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AECOM Preserves the Past While Building the Future

As South Africa celebrates Heritage Month, AECOM reflects on how preserving history is not only a cultural responsibility but also a critical part of its Sustainable Legacies strategy. By integrating heritage into new developments, the company ensures that structures of historic value continue to inspire, educate, and shape communities, while giving the next generation of professionals hands-on experience with projects that demand technical skill, creativity and sensitivity.

This philosophy found powerful expression in the new Head Office of the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development and Land Reform (DALRRD) in Pretoria. Delivered through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) project, the 90,000m² development combined modern office facilities with the meticulous restoration of a historic heritage building on site. AECOM provided full Quantity Surveying (QS) services to the DRD Design and Construct Joint Venture, with work commencing in February 2021 and reaching completion in February 2023.

Balancing Preservation and Progress

The new campus includes a two-level super-basement, five four-storey office blocks, and a host of integrated infrastructure such as an auditorium, gym, backup power, advanced AV and VC systems, and carefully curated artworks. Yet at the heart of the project was the painstaking effort to conserve and restore a building that had suffered extensive neglect.

“When we first saw the heritage building, it was in a very poor condition, as fires had caused structural damage, large trees were growing inside, and people had even been living there,” recalls Estia Cronje, Cost Management Professional at AECOM. “We had to reinforce much of the structure, and nearly all the original woodwork and detail had to be reinstated. Some elements, like custom door handles, took six months to manufacture. With heritage projects, you never know if materials still exist or if anyone can replicate the craft. It takes three to four times longer than a conventional build, but the result speaks for itself.”

The restored building now sits proudly within landscaped grounds that evoke South Africa’s agricultural heritage. Its design links past and present, as the façade of the new structure symbolises the country’s provinces and mineral wealth, while the heritage building itself remains a testament to early 20th century architecture.

The project also embraced art and inclusivity. A nationwide competition led to the selection of nine artworks, each representing an aspect of South African culture. These pieces now form part of the site, ensuring the building is not just a workplace but also a celebration of national identity.

For many, the building also carries personal meaning. “One of my colleagues’ parents got engaged in the original building,” adds Estia. “Its history goes back more than a century, and it was important to make sure it remained recognisable after restoration.”

A Lasting Legacy

For AECOM, the project was about more than just technical achievement. It was about creating a lasting legacy. “It is a once-in-a-lifetime project,” says Michell Bezuidenhout, Director – PCC, Africa, EC South Africa. “The detail, cost, time, and stakeholder engagement involved were enormous. But more than that, it is about creating sustainable legacies, preserving the past while building for the future. This project gave younger professionals the chance to research the building’s history, work alongside specialist craftsmen and integrate heritage with modern requirements. That experience is invaluable.”

Both old and new elements were woven together with care. Restoring features such as gates, signage, and façades required extraordinary effort, but the end result stays true to the original. “The pride comes from knowing we played a role in preserving one of South Africa’s key heritage buildings,” says Michell.

The DALRRD Head Office is more than just a workplace. It is a masterclass in architectural storytelling, where design reflects the land, culture, and history of South Africa. It symbolises how sustainable development can respect heritage while meeting the needs of a modern government department. As the nation reflects on its heritage this September, AECOM reaffirms its commitment to designing for the future while honouring the past, a principle at the heart of its Sustainable Legacies approach.

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Author: Thobile Ndlovu from NGAGE on behalf of AECOM.

Source – MyPR

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Ponte City: Transformation

As the “white flight” of the 1980s and 90s drained the inner city of capital, Ponte City underwent a dramatic and terrifying transformation. By the late 1990s, the building had become a “vertical slum” and a symbol of urban decay. It was famously “hijacked” by gangs; the retail levels were stripped, and the building became a fortress for drug dealing and human trafficking. The most haunting image from this era was the central core. Originally designed to be a light-filled courtyard, it became a literal trash heap. Residents on the upper floors would throw their refuse into the center of the building rather than taking it down. At its worst point, the trash in the core reached five stories high—a mountain of rotting debris, discarded furniture, and even, legend has it, the remains of those who had fallen or jumped.

During this period, the reputation of Ponte was so toxic that there was a serious proposal in 1998 to turn the entire skyscraper into a vertical prison. The plan was eventually scrapped, but the building remained a “no-go zone” for nearly a decade. The turnaround began in the mid-2000s when developers New Metro Property Group and later Dlala Nje began a massive, painstaking refurbishment. They cleared out the tons of trash from the core, restored the lifts (which had often been out of order, forcing residents to climb 50 flights of stairs), and implemented strict security protocols.