Durban Girls’ College breaks ground on new student accommodation & indoor centre
- New R47m multi-functional indoor centre adds sports, events, and student accommodation.
- 3,370 m² facility enhances boarding, academic support and school life.
- Landmark project aligns with 150-year anniversary and future-focused education.
Durban Girls’ College unveils R47m student facility upgrade
Durban Girls’ College has announced the construction of a landmark R47-million multi-functional indoor centre, expanding its student accommodation and on-campus facilities in response to growing enrolment.
Positioned on the school’s historic Musgrave campus overlooking Durban, the new development reinforces the College’s vision to offer world-class facilities that support future-focused, holistic education for girls, says Executive Head Heidi Rea.
The project forms part of the school’s long-term campus development plan and will be completed ahead of the College’s 150th anniversary in May 2027.
A modern, multi-functional development
Designed by Elphick Proome Architecture (EPA) the award-winning team behind the College’s Aquatic Centre and Miller Grove Building, the new 3,370 m², three-storey development is a major architectural upgrade that blends modern design, sustainability, and heritage sensitivity.
Key Components Include
- New sports centre with a 1,560 m² high-volume indoor hall
- Multi-purpose event hall offering 575 m² flexible space
- Expanded student and staff accommodation with elevated Durban views
- Central covered outdoor courtyard functioning as a circulation hub
- Full accessibility via a lift connecting all levels
- Integrated paths linking boarding house, parking, astro hockey field and spectator seating
Construction begins March 2026, with completion set for May 2027.
Sports Centre: A High-Performance, Light-Filled Space
The new sports centre will serve as a major upgrade to the school’s indoor sports capacity.
The 1,560 m² hall, with seating for 350 spectators, supports:
- Tennis
- Badminton
- Hockey
- Netball
- Volleyball
- Basketball
Natural light is a defining architectural feature — the hall is illuminated by a south-facing rooflight and clerestory perimeter windows, creating an optimal, energy-efficient environment for sport and wellness.
Multi-purpose hall for learning, events & exams
The development includes a 575 m² multi-purpose hall with a double-volume ceiling and direct access to a landscaped courtyard.
This flexible venue is ideal for:
- Exhibitions
- Examinations
- School events
- Social functions
- Community activities
Its central location strengthens campus circulation and improves the experience for day scholars and boarders.
A connected, accessible and inclusive campus hub
EPA architect George Elphick says the design brief centred on creating an inclusive, interconnected campus node:
“Connectivity was fundamental. The covered central courtyard acts as the main circulation node, linking the sports centre, multi-purpose hall, College House and outdoor facilities. With a lift providing step-free access from the parking level to the sports hall and hockey field, the entire facility is genuinely accessible.”
The contemporary material palette pays tribute to the school’s heritage referencing its red face brick and white plaster banding, reinterpreted through a modern architectural language that both honours tradition and looks ahead to the future.
Bold investment
Durban Girls’ College’s new R47-million multi-functional indoor centre represents a bold investment in sport, student life, and campus development.
With upgraded accommodation, improved accessibility, and world-class facilities designed around connectivity and wellbeing, the project strengthens the College’s position as a destination school for holistic, high-performance education.
Opening in 2027 alongside the College’s 150th anniversary, this development sets a new standard for independent school infrastructure in South Africa.
