Nature of project: In 2002, the Johannesburg Development Agency appointed a team to undertake the feasibility study and business plan for the heritage, education and tourism aspects of Constitution Hill. Constitution Hill is the new home of the Constitutional Court built on the site of the Old Fort Prison Complex, better known as Number Four. The challenge was to develop the prison buildings into a thriving mixed-use complex of heritage sites and museums, exhibition and performance spaces. The key question the team asked was how to make this site – a dark hole in the centre of our city – available to the public and legible to visitors? The ultimate vision was for Constitution Hill to become a place where every South African would come, even if only once in their lives, to touch the essence of what it means to be South African.

The Feasibility and Business Plan set out to develop a heritage and spatial policy and vision, a tourism strategy, the financial and institutional model, a vision for heritage, education and tourism as well as exhibition policies and the creation of the visitor experience.

Key responsibilities:
Develop the mission and vision
Conduct interviews with stakeholders
Tourism research including visitor profiles
Associative communities research
Develop the spatial and restoration plan
Financial projections

trace personnel involved
(the team was convened by Ochre Communications, and included two trace professionals): Lauren Segal – Project leader: business plan; Senior consultant: feasibility study
Mark Gevisser – Senior consultant: feasibility study; Director of content: feasibility study and business plan