Concept Drawings

Phase I Concept Drawings

Throughout the 2009-10 school year, the ISD Board and Director worked with Pearce McComish architects of Zimbabwe to develop the concept for Phase I. Parameters included the Philosophy outlined in the Master Campus Planning process, and a campus population projection of 600 students (two sections at every grade level). The aim of this building was to maximize use of ground space--hence building up--while creating a sense of space for each division, and shortening the commute for ES students to their specials classes. The design aims to reduce energy consumption by allowing for cross breezes through classrooms, convection-vented hollow walls, and roof gardens. It will also have a water filtration system and recycle gray water for field irrigation.

 

 

The first floor

The Ground Floor will contain upper school offices, Art rooms, and Modern Language classrooms. There will also be an amphitheater which will allow for community meetings, performances, and will serve as a gathering place for students. The two Art Rooms will double our current capacity for Art and will be purpose built to support a top-flight Art program. An electric kiln will be set between rooms and have a viewing window into the hallway, allowing passers by to see the work evolving through firing, glazing, and second firing. This, we hope, will inspire more interest in our visual art program. The amphitheater presents a variety of opportunities for use, including as a proper theater space, with the possibility of scene 'flats' being hung from the railings above, lighting, and positive acoustics.

2nd Floor

The 2nd floor contains additional Modern Language classrooms, Music and IT classrooms, and a drama classroom. The two Music rooms will again double our current capacity and make possible a music program that will meet the needs of our population. There are several practice rooms, instrument storage room, and a large ensemble room that can serve as meeting room, performance space, and classroom. IT classrooms will be outfitted for high-end video and media education. (by 2012, our 1:1 laptop program will cover the entire HS; MS core classes will be served by mobile labs). Modern Language and ELL classrooms are located so that ES students have the minimum possible commute from their core classrooms. This will be the first time for ISD to have a room specifically for drama.

3rd floor

The 3rd floor will be the High School floor. 8 core HS classrooms plus a Science lab will allow for all HS core classes to be scheduled on this floor. The Science lab will be purpose built for Bio and Chem; Physics classes will likely take place next door in a Math/Physics 'dry lab'. Classes will have wireless access, and all students will be on our 1:1 tablet program, with their own tablet laptop. Student break-out spaces are provided for each of the four grades; in these spaces, students will find their lockers and collaborative work space. These break-out spaces should also serve as 'hang out' space for the different grades.

4th floor

The fourth floor is our Middle School for grades 6-8. Six core classrooms plus one purpose built science lab will provide the core classroom space for six sections of students. Again, classrooms will have wireless access, and the middle school will be served by laptop carts. Breakout spaces for MS students provide locker spaces, breakout work spaces, and hanging out areas.

Our roof will be flat, will hold the main air-conditioner units, and we hope will eventually hold photo-voltaic cells that will provide electricity for our lights and other electricals during daylight hours. Roof gardens will be on roof spaces on the 4th and 3rd floors.

Building rendering

The entire building will look something like this when completed. We are excited about this building project and how it will change our campus, school, and educational programs. We feel that this will provide many enhancements and improvements to our already strong curricular and extra curricular program.