The Wits Flower Hall Examination and Test Centre, located on Wits Campus West, in Johannesburg, could receive an award for the World’s Best Innovative Building.
The building was shortlisted in the Creative Reuse category at the World Architecture Festival (WAF), scheduled from 6 to 8 November 2024, in Singapore.
The building was originally designed to house the Wits Agricultural Society’s flower displays during the Rand Easter Show, since 1969.
It was repurposed to serve the University’s growing need for testing and examination spaces.
The project was lauded for preserving the building’s historical elements while enhancing its functionality.
Savage + Dodd Architects designed the renovation with flexibility in mind, ensuring the building could later be transformed into a shared service laboratory facility.
Dr Heather Dodd, from Savage + Dodd Architects, who worked on the project in 2022, said “we would like to use this opportunity with Wits to showcase the work as without a great client and team, this would not have been achieved.”
Wits said in a statement, the project turned the aging, uncomfortable exam venue into a modern, energy-efficient space that retains its historical significance while supporting contemporary needs.
The renovation doubled the building’s seating capacity for tests and exams to over 1,000 seats, adding two new floors.
The upgrade also introduced innovative energy-saving systems, such as a chilled beam system and HVAC, to enhance environmental sustainability.
The WAF, is on the list of the world’s best, for its transformation and sustainable design.
It will compete against projects from 71 countries, from China, Australia, the United Kingdom, India, and Singapore.
Picture: Wits