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Expanding the PMB Centre to Create a Sustainable DUT

Expanding the PMB Centre to Create a Sustainable DUT

Major alteration plans are in place at Durban University of Technology’s Pietermaritzburg Centre over the next two to three years in a bid to ensure that the University remains sustainable for future generations.

The development plan, which will entail the expansion and renovation of the Indumiso and Riverside campuses, will see engineering programmes in Electrical, Mechanical, Construction Management and Quantity Surveying disciplines being introduced to the PMB Centre’s Riverside Campus. This will be in addition to the Civil Engineering Programme which is currently being offered at the Indumiso Campus and will relocate to the Riverside Campus.

The Indumiso Campus will focus on health and education studies.

Indumiso Campus
Len Rosenberg, DUT Campus Planner, said proposals costing to the tune of R130 million for the Indumiso Campus are at an advanced stage and construction will begin next year (2015).

“Four new lecture venues ranging from a 150 seater to a 500 seater are to be constructed for the Teacher Education and Nursing programmes offered on this campus (Indumiso). A 150 seater flat classroom and a 150 seater computer lab, as well as major alterations to the library are also on the cards. The library will be relocated at a temporary facility on campus on Block 7 whilst the construction of the library is taking place,” he said.

Riverside Campus
Rosenberg said the major alterations and additions on the Riverside Campus are currently at a very preliminary stage of design. “The new buildings will accommodate the Department of Civil Engineering which will relocate from Indumiso Campus. Major extensions to the library, new large lecture venues and a test venue are also being planned for Riverside Campus,” he said.

Meanwhile, two major construction projects are currently underway at the Durban Centre’s Steve Biko Campus, the biggest being two blocks of student residences which will accommodate 800 students.

The S Block extension is the other construction project that is also currently being undertaken. This project (S Block extension) serves to replace temporary lecture venues currently located at the Alan Pittendrigh Library basement through the construction of six new lecture venues and seven computer laboratories to be accommodated on a four storey building for the faculties of Engineering and the Built Environment and Applied Sciences. The extension will also make space for the Co-operative Education Department on the ground floor.

The two student residences are expected to be ready for occupation sometime next year (2015).

– Sinegugu Ndlovu

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