TRUDI GROENEWALD
Trudi is a founding partners of Groenewald Preller Architects before its name change to Songline Architects. She has an immense body of experience and work ranging from environmentally sensitive, heritage and highly technical projects. Her expert knowledge in many fields and fastidious detailing has resulted in the successful and beautiful execution of, among many others, complex facilities like SALT (South African Large Telescope) and the contextually sensitive Trace Gas monitoring Lab for CSIR at the Cape Point nature reserve.
First women President of the Cape Institute of Architecture
South African Council for the Architectural Profession [SACAP]
The Planning Advisory Board of the Provincial Administration of the Western Cape [1995-1999]
University of Cape Town’s Building Development Committee as representative of the Rhodes Trust [1995-1998]
SABS National Building Regulations Appeal Board panel since 1988
SAPOA Western Cape Regional Committee
Adjudicator for the Cape Times Centenary Awards for several years [1990-1996]
Editorial Board of “earthworks”, a publication for a Sustainable Built Environment
Regular member of the Heritage Western Cape Appeals Tribunal Panel
AWARDS
SA Institute of Steel Construction Award, 2003: Winner of High-Tech Category for the Role of Architects (SA Large Telescope project).
SA Institute of Steel Construction Award, 2003: Joint Winner for the Best Project (SA Large Telescope).
2014 Mbokodo award for Excellence in Architecture awarded by the Department of Arts & Culture.
Steel Awards, Residential Category, 2015: Commendation (House De Clercq)
DEBBIE PRELLER
Debbie is the other founding partner of Groenewald Preller Architects before its name change to Songline Architects. She brings significant experience in numerous local community-driven multi-purpose facilities, clinics and crèches, schools and tertiary education facilities, refurbishments and commercial projects. Her humanist and pragmatic approach to architecture as a tool to service people has resulted in the development of Songline’s grounded and responsive architectural language over the years. Debbie is also an avid watercolourist which she enjoys in her free time.
President of the Cape Institute for Architecture
SAIA National Board
Heritage Western Cape Appeals Tribunal
Chair of the Society of Architects, Planners, Engineers and Surveyors Western Cape
Member of SACAP/CAA Validation / Accreditation panels
External examiner CPUT …
CILNA DE WAAL
Cilna completed her masters in architecture and started her career in Cape Town under the mentorship of Groenewald Preller Architects and recently joined the new firm Songline Architects as a partner. Cilna has over 15 years experience in both residential and educational projects across the greater Cape Town landscape. She also completed a Masters in Business Administration at the University of Cape Town Business School and used this as an opportunity to gain knowledge on the new development frontiers facing our world in the 21st century.
As the newest partner in the firm, Cilna brings a solution oriented mindset to develop and deliver relevant, contextual and responsive designs for the built environment.
BSc(Arch) UP 2004, BArch(Hons) UP 2005, MArch(Prof) UP 2007
MBA FT Graduate School of Business, UCT GSB 2012