School Benchmark

Kastelli school and community center, Oulu, Finland

• School integrated as ‘community center’.

• The project includes primary, secondary school with youth and adult education, public library and national level sports center.

• ‘Open plan, informal classroom arrangement’.

• Flexibility in space planning and freedom to students to mix with any grades to build teamwork and project works.

• Large, informal Gathering places.

• Large Glass panels to admit daylight.

• Shapes, Colors, patterned & Playful facade to attract building users of all age groups.

• Communication, interaction and synergy are key features for the design of this public high school.

• Visionary interpretation of openness and flexibility.

• All activities are visible to everybody in order to facilitate communication and inspire each other.

• The whole interior is one flexible classroom, with a third of lessons held in large informal open gathering spaces.

• Four levels of boomerang-shaped learning platforms rotated around a central atrium and sweeping wooden staircase.

• Specialized study programs include Digital Media; Globalization; Biotechnology; and Innovation