The NMU - Engineering Building - Phase 1

The Engineering Building - Nelson Mandela University, North Campus, was the first building constructed when the University of Port Elizabeth(UPE), the Port Elizabeth Technikon and the Vista University PE Campus merged together. The construction of the building was completed in 2011.

According to Herholdt, 2013, the client desired a new building that communicated the new face of the university as a dynamic, leading academic institution on the African continent.

The detailing of the building is purposefully designed to reflect the activities of the engineering department. I find this ironic, as this is a building designed to reflect the typical engineering student, but its designed by an architect, Imbono FGA & ADA Architects to be exact. The defining element of the building is the organic façade, which faces University Way and symbolizes a dynamic new university. The building is orientated to an East-West axis to comply with green design principals, the aesthetic contribution to the zinc cladding façade, the zink cladding acts as a thermal buffer to the 200 seat auditorium located behind it on the West façade.

Building facing University Way

The Engineering Building is purposefully located next to the MTLC and Heinz Betz buildings on the left of the Engineering building.

The connection improves human traffic throughout the day, helping students and lecturers to be on time and punctual.

When I first started my studies in 2015 this was the first building I saw as the icon of my architectural studies, typical of me as silly first year. Needless to say, I soon realized that there are much more buildings and favorable architects. Still today in my fourth year of studies this is building that generally still make a good statement when passing by.

Recently a new addition to this building was constructed which I am not so fond of, but I will present my thoughts on this in my following blog post titled, “The NMU - Engineering Building Phase 2”