Bio-medical Research Institute

Stellenbosch University's BMRI is a R1.2 billion project which houses leading researchers and students who are investigating diseases that have an impact on South Africa and the rest of the continent.

Designed by Roelof Rabe Argitekete the project, which spanned 7 years, includes a completely new 4 storey structure, a complete overhaul of an exiting 5 storey building ana a massive enclosed atrium to merge the two structures as one. The buildings house some of the most state-of-the-art laboratories and medical equipment including a fully automated Biorepository (the only one in the southern hemisphere) which can store 3.5 million samples at -80 degrees. The project also included the construction of a raised park borne out of the necessity to create covered parking. The park, now known as the Deans Garden, houses a lush variety of indigenous trees as well as a coffee shop.

These images were shot for the architects over 3 years as each phase came to completion.