Building Schools
To cater to growing populations and an increased demand for skills, many Middle East countries are prioritising investments in schools infrastructure, making the education sector a lucrative one for the design and construction industry. Louise Birchall reports
While many projects have been put on the back burner in the GCC over the past 18 months, the education sector is storming ahead with many countries planning major developments and system overhauls, emphasising how critical education is to the design and construction industry.
Saudi Arabia has allocated US $5.3 billion to upgrade and build more than 3500 schools across the country. The Kingdom has already spent around $1.6 billion to acquire 2000 parcels of land since 2003, but more land is needed for schools to meet the needs of a population growing by more than 2% each year.
Similarly, Bahrain has acknowledged the importance of investment in education. Bahrain Economic Development Board chief executive Shaikh Mohammed bin Essa Al Khalifa recently said that “sustainable economic growth that provides opportunity for all is only achievable with the right education system in place.
“That means education is one of the biggest challenges facing the world today. Different countries face different challenges, but many of the issues are common. Bahrain has a strong track record in education and much to share with the world. But we have much to learn too.”
But on its mission to rebuild a futuristic and sustainable schools infrastructure, Abu Dhabi has hogged the headlines in this respect. In December 2009, Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC) launched its schools facilities programme at the MENA Building Schools Exhibition and Conference. The programme will spearhead the construction of 18 new schools in Abu Dhabi, the first of more than 100 to be built under ADEC’s 10 Year Strategic Plan.
“ADEC’s 10 Year Strategic Plan is a historic transformation of the education system that will deliver educational excellence. Providing students with world-class learning environments is a key element of our plan and is the foundation for achieving excellence,” ADEC acting director general HE Salem Al Sayeri said at the event.
ADEC Educational Facilities Designs section manager Alberto Treves tells The Big Project that there are three factors driving the demand for more and better schools in the UAE: “An increase in student population, the ageing of existing facilities and the transformation that the educational system is going through, demanding physical environments that are more appropriate to the educational needs of the 21st Century”.
DETERMINING DEMANDS
But what are the educational needs of the 21st Century and how can a school building’s design and construction help to meet these evolving demands from the sector?
‘Sustainable schools’ is the name of the game. When asked to define a sustainable school, Treves simply says that the “first 18 new schools, to be finished by 2011, are designed to achieve three Pearls in the Estidama green rating system.”
But it is clear that designing and constructing a sustainable school is not just about sticking to a green rating system, the purpose of a school building is very specific and ADEC is currently working on its own set of sustainability guidelines that will be applied to all new projects, according to Treves. The new school designs will contain features not seen within schools in Abu Dhabi before, he continues. They will be economical, and easy to build, operate and maintain. “The need for our schools to be easy to build and to maintain is stated in our design manual as a very important goal to achieve. The construction techniques and systems adopted were evaluated not only considering the initial investment cost, but also considering the whole lifecycle of the schools building, which is estimated at 50 years. We are facing a high demand for new facilities and for us to be effective, we have to make a very rational use of our resources.”
This involves incorporating sustainable design features, such as energy-efficient air-conditioning systems and water-saving devices. Orientations, insulation and shading devices have been carefully planned, and all the electricity required for daily consumption in classrooms will be generated on the school site.
“The new designs are safer, healthier, more attractive, stimulating and appropriate to learning. Therefore, an increase in attendance and concentration from students and teachers is expected, as well as better use of physical and technological resources, and a general feeling of motivation that will be translated into higher achievements from students.”
CLASSROOM MODELLING
The council received more than 27 design proposals for the schools from firms located worldwide, out of which it selected three designs that will serve as the model for future school developments in the emirate. Model features Classrooms arranged along the perimeter of concentrated in the middle spine.
The Studio E / Tawreed Model will be used predominantly for Cycle One schools, and features defined learning communities set between outdoor learning facilities.
And The Lumiset model designed for Cycle Two and Cycle Three schools is organised along a central space that has a triangular shape and accommodates communal facilities such as a library, ICT labs, and a cafeteria.
“The models serve the needs of different grade levels, site conditions and numbers of students. Even though they are slightly different in configuration and space organisation, the core functions are the same and the guiding principles apply to the three models,” explains Treves.
“We are creating a new way of learning. Development of analytical skills in our students is a key objective of ADEC’s strategic plan and these new learning communities combined with the other innovative features of our school designs will help bring this initiative to life,” ADEC director of infrastructure and facilities Hamad Al-Daheri Facilities adds.
“In addition, research has proven that a well-designed school building could be a decisive factor on driving student achievement and in retaining quality teachers at the establishment.”
FUTURISTIC FEATURES
Construction of the first 18 schools, comprising seven Cycle One (grades kindergarten to five) schools, seven combined Cycle Two and Cycle Three schools (grades six to 12), two Cycle Three schools (grades 10-12), and two kindergarten to 12th grade schools, began recently. Dewan Architects & Engineers, the firm behind the design of The Yas Hotel on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi and Dubai’s Creek Towers & Plaza, has been selected to design and construct six of the 18 schools planned by the Abu Dhabi Education Council. Technology is a key feature of the design that will be applied to new school buildings, says the firm.
Labs and ICT rooms will be equipped with the “latest technology” and every educational space in the buildings will be prepared for wireless connections to the internet, providing a new learning mode for students in which they will learn direct computer skills.
