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:

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“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.”

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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.

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