Multi-million upgrade for Bay university

The Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University is spending R180-million to upgrade facilities at its campuses in both Port Elizabeth and George.

NMMU planning and projects head Stuart Blignaut said the upgrading would comprise improving facilities to accommodate increasing numbers of students.

"We‘re upbeat about our future. There‘s just so much happening to further improve the university," Blignaut said.

Upgrades to the campuses include a massive new lecture hall complex on the South Campus valued at R45-million.

The 500-, 250- and 200-seat lecture halls in the complex are scheduled for completion by December in readiness for the 2010 student intake.

A new road between the north and south campuses, which would help improve internal traffic flow, was under way and expected be completed by April.

Blignaut said exciting developments were also under way at Missionvale Campus. This followed many projects that were completed there last year including the new entrance and a major upgrade of laboratory and other facilities.

"We‘re building a new library at Missionvale. It‘s a facility that will serve both our students and the community."

The R38-million library is expected to be completed by February 2010, while lifts and ramps at various venues at Missionvale Campus will be finished by the end of the year.

In George, where a new library, computer laboratories and lecture hall valued at R27-million have just been completed, work will now start on a new student recreational building.