Walter Sisulu University’s new Engineering Faculty in East London stands as a bold architectural statement that merges African heritage with modern engineering transparency. Designed by Anita Cartwright of MDS Architecture, the institutional development required materials capable of delivering authentic aesthetic warmth while withstanding demanding coastal conditions.
Installed during February and March 2025, the project saw the specification of 850 Eva-Last Lifespan architectural beams, measuring 100 x 30mm in the Savanna finish. The beams were cut to varying lengths to create the building’s distinctive organic façade elements, reinforcing the architectural intent while maintaining structural precision.
Formed through the merger of the Border/Eastern Cape Technikon and the University of Transkei, Walter Sisulu University comprises four campuses across the Eastern Cape. The new Engineering Faculty in East London marks the beginning of a broader campus upgrade strategy aimed at consolidating faculties into cohesive, contemporary learning environments.
The facility houses laboratories, lecture halls, offices and an elevated auditorium that appears to float above the main entrance. In keeping with the faculty’s purpose, structural and service elements including struts, beams, plumbing, electrical and HVAC systems were deliberately exposed to provide students with direct visual access to engineering principles in action.
Cartwright conceptualised the building with reference to traditional African village architecture, blending contemporary materials with wood-look elements reminiscent of a kraal. Beneath the prominent curved overhang, the structure presents a strong composition of brick and steel softened by the warmth and texture of composite finishes.
The curvaceous entrance ‘brow’ is clad with Eva-Last’s Lifespan beams, double-mounted vertically onto custom brackets with 100mm spacing to create a castellated profile. Roddy Anderson of Glass Co, the main contractor responsible for the façade execution, explains that the profiles were cut precisely to shape, sealed with matching end caps and butt-joined with HDPE plugs for the highest sections, which reach up to 8.3 metres.
Inside the building, Eva-Last’s Revive castellated cladding was installed around the lift architraves to conceal service elements while maintaining design continuity between interior and exterior spaces.
Located in East London’s coastal climate, durability, longevity and low maintenance were key considerations. Lifespan architectural beams combine a lightweight hollow aluminium core with a protective polymer outer layer, delivering structural stability alongside a natural wood-look finish. The lightweight composition allowed for efficient overhead installation while ensuring long-term dimensional stability in a challenging environment.
“Achieving an attractive aesthetic while allowing the students to inspect the machinations of the building and its materials was not easy,” says Anita Cartwright of MDS Architecture. “Eva-Last composites gave us both the durability and aesthetic appeal of wood without the usual concerns of degradation or care, whilst also offering us design flexibility to achieve the organic shape we wanted.”
Walter Sisulu University’s new Engineering Faculty reflects the institution’s strong African heritage while deliberately exposing the engineering elements and materials of the structure as an experiential learning opportunity. Through the use of Lifespan architectural beams and Revive cladding, the project demonstrates how modern composite material technology can support architectural expression while delivering long-term performance in institutional developments.