Durban implemented its Urban Renewal plan in the early 1900’s in two main areas, the Civic Heart and the Centrum area. The Centrum was the site of the railway station which served Durban from the early 1900’s, and is 28Ha in extent.

The Worksop entailed the conversion of an existing railway workshop into a special retail centre comprising over 1230 small shops. The Architects and Interior Designers sought to enhance, compliment and reinforce the existing Victorian scale of the Workshop. Within 9m modules, two floors of retail space were provided and the total construction area built within the building was 26710m².

The centre at its opening was very well received by the public in October 1987 and indeed The Workshop remained one of Durban’s more vibrant premiere Shopping Centres for many years thereafter. The Centre remains one of Bentel Associates more successful conservation, restoration and urban renewal schemes, proof that the existing infrastructure of a city can easily be utilised in developing new uses for existing urban fabric.