The Lebone College II was founded in 1997, by the late Kgosi Lebone II. The main concept for the college was to create a set of villages comprising the teaching buildings, large communal gathering space, smaller spaces for intimate meetings, and homes for boarding facilities.
Like the original Bafokeng settlements of the 15th to 19th centuries, the college was built on a hillslope. The site’s dramatic landscape was intentionally fused into the design to convey the idea of “transcending from mineral wealth to the wings of knowledge” (Activate Architects, 2011) .
Every L-shaped classroom surrounds a courtyard. This creates a naturally well-lit and ventilated space, allowing for a variety of teaching modes. The classrooms were clustered together, forming so-called ‘villages’. Our client wanted to create a non-institutionalised, homely feel in the village-like design of the classrooms. Each classroom has their own ablutions, teacher’s office and lockers.
Our solutions
WSP provided the following services:
- Structural design
- Civil design, which included Bulk earthworks, Bulk sewer, Stormwater, Water reticulation and the Road network
- Construction monitoring
- Quality control
We designed reinforced concrete frames for the double-storey structures, and steel elements for the roofs.
The environmental impact of the facility is minimised by passive design that maximizes, natural day light, glare controls, natural ventilation. All water used on site is fully recycled. Buildings and sports field where placed on previously damaged portions of the site and arranged so as to save significant existing trees.
The project was completed successfully, on time and within budget.
