but not all – are well versed in the history of Moshoeshoe, and his name is honoured in many a street, town and township. Many white people know little of him, or have a very constrained or even biased view of his role and legacy. In Africa and the world, he is much less known than, for instance, Shaka,” said Prof Fourie.

“King Moshoeshoe did a remarkable thing in forging a new nation out of a fragmented society. He also created a remarkable spirit of reconciliation and a remarkable spirit of leadership,” said Prof Fourie.

According to Prof Fourie we already benefit from his legacy: the people of the Free State share a tradition of moderation and reconciliation rather than one of aggression and domination. “For the UFS this is also part of real transformation – of creating a new unity amidst our diversity,” said Prof Fourie.

“We also find in the legacy of King Moshoeshoe the possibility of a “founding philosophy”, or “defining philosophy”, for the African renaissance. To develop this philosophy, we must gain a deeper understanding of what really happened there, of his role, of his leadership. Therefore the UFS will encourage and support further research into the history, politics and sociology of the Moshoeshoe period, including his leadership style,” said Prof Fourie.

Media release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Media Representative
Tel: (051) 401-2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl.stg@mail.uovs.ac.za
2 November 2004

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