Building on brownfield sites

UJ Media Park Building (Media 24 Property) Site Acquisition and Development: JBS Park 2023
UJ on Empire Building Acquisition and Development 2023
UJ Atrium Building Acquisition and Development: UJ on Stanley Avenue Building 2023

Refer to pages 3, 4, 12, 16 and 17 of the UJ Facilities Management Annual Report 2023:

Page 3:

New Properties

“The newly acquired UJ on Empire as well as the JBS Park were successfully occupied. JBS Park, Previously a Media24 property, was occupied by the Johannesburg Business School and the Graduate School of Architecture together with several SARChI Chairs. UJ on Stanley, previously known as the Atrium building, was finally transferred to UJ un December 2023. UJ took possession immediately to repurpose the building for the identified support staff. The spaces vacated by ICS and Finance at UJ on Empire will be allocated to UJ TV, more Post Doctoral Research Fellows (PDRFs) and the Qatari Peace Research group, keeping occupancy of that building above 95%.”

Property Management

“The Property Management department manages, controls, and conserves all properties owned, leased, and disposed of by UJ; it also investigates development possibilities in accordance with the approved UJ Master Development Plan.

The department managed to collect rentals as per the lease agreements in 2023 with the addition of new tenants at APK and at APB. Backup power has also been provided for all four student centres (APK, APB, DFC & SWC), as well as Mayine, based in APB, which accommodates a majority of PDRF’s.

Challenges within the portfolio: the team is currently implementing a maintenance strategy on all UJ outside properties as these are currently not in good state. The properties, including student centre, are experiencing roof leaks and as a result, damage to structure and equipment.

The following town planning and land-use rights applications have been submitted to the City of Johannesburg (CoJ) for consideration and approval:

> Rezoning and consolidation of APB campus – Registration is being finalised (before 2024).
> Orlando eKhaya Project combined with a City of Johannesburg Land exchange proposal – Land was subdivided, consolidated and included in an application for the establishment of a township as per the land exchange agreement between UJ and JPC (Johannesburg Property Company). Alternative proposals were submitted by the CoJ regarding the management of the SWC Wetland.
> Erf 1/809 Auckland Park Previously involved in a dispute has finally been registered under UJ.
> The lease agreement of YMCA – expired in 2019 – the lease agreement was not renewed as new residences have been built on campus.
> Student centres: Most of the leases across all student centres were concluded in 2023 and will expire in 2026. Lease negotiations with the banks was ongoing, targeted conclusion in early 2024.

The 2023 highlights include:

> Obtaining backup power for student centres and Mayine, a residence for students and PDRFs.
> Updating of majority of student centre leases.”

Student Residence

“Facilities Management, in support of Student Affairs, commenced the multi-year project of Student Residence refurbishments that had been approved by UJ Council for implementation during 2023/24. The objective is to address backlog maintenance and ensure compliance with DHET Minimum Norms and Standards. Nine residences were prioritised, and work commenced in December 2023.”

Page 4

Teaching Support

“The Devland campus works have been completed, and Community Engagement continues to finalise the operating model of the facility. JBS Park space allocation was a success for all identified parties.”

Page 12

“The following land use compliance projects continued in 2023:

> DFC New Science and Engineering Building Site Development Plan was approved and received from CoJ.
> Replacement of Original Title Deeds for various properties.
> The UJ on Stanley (Atrium building) ownership transferred to UJ in December 2023.”

Page 16

“New or refurbished buildings were in progress to be updated into the space database as applicable and include:

> Off-Campus – JBS Park
> DFC – New Science and Engineering Building
> UJ Residences (Various)
> DFC – John Orr Updates
> DFC – Qoboza Klaaste Building Updates
> UJ on Stanley (Atrium Building)“

Page 17

“In response to university growth and need for additional academic spaces in campuses, as well as space constraints especially in APK, the university prioritised learning and teaching and research programs on campuses and sourced additional space for support staff, off campus. The university acquired the Atrium building on Stanley Avenue, for occupation by mainly HCM, ICS and Finance Divisions as anchor tenants. The property was transferred to the university in December 2023. Modifications to the building started immediately. The repurposing of spaces left by these divisions will start in 2024.“

