Sol Plaatje University Library and Student Resources Building

Consulting Engineers South Africa (CESA) AON Engineering Excellence Awards

– Winner: Projects with a value between R50 million and R250 million

The striking, origami-like roof of the Sol Plaatje University Library and Student Resources Building is both attention-grabbing and yet perfectly blended with the surrounding buildings. This bold and original project pushes the boundaries of architectural and engineering design, requiring high expectations from the concrete to perform not only as a structural element but also as an aesthetic material.

Situated in Kimberley, South Africa, the traditional diamond capital of Africa, the spectacular three-dimensional concrete envelope mimics the facetted surface of a diamond.

The entire concrete envelope is supported off slender eccentric steel columns to create the impression of a floating, hollowed out diamond.

Learn more about this project.