Centre for the Book, Provincial heritage building near Company Gardens, Cape Town, South Africa.

The Centre for the Book is an Edwardian-style building beside the Company's Gardens in Cape Town, designed by British architects W. Hawke and W.N. McKinlay, who won a competition for it and moved to South Africa to oversee construction. It opened in 1913 as the headquarters and examination centre of the University of the Cape of Good Hope. Its custom elevator opens in three directions with separate doors.

The building was constructed starting in 1913 as the seat of the University of the Cape of Good Hope, funded by donations from Willem Hiddingh and Donald Currie. Over time, it transitioned through different uses before becoming the cultural institution it is today.

The centre plays an active role in promoting reading, writing, and publishing across South African languages. Visitors can encounter exhibitions that celebrate local authors and the work of publishers in the region.

The building stands beside the Company's Gardens in central Cape Town, so it is easily reached on foot from the surrounding streets. Its entrance faces the gardens, and the restored Edwardian stonework is visible from outside. The interior is used for conferences, symposia, training courses and exhibitions, so rooms may be occupied by events; check ahead before planning a visit.

The lift was custom-built for the building and opens in three directions through separate doors, a design dictated by the layout of the structure. Restoration consultant John Rennie oversaw work on the building with a limited budget after the National Archives moved out in February 1990.