institutional
industrial
Project Type
Institutional Architecture
Technology
Sketchup Archicad Revit
The Northern Cape's first university required more than buildings—it needed architecture that could establish institutional credibility while honouring the legacy of Solomon Tshekisho Plaatje. This BSc facility delivers world-class laboratory infrastructure rooted in local materiality and regional identity.
A science facility designed to anchor a new institution in its community and context
Brief
Challenge
Solution
Let local materials and climate discipline the design.
We grounded the building in the Northern Cape's material palette: face brick that echoes the region's characteristic red earth, off-shutter concrete that ages honestly in the harsh climate, and deep overhangs that respond to solar angles rather than stylistic preference. The pedestrian spine between buildings creates a shaded public realm—a recognition that education happens in corridors and courtyards as much as in lecture halls. Laboratory interiors expose their technical infrastructure honestly, with painted services and acoustic timber panels creating warmth without compromising function. Floor-to-ceiling glazing in seminar spaces frames campus greenery, connecting interior learning environments to the larger institutional landscape.
Results
A science building that belongs to its place and its people.
he BSc facility now anchors the western edge of the Sol Plaatje University campus, serving as both a gateway building and a statement of institutional ambition. Laboratory spaces meet international standards for ventilation, safety, and technical infrastructure while maintaining visual connection to the campus landscape. The building has become a recruitment tool—prospective students see facilities that match any established university while feeling distinctly of the Northern Cape.
Credits
Credits Details: A collaboration between Makespace Architects and the Department of Higher Education, delivering laboratory infrastructure that serves both rigorous science education and the broader project of building institutional identity in a historically underserved region.
