Written by: Elizabeth Kunene &Venal Naidu

The Faculty of Arts and Design (FAD) at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) launched the newly constructed research recreational area at the City Campus library.

The library recreational area was recently used by students as a study area and had only desks and chairs.

Interior Design Masters’ student Megan Parker, came up with the concept of making the library a more appealing place to attend.

“Students want to make the library an exciting place; they want to eat, study and discuss, and this is where my concept really came alive,” said Parker.

Parker was extremely grateful with the opportunity she was given by the Executive Dean of the FAD, Dr Rene’ Smith,, to bring her work to life.

“To be given that opportunity was great and I wasn’t going to do this without the help and the opportunity from Dr Smith who allowed me to do this,” explained Parker.

Dr Smith was ecstatic with the new space for students and suggested that students make maximum use of the library.

“We are very excited! This is for the students. It is about creating learning and living space. We hope they make the most of it and we hope they take to heart the motto of the space which is ‘do good’,” said Smith.

In attendance for the event was Deputy Vice Chancellor Engagement of DUT Professor Sibusiso Moyo and she was glad that students have their own space.

“When we walk around campus in general, we see our students don’t have spaces to sit and just chill out and engage. Better still, our staff have no space where they can actually engage. I’m really glad that this first project where we have engaged to create such a space was a success,” said Moyo.

The recreational area took four months to build and students will now be able to use it from 7:30am to 6pm (library hours).

*Caption: Dr Rene’ Smith cuts the ribbon at the official opening of the research commons at City Campus.