Building to Grow
Dr. Roukema talks through the next stages of our Master Facilities Plan
Fifteen years ago, HKIS began its Master Facilities Plan. This ambitious vision included the total redevelopment of the Lower Primary Campus, renovating and refreshing our Upper Primary building, projects which wrapped up in 2018. But our Middle and High School in Tai Tam haven’t seen the same sort of extensive updates since they were built in the late 80s and early 90s.
This is going to change, starting with the groundbreaking of “Site A”, for a student activity center. Adjacent to the Tai Tam field, it will be home to the Dragons, and core to our athletics program. Middle and High School students will use its sporting facilities, including a pool, tennis courts, climbing walls, and massive multi-purpose rooms, for PE classes and co-curricular programs. And in line with our belief that all spaces are interdisciplinary spaces, students will use these facilities for physical health and wellbeing as well as other subjects, such as applied science and engineering.
From Above This architect rendering shows the Site A rooftop, which houses tennis courts and solar panels.
The building is symbolic of the importance of wellbeing to HKIS — for our students who will use it daily, and for the Hong Kong community, who will access it through our extensive activities program and community partnerships. It’s also the first step in this phase of the development plan, to provide our students with tools and programs to further excel.
A Grand Entrance A multi-storey atrium welcomes students into the new Site A building.
The next upgrades will be:
- A 1,000-seat performance hall in our existing High School gym area that will do justice to our performing arts programs, and promote opportunities for performances for HKIS and the greater community.
- The Tai Tam Chinese Culture Center in the existing High School Auditorium, directly accessible from the Plaza entrance at the heart of the High School.
- The New Media Center, in the lower portion of the High School Auditorium, will incorporate the High School Library and include a small stage area for students, lecturers, and visiting guest speakers to give talks for the community.
- The High School’s Visual Arts, Design and Technology space, in the existing High School Library.
While completion of these developments is a few years off, those in the Middle School will see upgrades starting this summer. Each room will be opened up to promote our collaborative and creative approach to learning.
Future Middle School projects include: Moving the library to the 4/F as a student space at the entry of the campus and centralizing our growing visual arts, design and technology courses so all students can access the labs throughout the day. It will all be a learner’s dream come true!
Dr. Ron Roukema gives an exclusive inside look at the development plans at HKIS.