The architectural proposal envisions a flexible and innovative school building that will encourage creativity, participation, and interaction. At the same time, it honors the long history and tradition of the educational institution and highlights the historic Compton Hall, as it integrates harmoniously into the exceptional natural environment of the Anatolia College Campus. Two building entities coexist with rhythmic autonomy, without one dominating or being diminished by the other.

The building houses 19 classrooms, five laboratories, three soundproof rooms, two visual arts studios, office spaces for administration and educators, and the “Kassandra Auditorium.”

The new educational building is designed to achieve optimal performance in terms of sustainability and to optimize indoor environmental conditions, such as thermal comfort and air quality, while consuming the least amount of energy possible.

The selection of materials that make up the building’s external envelope is a key factor in energy conservation and the overall reduction of thermal losses. In addition to the character, they lend to the building’s morphology, the appropriate shading and sun protection elements on the facades—such as the Flexbrick ceramic mesh, the rotating metal louvers, and the metal canopy—minimize the likelihood of overheating during the summer, while in winter, they allow sunlight to enter space, reducing the need for heating.

Specifically, the Flexbrick ceramic mesh, this industrialized sustainable dry-assembly cladding system that takes the form of ceramic fabric, serves as a reinterpretation of the ceramic tiling on the roofs of existing buildings. Its advantage is that it provides an ancient material that combines traditional manual installation techniques with modern expertise. A steel mesh holds the mosaic of specially designed ceramic tiles in horizontal and vertical strips. Being extremely flexible, the mesh can be folded into pallets for storage and transportation, taking up little space, and the strips make installation easy, quick, and cost-effective, further reducing emissions.

Overall, environmentally friendly materials and systems are used with the goal of optimizing the building’s life cycle performance. Additionally, the placement and orientation of the classrooms along the North-South axis enhances its energy efficiency.

The building’s design also aims to maximize the use of natural resources to meet the needs for natural lighting and ventilation. The extensive glazing and openings allow daylight to enter the interior spaces, minimizing the use of artificial light, providing excellent visual performance, and ensuring continuous connection with the natural environment. Additionally, the skylights in the upper zones of the classroom windows contribute to cross ventilation, improving indoor air quality and cooling the spaces.The roof skylights contribute to the necessary heat extraction and ventilation across all levels through the open staircase (chimney effect).

Since the goal was to achieve a comprehensive design that aligns every choice with sustainability, the design of the building’s mechanical and electrical installations was also guided by the criteria for ensuring a high level of comfort and safety for its users. The use of modern, cutting-edge technology equipment with high energy efficiency, while maintaining the simplicity of the construction, guarantees both the long lifespan of the equipment and its environmental friendliness.

In conclusion, the architectural proposal for the new school building seamlessly combines sustainability, innovation, and respect for tradition. Through thoughtful material selection, energy-efficient systems, and the integration of modern technology, the design not only reduces environmental impact but also enhances the user experience, offering a comfortable, healthy, and inspiring learning environment. The coexistence of the new structure with the historic Compton Hall underscores the project’s deep connection to the institutional and educational legacy of Anatolia College, while its forward-thinking approach prepares the institution for a sustainable future.