Excellence recognised in projects driving resilience, energy efficiency and climate adaptation. This is part three of a three-part series.
IMESA_Awards_Winner Engineering Excellence in Structures and Civils. Supplied by CESA
The Institute of Municipal Engineering of Southern Africa (IMESA), in partnership with Consulting Engineers South Africa (CESA), honoured the country’s top-performing municipalities and engineers at the biennial Municipal Engineering Excellence Awards.
Engineering Excellence in Structures and Civils
Innovative design and structural resilience supporting sustainable cities
As HVAC&R systems evolve toward energy-smart and resilient infrastructure, structural engineering is likewise advancing to meet the same performance standards – durability, adaptability and efficiency.
Winner: eThekwini Municipality – Shallcross / Blundell Road Bridge
The standout project of 2025, this 90m, fully integral curved bridge is the first of its kind in Africa. Designed to handle modern traffic and flooding risks, it integrates built-in web-linked instrumentation that collects live data for ongoing structural performance analysis – a concept familiar to smart-building monitoring in HVAC&R design.
Runner-Up: eThekwini Municipality – Hunslet Road Bridge
Another innovation milestone, this 90m bridge features four spans and advanced gabion works to manage water flow. It’s also South Africa’s first long, fully integral bridge in a coastal climate, designed for sustainability and durability.
Third Place: City of Cape Town – Green Point Education Dome & Garden
A first-of-its-kind engineered timber dome, the structure demonstrates how digital design, CNC manufacturing, and passive climate control (natural ventilation and rainwater harvesting) can merge aesthetic and sustainable design – principles shared with energy-efficient HVAC&R architecture.
A legacy of municipal innovation
Since their inception in 1972, the IMESA–CESA Excellence Awards have honoured projects that combine technical mastery with community impact. This year’s winners reflect how engineering innovation – from bridges and sanitation to early warning systems – contributes directly to sustainable, climate-resilient cities.
“We are proud to celebrate innovation and design that uplift communities, drive sustainability, and strengthen engineering’s contribution to society,” said Tooley.
As South Africa’s municipalities continue to balance growth, climate challenges, and infrastructure needs, these award-winning projects – much like innovation in the HVAC&R sector – set new standards for efficiency, resilience, and responsible design.
Source:Supplied by CESA
