UNISA GRADUATE SCHOOL
UNISA
The University of South Africa
Paragon Architects was awarded first place in a national competition to design the new Graduate School for the University of South Africa (UNISA) on its Sunnyside campus in Pretoria. The brief called for a future-facing academic building that would consolidate postgraduate teaching, research, and collaboration into a single, state-of-the-art facility.
Though the building remains unbuilt, the design exemplifies Paragon’s approach to institutional architecture—merging sculptural form, sustainability, and programmatic clarity into a singular architectural statement.
The proposed Graduate School was conceived as a five-storey, ±4,000 m² facility, combining advanced research infrastructure with dynamic academic and public spaces. The concept was structured around three key elements:
Suspended “Pods”: Two elevated, sculptural volumes housing meeting rooms and quiet research areas.
Transparent Auditorium: A glazed, double-volume public space anchoring the heart of the building.
Cantilevered Roof: A dramatic canopy that unified the composition and provided shading, legibility, and architectural presence.
This composition created a bold and welcoming interface between UNISA’s postgraduate students, academic staff, and the broader campus environment.
The internal layout was designed to accommodate flexible academic programming, combining enclosed research zones with shared collaboration spaces. Key features included:
Flexible seminar and project rooms
Individual study areas and a postgraduate research library
Neuroscience research labs and digital workspaces
Generous circulation spaces to foster academic interaction
The building was also designed to be environmentally friendly. The cantilevered roof reduced heat gain while encouraging natural ventilation and daylighting. Material choices were guided by performance, longevity, and a strong visual identity.
The UNISA Graduate School proposal reflects Paragon’s commitment to high-performance, high-impact institutional architecture. It remains a benchmark project in the studio’s portfolio of conceptual and competition work, demonstrating how academic buildings can inspire intellectual exchange while contributing meaningfully to the urban fabric.
Location: Pretoria, South Africa
Size: 4,000 m²
Completion Year: On-Going
Sector: Educational