Name of the Project
Wits Anglo American Digital Dome.

Location
Johannesburg, in Gauteng, South Africa.

Project Owner/s
University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) and Anglo American.

Project Description
The project entails the refurbishment, expan­sion and digitalisation of the 62-year-old Johannesburg Planetarium into a new, future-savvy, multidisciplinary research, training and science engagement events hub.

The project will be completed in three phases.

Phase 1 involves the existing planetarium, which will be refurbished and digitalised with a state-of-the-art digital projection system, auditorium seating and a Science and Technology Exploratorium.

In the second phase, the north wing will be expanded to include a new suite of operational offices and an exhibition area, as well as a seminar room and meeting space for the Digital Dome show planning and design.

In Phase 3, a new east wing research-focused building will house open-plan office space for visiting multidisciplinary research teams to interface with in-house data visualisation and Digital Dome show rendering experts.

It will include a creative studio, and film and sound production facilities, to enable Wits to develop much of its science engagement digital content on site. This stage will be integrated with the Wits Football Stadium, and will include a media viewing deck and rooftop event space.

Potential Job Creation
Not stated.

Capital Expenditure
Wits and Anglo American have provided R75-million to fund the first two stages of the three-stage project, with the Wits University Council committing R20-million and Anglo American providing R55-million.

The third stage is yet to be funded.

Planned Start/End Date
Stage 1 and 2 of the project is scheduled for completion in 2023 and to open to the public in 2024.

Latest Developments
Not stated.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
None stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
Wits senior communications officer Schalk Mouton, tel +27 11 717 1017 or email Schalk.mouton@wits.ac.za.