The Wits Anglo American Digital Dome recognised for its academic and cultural heritage
- Wits University
The Johannesburg Heritage Foundation unveils a historic Blue Plaque, recognising the historic value of the old Johannesburg Planetarium.
The Johannesburg Heritage Foundation has recognised the cultural, architectural and academic importance of the newly-restored Wits Anglo American Digital Dome with the unveiling of a historic Blue Plaque.
unveiled a blue plaque at the Wits Anglo American Digital Dome on Saturday, paying tribute to over 60 years of the Wits Planetarium’s contribution to education, science, and civic life.
Paying tribute to over 60 years of the Wits Anglo American Digital Dome’s contribution to the history of Johannesburg, in the form of the former Johannesburg Planetarium, the ceremony marked the official designation of the site as a Johannesburg heritage landmark. The plaque joins more than 300 others across the city, all commemorating places that have helped shape Johannesburg’s identity.
The Wits Planetarium first opened its doors in 1960, making it the second university planetarium in the world at the time. Today, as the Wits Anglo American Digital Dome, it houses state-of-the-art digital projection systems and hosts research and teaching across a range of disciplines, from astronomy to artificial intelligence.
Speaking at the unveiling, Professor Zeblon Vilakazi, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Wits University, reflected on the symbolism of the Wits Anglo American Digital Dome.
“This isn’t just an architectural marvel – it’s a living space where quantum computing, data science and imagination converge in service of society,” he said. “This building captures Johannesburg’s spirit – ambitious, collaborative, and determined to shape a better future”.
Anglo American, Head of Communications in South Africa, Nevashnee Naicker, said the Wits Anglo American Digital Dome’s transformation is an example of how progress and preservation can co-exist.
“The plaque is more than a formal recognition – it represents the link between past achievements and future potential. In revitalising the planetarium, we were safeguarding a piece of Joburg’s soul, not just renovating a building,” she said.
Naicker highlighted that Anglo American, with roots in Johannesburg stretching back to 1917, is deeply committed to heritage and urban renewal. This includes giving new life to historic buildings in the inner city through partnerships in education and entrepreneurship, such as those with Wits University.
Representing the Johannesburg Heritage Foundation, former Wits Professor Kathy Munro, said the planetarium was “a symbol of civic vision, academic excellence and the pursuit of wonder”. She reminded guests of the site’s legacy, from its early days as a gift from the City of Johannesburg to Wits, to its transformation into a place of inspiration for learners, students, and the public.
“So many of us came here as young people and left with our dreams set in motion,” she said. “Today’s Dome is a brilliant reimagining of that original spark – a place where heritage is honoured and the future is imagined”.
Munroe also acknowledged the contributions of early visionaries, including Professor Arthur Bleksley and architects R Spencer Parker, Anthony W. Parker and E N Finsen, and praised the modern restoration led by architect Kate Otten, whose award-winning design respects the original structure while giving it a bold, future-facing purpose.
Blue plaques in Johannesburg commemorate locations of local and international significance, and the Wits dome now stands proudly among them. Vilakazi said the dome is not just a monument to the past – it is an investment in the future.
“This plaque affirms Wits’ role in this city – not as a distant ivory tower, but as a beacon of excellence, hope and renewal,” he said. “It reminds us that heritage and innovation are not opposites – they are intertwined, like strands in the DNA of this university and this city”.
The Wits Anglo American Digital dome’s development will soon be entering a third stage, with the addition of content development facilities and a permanent display housing of the historic old Zeiss Projector.