A HIGH RISE SCHOOL IN THE CITY

The Hong Kong Singapore International School is a primary and secondary school built on a steep hillside on Hong Kong Island. To meet the challenge of future roll growth the school has demolished and built over the top of part of the existing building. The existing buildings had to be retained and integrated into the design. This has extended the height of the building and provided more facilities for the growing secondary school creating an amazing high rise school in the middle of the city.

The site size is an incredible challenge. The land area is only  4500 sqm. The planning of the spaces has been thought out to reflect how students are taught. The classrooms are set up as formal traditional teaching spaces and there is a range of specialist spaces: Music, dance, gymnasium, hall, science labs and throughout the campus there are lots of spaces for students to collaborate or relax with friends.

There is a focus on sustainability with gardens utilised for biology lessons, a wind turbine and gardens on the outside wall of the building. There has been a lot of thought put into utilising natural light and optimising air flow for natural ventilation.

Large windows provide views of the surrounding views, including forest, an construction on the new rail link. A  unique feature is see through ‘think tanks’ attached to classrooms as breakout spaces for students to collaborate on their learning tasks. These large windows provide a open environment for teaching and learning.

The school is a 1-1 device school with most school work done through GAFE. 

Once the new rail link is completed it is expected that the roll of the secondary school will increase from 350 to 800. The building is designed to be further expanded for growth to 13 levels in total.

This school is an interesting case study for meeting the challenge of providing a growing school where space  is restricted.