Table of Contents

List of Tables.........................................................................................................................................ii
List of Figures......................................................................................................................................iii
Acknowledgement................................................................................................................................iv
Abstract.................................................................................................................................................v
List of Abbreviations............................................................................................................................vi
Chapter 1.0: Introduction ........1
1.1 Background..................................................................................................................................2
1.2 Design Brief.................................................................................................................................2
1.3 Project Structure..........................................................................................................................3
Chapter 2.0: Identification of Building ...............4
2.1 Problem Identification.................................................................................................................5
2.2 Overview of Proposals.................................................................................................................8
2.3 Analysis of Proposals...................................................................................................................9
2.3.1 Proposal 1.............................................................................................................................9
2.3.2 Proposal 2...........................................................................................................................10
2.3.3 Proposal 3...........................................................................................................................11
2.4 Estimated Budget.......................................................................................................................12
2.5 Choice of Project.......................................................................................................................12
2.5.1 Space Allocation.................................................................................................................12
2.5 Research....................................................................................................................................12
2.5.1 Parking................................................................................................................................12
2.5.2 Fitness Centre.....................................................................................................................12
2.5.3 Hall.....................................................................................................................................12

List of Tables

List of Figures

Acknowledgement

Abstract

List of Abbreviations
UoM University of Mauritius
FOCS Faculty of Ocean Studies
POWA Paul Octave Wiehe Auditorium

Chapter 1.0
Introduction

1.1 Background
The University of Mauritius (UoM), founded in 1965 is the oldest and largest university in the country
in terms of student enrolment and curriculum offered.

Starting with three schools, namely

Agriculture, Administration and Industrial Technology, UoM now comprises of six faculties, viz.
Agriculture, Engineering, Law and Management, Science, Social Studies & Humanities and Ocean
Studies. The university also has six centres, three specialised units and is an awarding body to four
local institutions.
Located at Reduit, Moka, the main UoM Campus occupies an extent of 25 acres (excluding UoM
Farm), which accommodates a total floor area of 51,831m 2 of built facilities. This includes 71
Lecture Rooms, 75 Science and Technology Laboratories, 11 Computer Laboratories, a University
Library of approximately 3000 m2, a University Gymnasium Complex of 2742 m 2, a Student Centre &
Cafeteria of 1617m2. (UoM Fact Sheet 2014, p.2)
With the creation of a new faculty namely the Faculty of Ocean Studies and the increasing amount of
students at the university each year, the UoM needs to ....................As far as infrastructure is
concerned, for instance, various limitations can be identified, the most evident one being parking.
Furthermore, the university does not have an appropriate venue for parties and events and when it
comes to sports and recreational activities, a lack of space availability can be noted during peak hours.
On the other hand, facilities such as a swimming pool will be well appreciated by students and a
building to accommodate the new FOCS is a much needed development.

1.2 Design Brief

Our group under the name Scorp Consultants Ltd., was assigned to design and detail a particular
building and its associated infrastructure which we deemed essential on the UoM Campus where the
supervisor, Mr Seeboo, will be acting as the client.
..............................................

1.3 Project Structure

The project was organised in a ....................
Chapter 1: Introduction

Chapter 2: Identification of Building

Chapter 3: Site Location and Planning

Chapter 4: Architectural Planning and Design to Industry Standard

Chapter 5: Storm Water Drainage and Hard and Soft Landscaping Design

Chapter 6: Geotechnical Investigation/Structural Design and Detailing to Industry Standard

Chapter 7: Preparation of Cost Estimation inclusive of Bar Bending Schedule and Bill of
Quantities

Chapter 8: Value Engineering Report

Chapter 9: 3D Model of Proposed Project

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Chapter 2.0
Identification of Building

This chapter......................... (Brief overview)

2.1 Problem Identification

1) Parking
At UoM, many parking have been created to accommodate the university staffs vehicles. The
parking reserved for the staffs are located as described in the table below:
FOS = 105
Ex common =32
Behind FOA to engineering tower = 70
Engineering tower = 30
Left side of POWA = 30
Right side of POWA = 68
However, for students and visitors coming to the university, they do not have a safe place to park their
car. Parking of their cars is at their own risks as no security guards are present at these places.
The areas where the students and the visitors park are as follows:
Gym=54
From MCB ATM to behind FOA = 22
Batiment roche to woods 90 (both side of road)
Therefore, to cater for this problem of parking, a parking area would be mostly appreciated. As all the
cars will be safe and also the parking area could accommodate more vehicles.
2) Gym
The actual gym dimensions are about 7.5 m by 6.5 m, which is very small given that the university
has a population of 12 000 students. Due to the lack of space, the following problems occur at the
existing gym:

The gym is overcrowded most of the time. Many students are therefore discouraged to go to

the gym for this reason.

