A R25 million Department of Transport and Public Works (DTPW) Education Infrastructure project to refit and refurbish an old school building to meet the specialised needs of deaf and hearing-impaired learners attending the Dominican Grimley School for the Deaf has been completed.
The facilities were previously used by Y2K College. What had initially been envisaged as a R10 million maintenance project became a much larger capital works project after consultation with the Western Cape Education Department (WCED), facility users, and the local authority.
The refurbished facility has a new internal layout to provide all the teaching rooms the user required.
New ablutions and fire safety equipment were installed to comply with the National Building Regulations. The facility now has a fire-safe design, and also has new floors, walls, ceilings, door windows, electrical installations, fire installations, and plumbing and drainage installations.
Universal access was provided through building ramps, installing balustrades and handrails, and installing a passenger lift to the upper levels of the facility. A play area was built for Grade Rs.
The expertise of an audio engineer was procured to ensure that the sound properties of the facility could meet the needs of learners whose hearing aids are very sensitive to sound. Specialised charging sockets were installed for hearing aids, acoustic panels were installed throughout the facility, and carpets were installed to absorb noise. Because the learners are deaf or hearing-impaired, a visual fire alarm was installed.
A stand-alone heritage building was converted into a specialised therapy building with a high-tech audio booth and facilities for various therapists.
Media enquiries
Jandré Bakker
Head of Communication
Department of Transport and Public Works
Email: Jandre.Bakker@westerncape.gov.za