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AISL Facilities Master Site Plan 2025
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Introduction In April of 2016, the AISL Board of Directors adopted a 10-year Facilities Master Site Plan with a feasible project sequence that is responsive to 21st century teaching and learning. The plan provides a framework to guide feasible short term (1-3 years), medium term (4-6 years), and long term 7-10 years) facility development projects. The Facilities Master Plan provides a “road map” to guide the growth and improvement of the AISL physical plan in an effort to support program development in academics, athletics, the arts, and global citizenship.
The backbone of the plan consists of three feasible project sequences that AISL plans to undertake over the next 10 years. Read below for more news & details. |
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Overview
Update 2017
Update 2018
Update 2019
Update 2020
Future plans
Overview
The Process
After a rigorous tendering process, Flansburgh Architects from Boston, USA was selected to lead the process to create AISL's facilities master site plan. Flansburgh conducted three design workshops on campus to develop the facilities master plan in collaboration with the AISL community. During each visit, architects met with administrators, faculty, administration, board members, parents, maintenance staff, and students to develop an understanding of campus design challenges and solutions to address these challenges. The Flansburgh Team assembled a working study model of the campus with all existing spaces and new program spaces represented with 3D blocks. Creating this model led to an inclusive and engaging process characterized by rich conversations that informed the development of the plan.
After a rigorous tendering process, Flansburgh Architects from Boston, USA was selected to lead the process to create AISL's facilities master site plan. Flansburgh conducted three design workshops on campus to develop the facilities master plan in collaboration with the AISL community. During each visit, architects met with administrators, faculty, administration, board members, parents, maintenance staff, and students to develop an understanding of campus design challenges and solutions to address these challenges. The Flansburgh Team assembled a working study model of the campus with all existing spaces and new program spaces represented with 3D blocks. Creating this model led to an inclusive and engaging process characterized by rich conversations that informed the development of the plan.
Design Principles
A set of nine guiding design principles emerged from the process. These principles guided the development of the plan. They are as follows:
A set of nine guiding design principles emerged from the process. These principles guided the development of the plan. They are as follows:
Update 2017
Phase 1A
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I am thrilled to announce that we have finally started the construction of Phase 1A of our Campus Improvement Plan. This phase will include the construction of a large multi-purpose hall on the school’s new property behind the Primary School. This hall, which we are calling the Pavilion, will be large enough to accommodate exams, exhibitions, class meetings, workshops, conferences, and more. It also includes a large deck and social area that will overlook four multi-purpose courts. These courts will be large enough for basketball, volleyball, or tennis. The second part of the project will be a renovation to our gym to improve ventilation, renovate some spaces and, most importantly, almost triple the playing space available for Physical Education classes and sporting events. This phase will significantly improve our school programming, provide higher quality facilities, and introduce much more flexibility in scheduling. The pictures show the floor plan and an artist’s rendering of the Pavilion.
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This project is the culmination of a four-year process. The adjacent property was purchased during the 2014-15 school year. After a competitive process, Flansburgh Architects from the USA was hired to conduct a campus master site planning exercise. During the 2015-16 school year, teams of their architects made three visits to campus and engaged the board, faculty, staff, parents, and students in a consultative process to envision the AISL of the future. The 2016-17 school year was focused on putting everything in place to realize the first parts of this vision. This meant holding competitive processes to hire a project manager and professional team and then an architect. By the middle of the year, we had appointed African Cityscapes as our project management and professional team. SVA Architects from South Africa, in partnership with Anderson & Anderson Architects from Zambia, were then appointed as the project architects.
The remainder of last year and the first half of this school year have been dedicated to designing Phase 1A. Once the designs were completed we held a competitive process to appoint a builder. From an original pool of eighteen construction companies who were part of the process, the Board appointed Hong Chen Construction Company. We have now turned the site over to them and they are already hard at work. We anticipate construction to finish during our June/July holiday so that we can move into our new facilities before the next school year.
I am pleased to report that Phase 1A of our Campus Improvement Program will be funded entirely through the capital funds that we collect. This includes the one-time admission fee and the annual capital levy and does not come out of tuition payments. These capital funds are collected and earmarked specifically for facility improvements like this.
I anticipate that the construction of the Pavilion and the multipurpose courts will not have a significant impact on our programs since they are on an adjacent property that we do not currently use. The gym renovation will occur in at least two phases. Some of the exterior work on the parking lot side of the gym will start next week and carry on through the December/January holiday. Although the gym will still be usable, there will not be any access from the parking lot side. The second, larger phase of the renovation is currently scheduled to begin sometime in February. The gym will be unavailable for several months as this work is conducted. There will also be times when the Secondary Pool will have to be closed during some of these works. I will keep you posted on the scheduling of that work as we get closer to the time.
I am pleased to report that Phase 1A of our Campus Improvement Program will be funded entirely through the capital funds that we collect. This includes the one-time admission fee and the annual capital levy and does not come out of tuition payments. These capital funds are collected and earmarked specifically for facility improvements like this.
I anticipate that the construction of the Pavilion and the multipurpose courts will not have a significant impact on our programs since they are on an adjacent property that we do not currently use. The gym renovation will occur in at least two phases. Some of the exterior work on the parking lot side of the gym will start next week and carry on through the December/January holiday. Although the gym will still be usable, there will not be any access from the parking lot side. The second, larger phase of the renovation is currently scheduled to begin sometime in February. The gym will be unavailable for several months as this work is conducted. There will also be times when the Secondary Pool will have to be closed during some of these works. I will keep you posted on the scheduling of that work as we get closer to the time.
