Newtown's science centre
18 February 2004
The construction of the Sci-Bono Discovery Centre, the new science centre in Newtown, in Johannesburg, is steadily moving towards completion as the date for the operation of the project’s first phase (Phase 1a), approaches.
This first phase, which started in September 2003, is scheduled to be operational in March 2004 and entailed developing the front portion of the exhibition hall to include 10 percent to 20 percent of the exhibits. The hall will also accommodate temporary classrooms and laboratories, as well as temporary administration offices in the west annexe of the Electric Workshop.
A portico will be developed at the entrance with front-of-house offices and a coffee shop. Mechanical and electrical renovations will also be carried out.
The construction team had to devise a plan to work around the current tenants at the Electric Workshop, without causing any major inconvenience to their daily operations.
All the tenants'
leases expired between September and December 2003 and most of them have either been relocated to other premises managed by the Johannesburg Development Agency in the Newtown Precinct or have made alternative arrangements.
The premises they had occupied have now been closed to allow renovations to proceed.
The construction team will now start with work for Phase 1b and Phase 2, which entail completing the refurbishment of 1 President Street and the construction of the Education Centre, which will include two levels of the parking basement, workshops, stores and some retail facilities.
At Level 2, an educational resource centre, classrooms and a canteen will be developed. Levels 3 and 4 will comprise a 350-seater auditorium and more classrooms/laboratories as well as a restaurant.
Phases 1b and 2 are scheduled to be completed by January 2005.
The final phase, which will entail developing the existing offices west into additional offices, a pre-school
discovery centre and the Career Centre, is scheduled for completion in early 2006.
The centre already has a new executive team whose term officially started on 1 January 2004, and operates on a full-time basis from temporary offices. The executive team is headed by Kelebogile Dilotsotlhe (chief executive), David Kramer (chief operating officer), and Hemant Waghmarae (business development director). The team will move to their new offices at the Sci-Bono Discovery Centre before the opening of Phase 1a in March.
Source: Sci-Bono Discovery Centre
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