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Modular Lecture Building
The Modular Lecture Building on the UFS’s Bloemfontein Campus.

The University of the Free State’s (UFS) Modular Lecture Building on its Bloemfontein Campus recently received a National Merit Award from the South African Institute of Architects (SAIA). The awards were announced at the 2021/2022 Corobrik SAIA Awards of Merit and Awards for Excellence ceremony in Johannesburg.

The multi-functional Modular Lecture Building, considered a hub for innovative learning, was designed by Roodt Architects in partnership with GXY Architects.

The adjudication panel received a total of 42 architectural projects from around the country, including infrastructure developments in the public and private sector. The SAIA Awards programme is structured over a two-year period and is conducted in two stages. In stage one regional awards for architecture are presented by the nine regional institutes affiliated to SAIA. In stage two the winning regional projects that are consequently entered into the national awards receive either a Commendation, an Award of Merit, and/or an Award for Excellence, which recognises exceptional achievement in the field of architecture.

In their citation the adjudicators noted that the Modular Lecture Building sets a benchmark for rational planning and technical efficiency and helps complete the campus urban framework through its placing and material choices.

Multi-functional spaces for students

Nico Janse van Rensburg, Senior Director at UFS University Estates, said the recognition is a testament to the UFS’s aspirations to renew, rejuvenate, regenerate, and revisit facilities and infrastructure.

“This award proves that excellence can be achieved with a reasonable set budget,” Janse van Rensburg said. “Energy efficiency and green building principles can be achieved by careful planning and teamwork.”

The Modular Lecture Building offers a variety of much-needed flexible teaching and learning spaces. “I have been using the facilities in this building for two years now, and I can say the building is much more spacious and conducive to studying,” said Hymne Spies, a third-year BSc student majoring in biochemistry and genetics. “The many plugs make it more efficient for studying, as one can plug in his or her laptop. There is also a nice computer lab for us to make use of.”

The UFS is proud that the construction of this facility forms part of a bigger endeavour – to create a cohesive campus identity that improves core business and to further extend its innovation and excellence as per its Vision 130.

Take a tour of the new Modular Lecturing Space and Assessment Centre Building:

News Archive

UFS Centenary ends with a weekend of festivities
2005-02-04

The University of the Free State ’s (UFS) Centenary celebrations will come to an end this weekend with a packed programme.

“We celebrated this momentous milestone of the UFS since 28 January 2004 and want to end the year on a high note,” said Mr Jan Ras, Centenary Coordinator.

The weekend will start on Friday 4 February 2005 when Prof Frederick Fourie, Rector and Vice-Chancellor, will open the UFS officially. This will be followed by an historic photo of all staff and students who are on campus that day. All staff will be wearing their academic gowns and the Centenary emblem will be depicted.

The annual Kovsie Engen Rag, with We thank you South Africa as theme, will take place on Saturday 5 February 2005 . The procession will start at 08:00 from the UFS Kovsie church and will move down Nelson Mandela Drive and right into Markgraaff Street exit until it reaches St Andrew’s Street. From here it will turn right into Kings Way where it will stop at the Art Market at 10:00 . Prof Frederick Fourie will then propose a toast on the procession. Afterwards the groups and orchestras will step out and the floats will move through the center of town around Hoffman Square and then back to the UFS campus.

According to Mr Ras a reunion for the Student Representative Council (SRC) will also take place this weekend. About 100 former SRC members are expected to attend the planned activities.

The weekend will be concluded on Sunday 6 February 2005 with a special service of devotion, hosted by all the interdenominational groups on the campus. The service starts at 18:00 for 18:30 in front of the Main Building of the UFS and will be a celebration of praise, thanks and worship, followed by a message from Dr Wollie Grobler. The evening will be concluded with a mass choir and a fireworks display.

“Members of the public are welcome to attend the service of devotion and are requested to bring a candle for the purpose of the mass choir. Although chairs will be arranged in front of the Main Building , people are requested to bring extra pillows and blankets to sit on,” said Mr Ras.

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