Update 2018
Phase 1A Completed
The "New" Gym: Leopard's Lair! The newly-renovated gym is now open for business. Although there is still some landscaping work being finished on the site of the former parking lot, the interior renovations of the gym have been completed. The students started using it this week. If you have not had the chance, please take a moment and pop your head inside. I think you will be amazed at our “new” gym. The small lot that was next to the gym is now a landscaped social space, so please plan to park elsewhere.
The Palm Pavilion! The Palm Pavilion has now been fully integrated into our campus and is already being used often. The pavilion gives us something that this campus has always needed but never had: a large, flexible space. This new space will be used for exams, class meetings, parent meetings, teacher meetings, art exhibitions, PYPx, Personal Project exhibitions, musical performances, student work exhibitions, conferences, workshops, social events, and much more. The fact that its booking calendar is already filling up speaks to the need for this type of space.
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Update 2019
Phase 1B
We are planning to launch the next exciting phase of our campus improvement plan after school ends in June. This phase will include a thorough renovation of our primary school, an improvement of the traffic flow on campus, upgrades to our physical security measures, more parking, and the addition of some solar panels to provide greener energy and reduce our reliance on ZESCO. This work is considered Phase 1B of our Campus Master Site Plan (Phase 1A was the renovation of the gymnasium and construction of the Palm Pavilion and external playing courts).
Primary School
The renovation of the primary school will include the construction of some new classroom spaces and renovation of some existing ones. The emphasis of this part of the project is to create more effective learning spaces by increasing natural light, creating valuable breakout spaces, and improving thermal comfort through better roof design, better ventilation, and the installation of air conditioning. There will also be a significant improvement to the quality of our bathrooms and the creation of a grassy focal area to help build community in the lower Primary grades (grades 1-3). Finally, the entire primary school will get a significant overhaul from an aesthetic point of view. Please see the architect’s rendering below to get an idea of what our school will look like.
Traffic Flow
The other part of this project is based on improving our traffic flow for better safety and security. This will entail creating a one-way flow of traffic through the school where all parents enter through what is now the secondary school access road and then proceed one-way through campus and out what is now the Primary School entrance. This will provide a very long drop-off lane, which should facilitate the morning rush by making drop offs quicker and safer. Part of this project will also include the creation of additional parking.
Security
An additional benefit of this plan will be the creation of a barrier between the parking areas and the rest of campus. The barrier will include a combination of fencing and attractive feature walls. Everyone who enters campus itself will then have to enter through pedestrian checkpoints. This will allow us much better control of who has access to our campus, a vital safety consideration.
Managing Disruptions
Works of this scale will create some disruption on the campus but the leadership team is working very hard to put plans in place that will ensure our Primary School program will continue smoothly. This includes working with our project manager to phase the project carefully to minimize the impact. Although many parts of this project will be done sooner, we anticipate the entire project will wrap up during the December/January holiday. As with previous projects, rest assured that students will continue to receive the same great education that you have come to expect from us regardless of the construction on campus.
The renovation of the primary school will include the construction of some new classroom spaces and renovation of some existing ones. The emphasis of this part of the project is to create more effective learning spaces by increasing natural light, creating valuable breakout spaces, and improving thermal comfort through better roof design, better ventilation, and the installation of air conditioning. There will also be a significant improvement to the quality of our bathrooms and the creation of a grassy focal area to help build community in the lower Primary grades (grades 1-3). Finally, the entire primary school will get a significant overhaul from an aesthetic point of view. Please see the architect’s rendering below to get an idea of what our school will look like.
Traffic Flow
The other part of this project is based on improving our traffic flow for better safety and security. This will entail creating a one-way flow of traffic through the school where all parents enter through what is now the secondary school access road and then proceed one-way through campus and out what is now the Primary School entrance. This will provide a very long drop-off lane, which should facilitate the morning rush by making drop offs quicker and safer. Part of this project will also include the creation of additional parking.
Security
An additional benefit of this plan will be the creation of a barrier between the parking areas and the rest of campus. The barrier will include a combination of fencing and attractive feature walls. Everyone who enters campus itself will then have to enter through pedestrian checkpoints. This will allow us much better control of who has access to our campus, a vital safety consideration.
Managing Disruptions
Works of this scale will create some disruption on the campus but the leadership team is working very hard to put plans in place that will ensure our Primary School program will continue smoothly. This includes working with our project manager to phase the project carefully to minimize the impact. Although many parts of this project will be done sooner, we anticipate the entire project will wrap up during the December/January holiday. As with previous projects, rest assured that students will continue to receive the same great education that you have come to expect from us regardless of the construction on campus.
Update 2020
Settling into the new classrooms: Grade 4 and 5
The Grade 4 and 5 students have been very excited to move into their new classrooms. They have been enjoying the lighter, brighter rooms, air conditioning and spacious learning areas. Here's a sneak peak at the new facilities - and a sign of things to come for the primary school at AISL...!
Future plans
Phase 1C: The Hub & HeartThe Hub & Heart has been designed to promote collaboration and foster community. It will offer dynamic art and design facilities, a library, and a large food service area built opposite the Tiyende Pamodzi Theater. The space between the theater and the new library will form a central, amphitheater-style space, called the ‘Insaka’. Named for the Bemba word for "a place to gather," the insaka will be a flexible venue for community gatherings, open-air performances, or other special events. This final phase of our planned facility upgrades will bring to life a community meeting place at the heart of our beautiful campus.
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