SACAP to Bring Global Architecture Leaders to Cape Town to Shape the Future of the Profession

Cape Town, South Africa, 21 August 2026 — The South African Council for the Architectural Profession (SACAP) will convene its inaugural Education Conference at the University of Cape Town’s Beattie Building on 10 and 11 September 2026, bringing together government leaders, international regulators, academics, students and built environment professionals to examine how architecture must evolve in response to South Africa’s changing social, environmental and technological landscape.
Held under the theme “Architecture in Changing Times,” the conference will explore whether architectural education, professional training and regulation are keeping pace with the realities confronting South Africa and the wider world — from the urgent need for safer and more sustainable human settlements and rapid urbanisation to climate change, infrastructure constraints and the accelerating influence of artificial intelligence and digital technologies.
Minister of Human Settlements Thembi Simelane will deliver the keynote address, bringing a government perspective to discussions on the role of architecture in shaping South Africa’s human settlements and responding to the country’s housing, spatial development and infrastructure challenges.
SACAP President Charles Nduku said the conference would provide an important platform for the profession to confront the forces reshaping architecture and identify practical responses.
“Architecture is being reshaped by forces that no institution can address alone. We must ensure that our education, training and regulatory systems prepare professionals who can respond to changing social, environmental and technological realities while serving the public with competence, integrity and care,” said Nduku.
From Education to Professional Practice
A central focus of the conference will be the journey from academic study into professional practice.
Delegates will examine the relevance of architectural curricula, workplace experience, mentorship and the barriers that continue to prevent many emerging professionals from achieving professional registration and participating meaningfully in the sector.
The conference will bring architectural learning institutions into direct conversation with candidates, registered professionals, voluntary associations, architectural practices, infrastructure departments, implementing agencies, regulators and government.
“South Africa cannot discuss the future of architecture without considering the people who must build that future,” said Nduku. “Young professionals need a credible pathway from the lecture room into professional practice. This requires closer cooperation between universities, regulators, government and industry, as well as a serious commitment to mentorship, transformation and professional development.”
International Expertise Comes to Cape Town
The conference will feature an international line-up of leaders with experience across architectural education, regulation, infrastructure and sustainable development.
Participants include Professor Ashraf M. Salama, Professor of Architecture and Urbanism and Head of the School of Architecture and the Built Environment at Northumbria University in the United Kingdom; Dong Wang, Director General of the Eco-city Design Center at TURENSCAPE and Deputy Director of the Nature-based Solutions Innovation Center at Peking University in China; Hugh Simpson, Chief Executive and Registrar of the United Kingdom’s Architects Registration Board; and Michael Armstrong, Chief Executive Officer of the United States-based National Council of Architectural Registration Boards.
Western Cape Infrastructure MEC Tertius Simmers is also among the conference participants.
The international representation will provide an opportunity for South African stakeholders to engage with global perspectives on architectural education, professional registration, regulation and the future of the built environment.
AI, Climate Change and the Future of Architectural Practice
The programme will examine the impact of technology and digital transformation on architectural education and practice, including the growing use of artificial intelligence, building information modelling and data-driven design.
Delegates will consider how these technologies can support innovation and improve professional practice without compromising professional accountability, ethical conduct, public safety or the role of registered professionals.
Climate-responsive design and the profession’s role in developing resilient communities will also form part of the discussion, alongside professional governance, curriculum development and the business of architecture.
For SACAP, these issues are closely connected to the everyday experiences of South Africans. Decisions made within the architectural profession influence housing quality, public safety, infrastructure resilience and the long-term sustainability of communities.
“The future of architecture must ultimately be discussed in human terms,” Nduku said.
“It is about whether people live in safe homes, whether public buildings serve communities properly and whether the places we design can withstand the pressures ahead. This conference must help us identify what needs to change and translate those discussions into action.” From Dialogue to Action
SACAP expects the conference to produce recommendations for architectural education, professional regulation and industry practice, while strengthening cooperation between the Council, learning institutions, government, industry and international professional bodies.
The outcomes will be documented to support SACAP’s strategic planning and guide continued engagement on the development of a capable, ethical and future-ready architectural profession.
Architectural professionals, educators, students, researchers, government representatives, regulators and built environment stakeholders are invited to attend.
Conference information and registration: SACAP Education Conference