School News

ISKL Wins Gold In Malaysian Architecture Awards

Published by SchoolAdvisor | Aug 06, 2019
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The new Ampang Hilir campus of The International School of Kuala Lumpur (ISKL) has been awarded Gold in the Education category at the Pertubuhan Akitek Malaysia (PAM) / Malaysian Institute of Architects awards.

The annual PAM Awards took place on 29 June 2019 and represent Malaysia’s highest recognition for architectural excellence. The awards also recognize the contribution made by architects in terms of both design quality and the built environment. 

Designed by global architects HOK in collaboration with Malaysian architectural partner VERITAS Design Group, ISKL’s state-of-the-art campus was described in the PAM jury citation as “an impressive education environment”. The Award was presented by Ms. Lillian Tay, President of Pertubuhan Akitek Malaysia and accepted by Mr. Ng Yiek Seng, Principal of VERITAS.

With a design firmly rooted in the Malaysian context and climate, ISKL’s 26-acre campus was officially opened in February 2019 and features the latest in design and technology to stimulate and support student learning. ISKL’s new Head of School, Mr. Rami Madani said, “It is extremely rewarding to see ISKL’s new campus recognised for excellence at the prestigious PAM awards. It is a testament to all those before me who worked so hard to turn the vision for our campus into reality. Together with our architectural team, ISKL’s Board, faculty, staff, students, and parents, we have created a sustainable, 21st-century learning environment designed to support collaboration, provide flexibility, and enable interaction and connectivity.”

Mr. Madani continued, “We are particularly proud that ISKL is the first school to achieve Malaysia’s Green Building Index Platinum rating for sustainable design. Environmental education is embedded in our curriculum and culture. The campus’ sustainable design also provides students with real-life learning experiences, for example, elements of the building management system act as a teaching tool to show the school’s real-time resource consumption which encourages students to look for ways to save energy."

Passive solar design strategies drove the form and layout of the building, which is projected to use 60 percent less energy than the average school in similar climates. The teaching blocks are arranged in an east-west alignment to draw in daylight while protecting classrooms from the intense sun at the beginning and end of the day. Light shelves on the classrooms’ north and south edges drive daylight deep into space and reduce artificial lighting loads.

ISKL’s leading-edge facilities also include technology and science laboratories, a Performing Arts Centre, indoor and outdoor sports complexes, and an Aquatics Centre featuring learn-to-swim, competition, and Olympic-size pools.