Al Batinah International School Al Batinah, Oman

9076 square meters Grades K-12 560 students

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The Story Fielding Nair International (FNI) has finished the master plan for a 42, 000 SM site and is currently developing the design for Al Batinah International School’s expansion from 150 K-12 students in two phases to create an ecologically sustainable yet verdant campus with a village-like feel for 1100 Expatriate and Omani students that prepares them for the challenges of the 21st Century. Their school is a 1:1 ipad school in which learners move seamlessly from one learning modality to another. 13 buildings are new and 2 are remodeled. Portocabins were brought in and remodeled in August 2012 to give teachers and students a chance to learn in a space that follows the planning principles of the future new buildings. The design is a response to the school’s wishes for learning spaces that are flexible enough to be re-purposed from year to year for students at different levels on the path of the continuum of learning. It is also a response to the leadership’s wish to create a campus in which the whole environment is a learning landscape that makes learning real and relevant to students and raises their awareness of today’s environmental issues and how they can make a difference for the future. Omani & Expatriate Learning Communities are housed in prototype buildings that respond to their different educational needs in K-10. Both communities will share the Grade 11-12 building, Da Vinci Arts & Science Center, Amphitheater and all Sports Facilities and play areas.

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Da Vinci Arts & Science Center

Gr 7-12

Gr 7-10 Expatriate Learning Community for 150

Gr 3-6 Expatriate Learning Community for 150

Existing K-12 & Admin

Existing Sports Hall

Fruit tree grove

Amphitheater for 440

Admin

Existing Swimming Pool

Parking

Parking & Drop Off Loop

Public Parking

Gr 3-6 play zone

K-2 play zone

Custodian Housing

PHASE 1 CAMPUS EXPANSION: In the first phase, the campus main entry is shifted to the centrally located Admin & Da Vinci Arts & Science building. The first pair of prototype learning community buildings will be built with a new drop off loop and shaded outdoor learning and play areas.

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Da Vinci Arts & Science Center

Gr 7-12

Gr 7-10 Expatriate Learning Community for 150

Gr 3-6 Expatriate Learning Community for 150

Existing K-12 building for 150 students to be remodeled for K-2 in Phase 2

Fruit tree grove

Soccer Pitch and 400 meter track

Amphitheater for 440

Admin Parking

Parking & Drop Off Loop

Public Parking

Gr 3-6 play zone

K-2 play zone

Omani Gr 7-10 Learning Community for 150

Multi Purpose Rm & Omani Primary Years Gym

PHASE 2 CAMPUS EXPANSION: In the second phase, the campus is completed with the addition of the prototype buildings for new learning communities, a new Soccer pitch and track, as well as of the Sports Hall Expansion/Remodel and the K-12/Admin building to convert it into a K-2 Learning Community with outdoor learning terraces.

Parking & Drop Off Loop

Omani K-2 Learning Communities for 136

Omani Gr 3-6 Learning Communities for 150

Mixed Gr 11-12 Learning Community for 150

Flex Learning Community

Custodian Housing

New addition

Existing Sports Hall

Existing Swimming Pool

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Sunken Space

Clerestory operable windows at enclosed rooms

Prayer Room

Pods Pods

SUSTAINABLY DESIGNED BUILDINGS AS 3D TEXTBOOKS: Passive cooling is employed to condition the space. This act of environmental stewardship not only cuts down the energy bills in this hot climate, but also acts as learning tool that enables students an teachers to understand and revere their environment. The proposed cooling strategy rests on thermal modelling. Its cornerstone is the use of cooling downdraught air, coupled with an exhausting ‘solar chimney’, and consideration for using this natural ventilation system for ‘night purging’ when ambient temperatures lower. The use of wind towers for cooling in Oman has a long history, and this answer builds on that tradition.

Passive Cooling Concept

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SHADED LEARNING COURTYARDS: Grade 3-6 & 7-10 Learning Communities will share a shaded peaceful learning courtyard that acts as an outdoor environmental learning center. The architectural language of the prototype buildings allows for variation and personalization so that each Learning Community will have its own identity contributing to the village-like feel of the campus.

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SHADED PLAY AREAS: Grade 3-6 Learning Community will have its own playground with zones for making art and quiet sunken spaces for quieter learning activities.

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ALL SCHOOL COMMONS: The main entry to the Grade 3-6 Learning Community is designed as a space where the entire learning community can come together for gatherings and events. Beyond is their satellite café and servery.

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DA VINCI ARTS & SCIENCE LEARNING STUDIO: Grade 3-6 students will have a learning studio that provides a space that facilitates interdisciplinary learning of art and science.

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AGILE LEARNING POD: Grade 3-6 students will have plenty of room for multiple areas of learning that encourage independence and are all child centered. The pod storage walls are moveable allowing teachers to connect pods and team teach if they wish. The bay windows provide “cave space” for students to reflect and work independently.

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FLEXIBILITY FOR CHANGING GRADE POPULATIONS: The two story prototype concept is not just based on cost savings for rapid campus expansion. It is also based on the need for flexibility since populations of various ages will fluctuate from year to year. The prototypes provide learning pods made of moveable walls and millwork for K-6 population and advisory workstations for Grades 7-12 allowing buildings to be easily re-configured from year to year.

Gr 7-10 Gr 3-6

Gr 3-6 Play Courtyard

Shared Courtyard &

Garden

Gr 7-10 Garden & Terrace

Satellite Cafes

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Shared Courtyard &

Garden Shaded Drop Off waiting

zone

GRADE 7-10 GROUND LEVEL: The same prototype for Grade 3-6 buildings is altered slightly to provide enclosed seminar rooms, Multipurpose rooms and pods are replaced with advisory work station clusters.

Grade 7-10 Learning Community

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Shared Courtyard &

Garden Shaded Drop Off waiting

zone

GRADE 7-10 FIRST LEVEL: The same prototype for Grade 3-6 buildings is altered slightly to provide enclosed seminar rooms, Multipurpose rooms and pods are replaced with advisory work station clusters.

Grade 7-10 Learning Community

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ADMIN DA VINCI BUILDINGS: The new entry to the school welcomes parents to linger for coffee to make friends with other parents with views to the Secondary students Da Vinci building. They will be able to see the students at work engaging in project based learning and their work displayed under the deep overhangs. The buildings also serve as a community center on evenings and weekends for events in the amphitheater and the new soccer pitch/running track.

Shaded Amphitheater

for 440

Shaded Courtyard &

Garden

Arts

Science

Admin

Coffee and Book Shop For Parents Welcoming

Entry Courtyard

Shaded Drop Off waiting

zone

New Soccer pitch and 400 M track

New Parking Lot

Outdoor Learning Terraces

Outdoor Learning Terraces

Outdoor Learning Terraces

Admin & Da Vinci Buildings- the new campus entry & heart

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Shared Courtyard &

Garden Shaded Drop Off waiting

zone

TEMPORARY LEARNING STUDIOS: Portocabins were moved to the site in Summer 2012 and quickly remodeled following the planning principles for the new buildings. This gave teachers and students a chance to “test drive” the new spaces and give FNI their feedback to calibrate the final designs.

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Shared Courtyard &

Garden Shaded Drop Off waiting

zone

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Shared Courtyard &

Garden Shaded Drop Off waiting

zone

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Shared Courtyard &

Garden Shaded Drop Off waiting

zone

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Shared Courtyard &

Garden Shaded Drop Off waiting

zone