TYGERBERG FACULTY OF MEDICINE AUDITORIUMS

Award-Tygerberg-Auditoriums-1

Transforming academic spaces: Two 450-seater auditoriums seamlessly integrated into Stellenbosch University’s Tygerberg campus, combining functionality, innovation, and architectural elegance.

Stellenbosch University Faculty of Medicine Auditoriums

Bellville, Cape Town, South Africa
9,000 m² | Two 450-Seater Auditoriums

Client Vision

Stellenbosch University’s Facilities Management, in collaboration with the Faculty of Medicine, sought a cutting-edge facility that blends function, form, and identity. The brief: design two 450-seater auditoriums with break-out areas, all within a tight budget, fast-tracked timeline, and critical campus context. The building needed to integrate seamlessly with the Teaching Hub, preserve parking and landscaping, and create a new focal point for the Tygerberg campus.

Architectural Response

By ‘docking’ into the Teaching Hub and aligning the auditoriums along a key campus axis, the design establishes a bold yet sensitive connection. The entrance forms a symbolic gateway, transforming the traditional row of trees into architectural columns and creating a visual link between the Student Union and Teaching Hub.

Careful attention was given to scale and massing. The building maintains a low profile to respect the Teaching Hub’s prominence while achieving 4.5m internal ceiling heights, ensuring generous, human-scaled spaces. Outdoor steps—designed as amphitheater-style seating with integrated planters—introduce a vibrant gathering space akin to UCT’s Jameson Steps.

Design Highlights
  • Iconic Break-Out Area: A west-facing biomorphic space with expansive glazing offers dynamic views of campus gardens. Vertical Alucobond fins, perforated with stylized DNA patterns, ensure precise sun control and celebrate the faculty’s scientific identity. The fins, developed with graphic designer Robin Lancaster, merge functionality with artistry.
  • Efficient Auditoriums: Faceted plans optimise sightlines and acoustics, while strict geometric organisation ensures visually ordered interiors. Advanced systems for climate control, lighting, audiovisual equipment, and fire safety were seamlessly integrated through meticulous coordination.
  • Campus Integration: The new design enhances pedestrian flow, bringing the campus axis indoors and fostering a cohesive, activated space that is both functional and iconic.
A Campus Evolution

The Faculty of Medicine Auditoriums redefine Tygerberg’s identity, establishing a state-of-the-art academic hub that is as innovative as the students and faculty it serves. Through its thoughtful design and functional excellence, the project elevates the campus experience for generations to come.

Project Team

Xico Meirelles, Leonard Arendze, Erik Janse van Rensburg, Peter Kraus, Gareth Nolan, Anthony Svelto, Mark de Veredicis, Shafeea Chogle, Mamolukuoa Macheli, Jacques Cleghorn