UJ Media Park Building Site (Media24 Property) Acquisition and Development: JBS Park 2022

Refer to pages 2, 3, 5 and 6 of the UJ Facilities Management Annual Report 2022:

Page 2:

Infrastructure Portfolio

“The Building Space Management Policy had been in place in draft format for many years and previously formalised and approved in principle by MEC during 2016. The Policy has continued to be used as a general guideline for the management of building space. The DHET guidelines in terms of space use were also referred to with regard to space allocations during 2022. The acquisition of a new building is planned, stemming from a strategic initiative to attract at least 200 postdoctoral research fellows (PDRFs). This followed after the successful occupation of the newly acquired JBS Park building, by the Johannesburg Business School, the Graduate School of Architecture and several SARChI Chairs.”

Property Management Portfolio

“The Property Management Department effectively manages, controls and conserves all properties owned, leased and disposed of by UJ as well as investigating development possibilities in accordance with the approved UJ Master Development Plan.

The following town planning and land-use rights applications had been submitted to the City of Johannesburg (CoJ) for consideration and approval:

> Rezoning and consolidation of APB Campus – registration of properties in UJ’s name.
> Orlando eKhaya Project combined with City of Johannesburg Land exchange proposal – Land was subdivided, consolidated and included in an application for the establishment of a township as per the land exchange agreement between UJ and JPC (Johannesburg Property Company). Alternative proposals were submitted by the CoJ regarding the management of the SWC Wetland.
> Erf 1/809 Auckland Park: UJ had won the legal action case against the AFM, which had resulted in an appeal lodged by the AFM; this took place in June 2018.
> The lease agreement of YMCA that expired in 2019.
> Title deed register – completed and ongoing.
> The property database is comprehensive and updated annually.
> Student centres: Proposals for lease renewals and renegotiation meetings have transpired across the board; however, expired leases have not been renewed yet, due to the new leasing process still being in progress at the OGC.”

Page 3:

Campus Master Planning Portfolio

“In early 2021, a consulting team was appointed start the development of the new Campus Master Plan (to replace the 2013 Campus Master Plan), and a first report was presented to the MEC as the first phase of the new Strategic Development Framework (SDF). The second phase will result in the final SDF required to guide UJ spatial development for at least another decade. While awaiting the final SDF, projects such as the acquisition of the Media Park premises and other possible academic sites continued. For instance, the development of lecture venues in the basement of Media Park was completed, which accommodated the move of the Johannesburg Business School and the Graduate School of Architecture, together with a number of SARChI Chairs, into Media Park in late 2022. The Media Park building was renamed JBS Park.”

Page 5:

Major capital projects completed during 2022

> APK JBS Park lecture venue development project.
> DFC new Science and Engineering Phase II.

Page 6:

Land use compliance projects completed in 2022

> JBS Park consolidation and approval of the surveyor general diagram.
> JBS Park site development plan.
> DFC new Science and Engineering building site development plan.
> Kampong building heritage approval for demolition and demolition certificate.
> Replacement of original title deeds for various properties.

UJ Media Park Building (Media24 Property) Site Acquisition and Development: JBS Park 2021

Refer to pages 6, 8 and 12 of the UJ Facilities Management Annual Report 2021:

Page 6:

The rezoning of newly acquired properties

“Town Planning applications on SWC: Consent use and township establishment for the various properties which form the SWC campus was approved during 2021. Town Planning applications via a consultant for the DFC erf consolidation and the Master Consolidation of APB Campus were in procurement during 2021 and should be completed in 2022. A start was made on integrating the Devland property, donated to UJ by Growing Up Africa, into the UJ portfolio in 2021 – resulting in discussions with the City about zoning and use for the proposed adult training facility in Soweto. This R80m property is a substantial addition to the UJ teaching and learning for community purposes. The rezoning of the newly acquired JBS Park was also started on in 2021 – converting this from a commercial to an educationally zoned property.”

Town planning applications

“Site development plans on all four campuses were lodged during 2021 for a variety of projects of CTS such as the new Science and Engineering Building and Rescue and Simulation Centre on DFC, the upgrades of various laboratories on APK and the upgrading of residences on APB as well as the lecture venue development in the basement of the JBS Park building. During 2021 most of these were approved – except for DFC where the City of Johannesburg is reviewing the parking bay requirements for the entire campus before approving any future site development plans. This request should be dealt with early in 2022.”