The equipment are scattered on the floor in a disorderly manner.
It is difficult to move around in the gym

Treadmills and abdominal machines are placed outside the gym. This reduces the jogging
area available for the runners. The machines are also prone to ball shots during futsal and
other sports matches.

Furthermore, there is a lack of equipment in terms of both quantity and variety. Only barbells and
several benches are available at the gym. Students need to wait for their turn (approximately 15
minutes) to be able to use the equipment. During this time, they need to keep their body warmed up;
otherwise they may suffer from muscular problems once they resume their work out. Moreover, the
gym is a close room fitted with transom windows only. It does not provide an ideal condition for
students suffering from asthma.
Dumbbells need to be taken at a store in exchange of the student ID and then be taken to the gym. The
store is located at a distance of about 45 m from the gym. It might be dangerous to move around the
gymnasium while holding dumbbells in the hands as it is possible that the dumbbells fall on the
carriers or the passers-by feet.
3) A venue for parties
Significantly major parties are organized in UoM, welcoming 2000-4000 students. However the
POWA is too small and too crammed. The gymnasium has a synthetic floor on which parties or
events cannot be organized, unless the flooring is protected, which is very expensive. The gymnasium
lacks aeration as well. Otherwise parties may be organized on open spaces, which is expensive to
cover.
4) A venue for major gatherings like graduation ceremonies, gala diners and so on.
The graduation is currently organized in POWA which is highly crammed with its maximum capacity
of 700 persons, highly limiting the number of invites. There is also a lack of free areas for photos.
The University cannot also organize major gala dinner since an area to seat 800-1000 is required.
5) Lack of space for recreational activities such as futsal, or even indoor games.
The gymnasium is always overbooked during the semesters and the game rooms crammed at peak
hours. The duration and frequency of the training of particular sports are highly restrained due to the
high demand to book the gymnasium. Swimming pool
6) FOCS

7) Hall of residence
The UOM campus clearly lacks a hall of residence to cater for the accommodation of the increasing
number of international students. Currently, there are some foreign students who reside in a house at
Reduit which is in a deplorable state. Others stay at different places in Mauritius, some of which are
quite far from the university.

8)

2.2 Overview of Proposals

The following...................................
Proposal 1
Multipurpose Hall

Proposal 2
Multipurpose Building

Proposal 3
Hall of Residence

Level 1

Parking

Parking

Parking

Level 2

Fitness Centre

- Health facilities

Dormitory

- Accommodation for clubs

Level 3

Multipurpose Hall

and societies
Indoor sport facilities

Level 4

Multipurpose Hall

Dormitory

Diagrammatic representation

Dormitory

Dormitory

2.3 Analysis of Proposals

2.3.1 Proposal 1
As mentioned in the previous section, the first proposal was a multipurpose hall and the use of the
building is as described below:
Level 1: Parking
For the first level, parking was chosen as an option. The main reason was that at UoM, parking is a
major daily problem. As of 10 am in the morning, most of the parking spaces are already occupied
and to cater for the increase in demand of parking in the future due to an increase in the number of
students travelling by cars.
Level 2: Fitness Centre
The present gym facility being small is most of the time overcrowded, with equipment lacking and
students having to wait for their turn to use those available Thus the Fitness Centre will be kitted with
equipments such as cardiovascular stations (treadmills, upright bikes, amongst others), resistance
machines and a selection of free weights. The floor will also accommodate a First Aid post, squash
rooms and a multipurpose room for activities such as karate, aerobics, Zumba, etc.
Level 3 and 4: Multipurpose Hall
The Paul Octave Whiehe auditorium found at the University of Mauritius is frequently used to host
graduation ceremonies, parties and functions. However, during these events, the auditorium is always
overcrowded. The FOA playground is also used for end of year parties. Furthermore, the University of
Mauritius is planning a new faculty: Oceanography, so more space will be required to accommodate
students during functions. So a new Hall which will be larger than the auditorium seems sensible.
Problem Associated
I.

Level 3 and 4 - Multipurpose Hall

This idea is a good one; however, the building must be able to withstand the forces from the hall
with no columns found in the middle. Designing such a building might prove to be challenging at
later stages.

