The National Electronic Media Institute of South Africa – NEMISA, operates from a modern office and studio complex centrally situated in Parktown, Johannesburg.

The newly revitalized institute will now have a newly refurbished Building that relates to the dynamic and creative hub that the Institute represents. The building’s unusual spaces allowed Koen Architecture to interject a four-story atrium with a central communicating stair that serves as a central link to all classrooms and offices. To create a stronger entry and to link the inside / outside spaces, the proposal presents extensive base building modifications which allow daylight into the building – We propose that we replace the windowless facade with a two-story glass curtainwall that will give Nemisa an instant presence in the neighbourhood.

We also designed the conversion of a large studio into a tiered auditorium that can be used as a classroom, lecture hall, or meeting space. To accommodate additional programmatic needs, the project includes specialized spaces such as an alumni centre, faculty rooms and study spaces. The Nemisa building after construction will be a four – five storey structure of just under 5350m². This would all be subject to a Town planning rezoning application for the additional Bulk as the existing town planning conditions and building only allows 3984.3m². The project will have a significant architectural presence while also respecting the existing campus context and environment.

A key project goal is to create an environment that encourages collaborative learning and creativity, and is flexible enough to evolve with the introduction of new technologies and methodologies. The vocabulary of the building looks to the future yet is cognizant of its context. The building is “outward facing”, encouraging public engagement and advertising its purpose and program. The design speaks to innovation but is also timeless in its appearance. The new NEMISA building achieves all of these goals yet is very cost effective.

See more of the developmental plans for Renaissance Park

Development Plans

Site Orientation and Access

The site is principally oriented north / south with access from Leeds Street, in order to simplify the entry route and maximise the architectural exposure and interest.

Vehicular and pedestrian routes have been designed with clear integrity avoiding issues of cross circulation. Entrance to the building is designed around a legible process and set of experiences designed to add clarity to the use while presenting an impressionable initial understanding of the building. Separation of tenant, visitor or service is clear and unambiguous.

Form and Stacking

The principal driver determining the form and stacking is the maximisation of the bulk. Parking requires an area of approximately 1.5 x the site area. In order to maximise the 3 storey allowable bulk it then becomes necessary to excavate and place the majority of the parking below ground. A split basement solution has been adopted in order to minimise the excavation at the rear of the site, offering opportunities for ventilation while still allowing the ground storey of office space to be connected directly to the ground level and maintaining the full 3 storeys for office accommodation above.

The split level basement configuration is also highly efficient as all the level transfers are only half level changes and can be maintained within the roadways to the parking layouts

The building stacks around an atrium which behaves as a heat sink in the summer months and can be closed to retain heat in winter. The added natural light source to the deeper space is also important.

The plan form creates a forecourt which is used to facilitate entry, vertical circulation and amenities.

Legibility

The positioning of the entrance in a negatively articulated forecourt space allows the architecture of the positive form to clearly and legibly indicate entry. The process of entry can be read through the position of stairs and canopies drawing the user into the scheme.

Lifts, stairs, receptions and entries to various office tenancies have been designed with strong visual connections all contributing to the overall legibility and clarity of the space

Planning

Planning is organised on an H Frame plan allowing formal access to be delivered to the heart of the floor plate and in so doing facilitating a multi-tenant scenario and flexibility. Future proofing buildings is critical if the commercial value of the building is to withstand the test of time. Issues such as flexibility of tenancy size, churn, culture and work ethic must be able to be absorbed.

Planning is organised on a 8400 grid. This allows a sub-grid of 2800 for space planning and is generally regarded as an economic workstation. A 600 finishing grid is also a derivative and facilitates a relationship between structure, space planning, and finishes. All important factors contributing to the overall resolution and appearance of the finished space.

The office space has been designed to facilitate mixes of both cellular offices and open office areas with pause areas integrated in strategic positions to allow for a variety of office configurations and their various working cultures.

Finally the 8400 structural grid allows for parking to be planned within the column positions in both directions and in so doing allows the designer more opportunity to achieve a higher parking yield and efficiency.

Aesthetic and Materiality

The Building applies a simple set of rectilinear forms selected for their ability to produce efficient and highly usable space and translating into simply articulated commercial architecture which has characteristics strongly embedded in economics and simple resolution. Clean lines deliver an uncomplicated elegant aesthetic.