Page 8:

Infrastructure Portfolio

“Space Management activities align their support by providing information as to space use, and for space planning purposes. The DHET Gazetted Space Norms and Standards with regard to the provision of Student Accommodation align with Strategic Objective Four These relate to the various refurbishment projects undertaken from 2017 to 2021 (with some ongoing into 2021 due to the funding reallocation requested by the DHET in 2020), to address the amount of, and standard of, student accommodation. The application of the DHET Norms and Standards is also informing the development of new residences and office space – to the dismay of some clients who are pushing for above standard spaces. This has specifically become a discussion point during the pre-space allocation phase of the office allocations in the newly acquired JBS Park.”

Campus Master Planning Portfolio

“The process to start the development of the new Campus Master Plan was also impacted by the Covid-19 event. As a result, the tender process was extended, and by early 2021 the Tender Committee approved the appointment of the professional team that had demonstrated an exceptional understanding of the needs of the UJ in a new phase of development. (The original Campus Master Plan has now been replaced after consultations between Operations and the professional team with a broader defined Strategic Development Framework (SDF) that should act as guide rather than a formulaic template for implementation). During 2021 this team had numerous engagements with the various UJ stakeholders and in November 2021 published its phase one report which was sent to the UJ MEC for consideration and comment. During 2022 the second and third phases of the SDF should be completed.

While awaiting the completion of the SDF project, projects such as the acquisition of JBS Park (the old Media Park 24 premises) continued with the planning required to convert what is essentially an open plan office structure into the new premises for the Johannesburg Business School and the Graduate School of Architecture in 2021 with first lectures taking place early in 2022 on the new campus. The full use of the JBS Park by the Johannesburg Business School, the Graduate School of Architecture and the various SARChI Chairs is expected to be achieved by May 2022. The Devland donated property is also being integrated into UJ and will be a fully functioning campus by June 2022.”

Page 12:

Significant projects in process for completion in 2022

> FHS Rescue Simulation Centre on DFC
> Science and Engineering Building Phase 2 on DFC
> UJ Campus Master Plan phases 2 & 3
> JBS Park (Media Park 24) Lecture Venues project for the Johannesburg Business School

UJ Devland Property Site Acquisition and Development 2021-2022

Refer to pages 6 and 8 of the UJ Facilities Management Annual Report 2021:

Page 6:

The rezoning of newly acquired properties

“Town Planning applications on SWC: Consent use and township establishment for the various properties which form the SWC campus was approved during 2021. Town Planning applications via a consultant for the DFC erf consolidation and the Master Consolidation of APB Campus were in procurement during 2021 and should be completed in 2022. A start was made on integrating the Devland property, donated to UJ by Growing Up Africa, into the UJ portfolio in 2021 – resulting in discussions with the City about zoning and use for the proposed adult training facility in Soweto. This R80m property is a substantial addition to the UJ teaching and learning for community purposes. The rezoning of the newly acquired JBS Park was also started on in 2021 – converting this from a commercial to an educationally zoned property.”

Page 8:

Campus Master Planning Portfolio

“While awaiting the completion of the SDF project, projects such as the acquisition of JBS Park (the old Media Park 24 premises) continued with the planning required to convert what is essentially an open plan office structure into the new premises for the Johannesburg Business School and the Graduate School of Architecture in 2021 with first lectures taking place early in 2022 on the new campus. The full use of the JBS Park by the Johannesburg Business School, the Graduate School of Architecture and the various SARChI Chairs is expected to be achieved by May 2022. The Devland donated property is also being integrated into UJ and will be a fully functioning campus by June 2022.”

UJ Island Site Development

> https://www.uj.ac.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/uj-island-a-historical-overview.pdf
> https://www.uj.ac.za/advertised-tender/proposals-for-design-of-the-uj-island-development/
> https://www.uj.ac.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/invitation-letter-rfp-uj-27-2023.pdf
> https://www.uj.ac.za/advertised-tender/renovations-of-the-male-and-female-dormitories-at-the-uj-island/
> https://www.uj.ac.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/t-uj-35-2022.zip