In 2014 the illustrious Afrikaans Hoër Seunskool, commissioned a new music centre to be designed by Mathews + Associates Architects. Currently, the school hosts one of the largest music departments in the country with 240 high school learners who are taught musical theory and may choose to play an instrument of their choice. Furthermore, the orchestra, choir, bands and ensembles allow learners to make music collectively. The new centre will bring all this together and even contribute to this musical and artistic education in a dedicated, vibrant artistic precinct which includes a main hall for orchestral and choir practice (including a recording studio), four acoustically sound classrooms, twenty individual practice rooms and offices and admin facilities for staff.

The complex is situated at the back of the school on a small, ‘leftover’ triangular portion of land between the existing school and the Gautrain rail tracks which run along the school’s south eastern boundary. But it was the challenges of this site which led to the intricately connected design, with urban corridors and courtyards creating intimate public spaces and ‘outdoor rooms’ where students gather between classes. Special care was also taken to design around existing trees to create an instantly established feel to the new addition to this historic school.