Malawi Dental School makes a major step forward for healthcare and education in Malawi. As the country’s first purpose-built dental teaching facility, it provides the infrastructure needed to train locally qualified dentists and expand access to essential oral healthcare. Developed for Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, the project forms a central component of the Malawi Dental School & Integrated Teaching Facility, funded by the Scottish Government and the World Bank.
Integrated learning environment
The 3,350-square-metre building brings together teaching, clinical practice and research within a single, integrated environment. Teaching clinics, open-plan group bays, research laboratories and minor operating theatres are arranged to support both student learning and community healthcare provision. Shared learning spaces and general teaching areas are organised around a light-filled central atrium conceived as a student “agora” – a social and intellectual heart that encourages interaction, collaboration and informal learning. This space connects directly to a 100-seat lecture hall designed to host university- and faculty-wide events.
Client: Kamuzu University of Health Sciences and the University of Glasgow
Dates: 2026
Architect and Landscape Architect:
John McAslan + Partners
Consultants
Narro Associates - Structural Engineer
Buro Happold - Building Services
Mango Tree Construction Limited
Malawian Delivery Team:
MOD Architects - Architect of Record
SCS Ltd - Structural Engineering
M&E Associates - Building Services
Quant - Quantity Surveyor
Sustainable design and local identity
Sustainability is integral to the design. Passive environmental strategies minimise energy demand, with natural ventilation used throughout teaching and administrative areas and air conditioning limited to clinical spaces. Deep brick fins, shaded openings and careful orientation provide effective solar control while shaping the building’s architectural character. Handmade local clay bricks form a nine-bay structure with strong physical presence, complemented by locally sourced rubber wood used for stepped seating within the atrium.
As the first completed project in the next phase of campus development, the Malawi Dental School will set a benchmark for future growth. Scheduled for completion in 2026, it is a powerful symbol of partnership, resilience and shared ambition, supporting a healthier future for Malawi through education, design and collaboration.