A number of technological features will also be applied to teaching methods making classes more interactive and conducive to an environment where students apply greater problem-solving and analytical skills. “Features include solar tubes and panels for electricity generation and water heating,” Dewan chairman and managing director Mohammed Al Assam tells The Big Project.
Treves adds that 20,000m2, maintaining indoor air quality, acoustics and thermal comfort to provide students and teachers with a healthy, safe and stimulating work environment.
The establishments will include auditoriums, gyms, libraries, cafeterias and sports facilities, and for the first time there will be dedicated classrooms for music, art and design and technology; all fully equipped to support diverse-learning opportunities.
LEARNING PROCESS
Dewan has worked on many educational projects, including the Emirates College for Advanced Education with a capacity of 2000 students, the Women’s Higher College accommodating 1500 students in Ras Al Khaimah and seven ADEC kindergartens catering to 360 students each in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. Al Assam says that while the firm particular emphasis has been placed on water and energy saving technologies, reducing the consumption of energy and recycling: “For the first time we are using photovoltaic cells to generate all of the electricity necessary to power classrooms and laboratories”.
Dewan has focused on the key criteria of designing economical, environmentally-friendly, buildable and easy-to-maintain schools. These principles have been adopted and packaged within outstanding exterior designs that correspond with the client’s vision for the future.
“We will achieve this through the use of durable yet economical materials, by approaching the local supply market for materials and refraining from using any harmful chemicals in concrete, paints, etc. We will use recyclable materials and incorporate shaded walkways,” reveals Al Assam.
“Schools need to be designed and constructed with so many different functions and aspects in mind, so as to create an environment that encourages the development of our youth on a variety of levels,” he adds.
Each of Dewan’s schools will be single-gender establishments to cater to between 1225 and 1500 mostly Emirati students in grades six to 12 or grades 10 to 12. They will each cover an area of approximately 18,000-with two situated in the centre of Al Ain and four in the southern suburbs.
Main features of the new school designs include special attention to maximising the use of daylight and maintaining indoor air quality, acoustics and thermal comfort to provide students and teachers with a healthy, safe and stimulating work environment.
The establishments will include auditoriums, gyms, libraries, cafeterias and sports facilities, and for the first time there will be dedicated classrooms for music, art and design and technology; all fully equipped to support diverse-learning opportunities.
LEARNING PROCESS
Dewan has worked on many educational projects, including the Emirates College for Advanced Education with a capacity of 2000 students, the Women’s Higher College accommodating 1500 students in Ras Al Khaimah and seven ADEC kindergartens catering to 360 students each in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. Al Assam says that while the firm has worked on a number of education projects in the region, it now faces the unique challenges of implementing “more complex building systems and technologies within a tighter time frame for design and construction.
“However, all tenders have been awarded and the estimated construction period is 14 months, with a completion anticipated for next summer in time for the start of the 2011 summer term.” Musanada, a firm established by His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan to develop and manage cost-effective and responsive services for the Government of Abu Dhabi, will provide design and construction management services as well as construction supervision for each of the 18 sites.
“Our government leaders have said that education is one of the government’s top priorities for the Emirate so we see our role in ADEC’s school facilities programme as more than just being a service provider. It’s a commitment to the young people of Abu Dhabi and the future of our emirate,” says Musanada CEO Mohamed Khalifa Al Fahed Al Mehairi.
But Abu Dhabi is not immune to challenges in building its schools infrastructure, reveals Treves: “Land availability is becoming a serious problem in Abu Dhabi, as it is imperative that school buildings should be located where the demand for the service is located.
“And even though our Facilities Division went through a very extensive consultation process with the involvement of educators, administrators and even students, it will not be until the buildings are finished and operational that we can evaluate, and eventually make adjustments to our design intentions,” Treves adds, concluding that designing and building ‘schools of the future’ is going to be a learning process.
GCC Schools Construction Pipeline
SAUDI ARABIA
KSA has allocated US $5.3 billion to upgrade and build more than 3500 schools across the country. The Kingdom has already spent around $1.6 billion to acquire 2000 parcels of land since 2003, but more land is needed for schools to meet the needs of a population growing by more than 2% each year.
BAHRAIN
Bahrain has long had a successful track record in education; it was the first country in the Middle East to introduce universal education for men and women more than 70 years ago. It is now working to reform its education system to meet the economic and social challenges of the 21st Century by supporting growth and development of Bahrainis, according to the Bahrain Economic Development Board.
UAE
Abu Dhabi is leading the way for the UAE in terms of building schools. Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC) launched its schools facilities programme at the MENA Building Schools Exhibition and Conference in December. The programme will spearhead the construction of 18 new schools in Abu Dhabi, the first of more than 100 to be built under ADEC’s 10 Year Strategic Plan.
KUWAIT
The Kuwait State Government is finalising plans to develop educational institutions in Kuwait and implement innovative educational policies, plans and programmes that aim to improve education, and support educational institutions and staff to achieve the objectives of national development in accordance with international standards. The Ministry of Education has emphasised the need to build intelligent schools, including high levels of functionality, aesthetics, design quality, health and safety and environmental sustainability.
QATAR
Qatar’s population has more than doubled since 2004, according to new data from Qatar Statistics Authority. The preliminary report of the 2010 Census shows that the population in the state has grown from 744,029 in 2004 to almost 1.7 million in 2010. To cater to the growing population the country is investing in infrastructure developments, which include a significant number of new schools.
