University of Pretoria, Student Centre

The university campus site, which was historically divided by a municipal road, now has the new Student Centre at its heart. In response to its position and role, the building plan shape is circular, with outward-radiating axes meeting existing pedestrian circulation routes.

The centre is built with materials which are technologically advanced but which acknowledge the form of the older buildings on campus. Stone, as used in the university's first building, finds its echo in the rustic concrete block masonry, while the theme of red terracotta roof tiles is repeated in the sloping oxide-coloured precast roof panels. Because of the innovative use of concrete, the building was exhibited alongside other noteworthy South African buildings by the Concrete Masonry Association at a gala dinner in Johannesburg in 1997.

The Student Centre specifically caters for the on-campus recreational needs of the students and provides facilities for relaxation, social activities and dining. Along with the usual refreshment venues, shops and admin offices, the centre houses a 600-seat cafeteria, broadcasting studios for the campus radio and an amphitheatre for student gatherings.