Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Architect: HOK.

The International School of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (ISKL) has been established in the city for over 50 years and has grown to become one of the leading schools in Malaysia. This new campus created the possibility to re-examine pedagogical priorities and rethink the nature of its learning environment. The design organizes the building into distinct elements, with the Auditorium, Recital Hall, Black Box Studio and Elementary School Theatre all grouped around a central open plaza. The Early Years Centre nestles within a protective garden with classrooms grouped about its own Art, Music and Science spaces. The Middle School is arranged with a collaborative, cross-curricular program, and the High School is more subject-based and formal as students prepare to move out into the world beyond.

ISKL is a sustainable learning environment designed to use 60% less energy than other schools in similar hot, humid climates. Passive strategies drive the form of the building, with teaching blocks arranged east-west allowing high levels of daylight and screens and shelter providing screens and shelter. Chilled water cools floor slabs at night and transitional commons spaces benefit from the cool air that escapes from classroom doors. Low-velocity fans encourage air movement and improve thermal comfort without necessarily reducing temperature. ISKL is the first international school in Malaysia to receive Malaysia’s Green Building Index (GBI) Platinum Rating.