Heritage Building Renovation Architectural Services

The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure invites professional architectural services for the repair and renovation of the Stellenbosch Magistrate's Office, a single-storey building over 60 years old and classified as heritage. The scope covers full architectural services (work stages 1 to 6) and appointment as principal agent, coordinating the professional team and administering the building contract. Required works include replacing the tiled roof and inspecting the timber roof structure, repairing walls, ceilings, floors, ablutions, doors, ironmongery and built-in joinery, and upgrading stormwater, sewer, civil infrastructure, firefighting equipment, mechanical services and electrical installations to SANS 10142 standards. The brief also includes security upgrades such as new remote-controlled vehicular gates and a reconfigured main entrance with a search area, plus internal reconfiguration of offices, a cash hall, courtrooms, holding cells and a domestic violence court area. Covered courtyards and a prisoner drop-off zone are included, along with sustainability and energy efficiency considerations. Provisional estimates in the tender indicate a construction cost of roughly R13.8 million.

The project carries specific constraints. Heritage approval from the relevant authorities must be obtained, and final designs must comply with heritage regulations. The magistrate's office must remain operational during construction, so the appointed architect must prepare a comprehensive decanting plan with DPWI and the user department to minimise disruption to court operations. Services must comply with the Occupational Health and Safety Act, the National Heritage Resources Act, the National Building Regulations and other listed legislation. Labour-intensive works under the EPWP and a contract skills development goal (not applicable to this project, according to the document) are also addressed in the tender conditions. Provisional milestones include appointment of design consultants in December 2026, planning completion in May 2027, and an anticipated 24-month construction period, though the final programme depends on departmental and statutory approvals.

Tenderers must be architectural businesses, or multidisciplinary practices with an architectural division, under the full-time supervision of registered professional architects. Key requirements include current SACAP registration certificates for all principals and key persons, a professional indemnity insurance confirmation of at least R1.5 million, a B-BBEE certificate, a completed DPW-09 project particulars form, and attendance at the compulsory clarification meeting on 5 November 2026 at 10:00 at Customs House, Cape Town. Evaluation covers functionality and risk criteria, with price and specific goals scored under an 80/20 or 90/10 preference system. The closing date is 16 November 2026 at 11:00, with a tender validity period of 84 days. Tender documents are available free of charge at www.etenders.gov.za under reference CPTC004/26.