Rooted in flexible spatial frameworks, adaptive architecture, and visionary urban design, GAPP Architects and Urban Designers delivers educational spaces that are inclusive, sustainable, and globally competitive. At universities and public schools around the country, they create community-focused spaces inspiring learning and connection. The process begins with a thorough analysis of existing conditions, community needs and aspirations, and planning initiatives, ensuring designs align with institutional visions while remaining adjustable for future demands.
The masterplan
GAPP’s flexible spatial development frameworks establish clear movement networks and vibrant open spaces for social and academic interaction. These frameworks prioritise walkability, connectivity, and campus identity, incorporating central gathering spaces — such as landscaped gardens or public squares — to foster community and institutional pride. GAPP’s status quo analysis of the North-West University (NWU) premises identified sprawling residences and disconnected academic cores at the Mahikeng and Vanderbijlpark campuses. At Mahikeng, a reconfigured ring-road and pedestrian network now transform the university into a highly walkable core. Simultaneously, Vanderbijlpark’s east-west pedestrian corridor anchors a multi-purpose sports hall, framed by a primary public square to create a campus heart.
Multipurpose lecture facilities
Students face their most challenging learning in lecture halls. Universities are known for fast-paced lectures and students must stay alert to keep up. There is also a sense of excitement about a new class, a new face at the front, and the whirlwind of knowledge that is yet to unfold. Auditoriums are therefore an essential part to curating this experience. However, GAPP’s design, focused on creating adaptable buildings that support active and hybrid learning, goes beyond traditional models. At the NWU Potchefstroom campus, GAPP’s designs transform traditional lecture halls into mixed-practice venues incorporating acoustic panelling, student whiteboards, and digital infrastructure for hybrid teaching. Existing foyers become informal learning hubs, with study pods and meeting zones featuring sustainable materials, operable windows for air quality, and thermal insulation for energy efficiency.
At NWU, the adaptive reuse of a former engineering training faculty into offices and multipurpose lecture facilities for the Economic and Management Science Faculty resulted in a triple-volume atrium. The latter forms the main entrance along pre-existing movement routes, with its placement reinforcing the open lawn area as a key spatial asset.
Citadels for green spaces
GAPP’s design philosophy advocates for both environmentally- and human-conscious solutions, creating spaces that harmonise with their natural and built contexts. Further north of the country, Sol Plaatje University in Kimberley is home to The Eco Centre, which serves as the university’s recycling and maintenance hub and was designed in line with green building principles. Other sustainable principles, seen in the NWU Masterplan, reduce the need for new construction. At UWC and UCT, green building certifications and sustainable materials ensure long-term resilience, while the firm’s public school projects feature solar-powered systems and water-efficient landscaping, aligning with environmental and budgetary realities.
GAPP Architects and Urban Designers’ approach, rooted in flexible spatial frameworks and adaptive architecture, succeeds in transformative urban design. From the holistic NWU masterplan to multipurpose lecture halls across South African campuses, GAPP shapes an educational legacy that empowers future generations. Their work in public schools further demonstrates their versatility, creating adaptable, community-focused spaces that inspire learning and connection. Notably, this comprehensive approach extends beyond campuses and schools as they apply it to a wide range of urban design interventions.
