After receiving an Award of Merit from the Gauteng Institute for Architecture (Gifa) in 2020/1 for their submission in the category recognising ‘Work of social importance other than a building for which the practice was appointed as the architect’ – Savage + Dodd Architects received a Commendation in the 2021/2 South African Institute of Architects Awards of Merit & for Excellence for the Neil Aggett Inquest Forensic Support Evidence.

Forensic Architecture is a practise of using architectural techniques to investigate cases of state violence and human rights violations. In this case, this practise was applied to investigate and interrogate the spaces within John Vorster Square in support of the evidence led by the Legal Team seeking a narrative that would overturn the original Inquest finding in the re-opened inquest into the death of Dr Neil Aggett. Aggett who died in detention in 1982 after being held for 70 days in detention without trial.