A R47-million multi-functional indoor centre will be built to accommodate Durban Girls College’s growing enrolment and enhance facilities – a bold step that will enhance the future of this iconic school, positioning it as a destination school offering world-class facilities that support a holistic and forward-thinking education for girls, said Heidi Rea, executive head of the school.
The state-of-the-art 3,370 m² facility, spanning three storeys, will include a sports centre, multi-purpose hall and additional boarding and staff accommodation.
Designed by Elphick Proome Architecture (EPA) – the award-winning firm behind the College’s Aquatic Centre and Miller Grove building – the project reflects modern design, functionality, and sustainability while honouring the school’s character and heritage.
Construction begins in March 2026, with completion scheduled for May 2027, marking the school’s 150th anniversary.
The sports centre will feature a spacious 1,560 m² hall, with seating for 350 spectators. It is being built to accommodate tennis, badminton, hockey, netball, volleyball, and basketball. Natural light will flood the space through a south-facing rooflight and perimeter clerestory windows, creating an inspiring and energy-efficient environment.
The multi-purpose hall offers 575 m² of flexible event space with a striking double-volume ceiling and direct access to a landscaped courtyard – is ideal for exhibitions, examinations and social events.
A central covered outdoor area will serve as a circulation hub, linking the new facilities with the boarding house, parking areas, and the astro hockey field, which will include external seating for 175 spectators. Full accessibility is ensured via lift access across all levels.
George Elphick, from Elphick Proome Architects, explained that the design for the indoor centre was driven by a clear goal – to create a highly functional and welcoming hub that seamlessly integrates with campus life. The architecture prioritises connectivity, wellness, and a respectful nod to the school’s heritage.
The Sports Centre, which is a cornerstone of the project is the versatile, high-volume hall that will be flooded with natural light from the south-facing rooflight and clerestory windows. This not only creates an optimal environment for athletic performance but also significantly reduces reliance on artificial lighting.
“Connectivity was fundamental. The central, covered courtyard acts as the main circulation node, intuitively linking the new sports centre, multi-purpose hall, existing College House, and the outdoor facilities. With a lift providing full step-free access from the lower parking up to the sports hall and hockey field, we’ve ensured the entire facility is genuinely inclusive and accessible to all,” he said.
Elphick explained that the contemporary material palette was chosen to respectfully reference the red face brick and white plaster bands of the original campus buildings, translating their rhythmic contrast into a modern architectural language. This, combined with providing student and staff accommodation with beautiful views over Durban, ensures the new facility feels both rooted in its context and forward-looking in its purpose.
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Author: Nicola Chaning-Pearce from Tynago Communications on behalf of Durban Girls’ College.
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