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Our role is the forward planning and delivery of infrastructure that supports Wits’ strategic goals:
- to increase the intake and throughput of quality graduates
- to increase the percentage of post graduate and research students, attracting the best
- to be a world-100 university, building on Wits’ unique South African urban identity.
- to attract, inspire and retain quality academic and support staff.
Wits Campus Development & Planning (CDP) has evolved since 2008 to create permanent capacity for campus planning and the delivery of a large portfolio of construction projects. The current investment of R1.5b (2008 – 2013) represents a partnership commitment by Government, Wits and the private sector to address priority projects across university campuses, faculties and the student residence programme.
The first fruit of this commitment, the extension and modernisation of the FNB Building on West Campus, was handed over in April 2009 providing inter-alia five new contemporary auditoriums. Other completed projects and work in progress can be viewed on the Projects Portfolio webpage.
All construction projects are located within the long-term vision of a refreshed Spatial Development Framework that was finalised in 2009 after a university wide consultative process. This overarching framework is grounded on the University’s 2022 strategic academic goals. It establishes strategic spatial development principles and supports flexible growth into the future. Importantly, the SDF is a living document that allows for detailed precinct design in an ongoing and unfolding planning process managed by CDP.
CDP’s planning responsibilities include property development, improved campus access and integration as well as urban and rural outreach. To optimise growth and improvement, CDP is developing framework guidelines on a range of spatial issues including housing, sport and recreation, parking, heritage and environmental sustainability.
The programme is managed by a directorate which reports to the Deputy Vice Chancellor: Finance and Operations and is guided by a number of oversight and consultative committees.
Our core business is the management of:
- Campus planning to support the University’s long-term growth aspirations
- Infrastructure design and implementation to meet the needs of faculties and users.
To deliver project excellence we have assembled quality design and construction teams. We draw on global experience and the best practice of South Africa’s property and construction sectors.
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