2.3.2 Proposal 2
Proposal 2 can be termed as a multipurpose building basically involving much of indoor sports. The
details are as follows:
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Level 1: Parking
Insufficient parking space has always been a conundrum to the University Of Mauritius (UOM).
Nowadays, more and more individuals own a private car. The increase of private cars give rise
indirectly to traffic congestion especially during peak hours, since parking space are insufficient and
thus parking are done on access roads provided the University of Mauritius. The case is even worsen
then there is any event for the University of Mauritius.
It is thus mandatory to allocate more parking spaces as a need for the university. The ground floor
thus is best chosen to be owed to provide more parking space. Moreover, it goes without saying that
more parking will be provided on the landscape surrounding the building.
Level 2: Health facilities (first aid post) + Accommodation for societies and clubs.
The University of Mauritius has only two first aid post to provide First Aid facilities to staff and
students of the University. One is found at the Ex-Student Common Room Building, near Faculty of
Agriculture and the other is found at the gymnasium. In total only, two specialized and one nursing
officers are present in UOM to cater for the health issues for students. This is therefore a must to
provide a first aid post with better equipment and quicker emergency services. The first floor also
accommodates a space for the societies and clubs of the UOM.
Level 3: Indoor Sport facilities
Indoor Sport facilities have been a deficiency to the University. A wide range of these facilities are
obsolete while others lack space and resources in order to implement and enhance these facilities. It
has been deem wise that for sure the University of Mauritius is in need of indoor facilities. Few of
these sports include squash or fencing as well as table tennis. In the peak of sport activities, the
gymnasium has proved small in order to accommodate all these activities.
Level 4: Dormitory
The third floor of the multipurpose building will comprise of dormitories for a temporary duration
including joint kitchen and bathroom. It will be divided into two part, one for the male while other for
female individuals. The reasons of allocating these dormitories is to benefit student during the exam.
During exam hours, some student have to make long travel which cost them time for revision and also
many of them has been often late for exam due to traffic congestion. They can therefore rent these
dormitories and stay at the University for the coming exam thus earn more time for revision. They are
morally and physically stable and are able to concentrate more for the exam. Lateness or absence due
to travel or traffic will be greatly reduce.
Problems Associated:

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Level 2: Space would also be provide to the societies present in the University of Mauritius
for meeting purposes. However, it has been noted that meeting room are already provided at
the common. The Societies and clubs space is therefore not feasible to be deemed wise as a
requirement for the UOM. As for the first aid post, nothing more or less can be provided as

equipment or service as compared to existing ones, therefore it can be deem as a surplus.

Level 3: The problem associated with this kind of facilities is lack of space in the building.
Either the above only will be provided so that the activities can be carried out which prove
disadvantageous to the building or more facilities can be provided however needing more

space. For instance, space required for futsal will be difficult to provide.
Level 4: Since Mauritius is a small island, families or students themselves found it
inappropriate to rent dormitories for a small time. Also, security need to be provided as these
students will be under the responsibility of the University of Mauritius.

All in all, it can be concluded that this project is not feasible as the level are not compatible for a good
efficiency of the building.

2.3.3 Proposal 3
Our third proposal was a dormitory for foreign students. This building would consist of four levels
(including ground floor). It would comprise a parking on the ground floor and sleeping and residential
quarters equipped with bathrooms, toilets and a common kitchen on the other floors.
Use of the building
The UOM campus clearly lacks a hall of residence to cater for the accommodation of the increasing
number of international students. Currently, there are some foreign students who reside in a house at
Reduit which is in a deplorable state. Others stay at different places in Mauritius, some of which are
quite far from the university.
The hall of residence would provide a clean and safe place for foreign students to stay. This new
building would be a big improvement in terms of quality and comfort. Furthermore, the students
would not have to travel a long distance since the building would be situated on the campus itself.
Moreover, having a hall of residence for the university has two other advantages; first, it would attract
more international students and second, it would improve the university ranking which would in turn
attract more students locally and abroad.
Problems associated
This proposal was arguably the best one. However, upon meeting with Mr. Heerun Goolap, the Chief
of Facilities and Services, we were informed that the project for the hall of residence had already been
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approved and that the structural and architectural drawings had already been done. They are only
waiting for capital to start the construction of the building. Therefore, this proposal was rejected as we
had to come up with an innovative project.

2.4 Estimated Budget

2.5 Choice of Project

All in all, it can be concluded that this project is not feasible as the level are not compatible for a good
efficiency of the building.
Therefore, this proposal was rejected as we had to come up with an innovative project.
(comment wrt to analysis of proposals and budget)
Final project chose summary of contents
2.5.1 Space Allocation

2.5 Research
2.5.1 Parking
2.5.2 Fitness Centre
2.5.3 Hall

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http://www.uom.ac.mu/images/Files/FactSheets/FactSheet2014.pdf

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