Minister Madikizela to Visit a University Residence Built with Alternative Materials

Western Cape Human Settlements Minister Bonginkosi Madikizela will visit the Stag student hostel that has been built using a lightweight modular steel structure at the University of Stellenbosch.

The department has a strategic outcome to ensure the optimal and sustainable use of alternative housing resources. Included in this outcome is to increase sustainable resource use by exploring other technologies and building methods. The department is working on ensuring that its new housing developments include a percentage of innovative alternative building or energy technologies.

The three-storey student hostel accommodates a total of 30 students and was built in 40 days. The building is the first one to be built in South Africa, and will be inhabited by 30 students for one year where they'll also test its thermal and sound insulation standards.The structure was approved by the South African building regulatory body two years ago.

Professor Leopoldt van Huyssteen, the Executive Director of Industry and Finance at the University of Stellenbosch, researched alternative methods of construction by different developers. He subsequently chose the Stag design as an achievable alternative to conventional structures, in order to supply housing for as many students as possible.

Due to this being the first structure to be built in South Africa, Stag Construction offered to build this prototype for the University at their own cost.

Date: Friday, 21 October 2011
Time: 11:00
Venue: Hamarshand Street, University of Stellenbosch

Directions from N2 Settlers Way, Cape Town:

• Go onto Settlers Way for 17 km.
• Continue onto N2 for 9.9 km.
• Take exit 33 for Baden Powell Drive toward R310/Stellenbosch/Macassar for 400 metres.
• Turn left onto Baden Powell Drive - 12.9 km.
• Turn right onto Polkadraai Road/R310.
• Continue to follow R310 for 2.3 km.
• Continue onto Adam Tas - 2.8 km.
• Turn right onto Molteno Road - 350 metres.
• Continue onto Jan Celliers Road - 650 metres.
• Continue onto Hamandshand Street - 400 metres