MAAP is a global, award-winning architecture and healthcare planning firm. MAAP was formed in 1991 out of the Live Projects Section of the Medical Architecture Research Unit (MARU) at North London Polytechnic. MARU had a strong reputation integrating design, education and research into its course on Health Facility Planning which attracted post-graduate students from all over the world. Whilst at MARU, founding senior directors, Christopher Shaw and Mungo Smith, developed areas of expertise in strategic medical planning, research and design. In 2008, MAAP established a Sydney office led by Mungo Smith. MAAP now operates independently in Australia with an international strategic design and research-led focus.