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8
Winter
2013
It is a familiar scenario. John Johnson, IC’s
President standing in his office studying blue-
prints on his wall. Four years ago it was the
blueprints of the new elementary school that
took much of his time. This time, however,
his mind is occupied with the construction
of yet another project: The new Middle and
Preschool buildings.
The current Middle school and Preschools
housed in the historical buildings may be
charming but lack an essential component in
today’s fast paced education methodology:
adequate space.
“We are cramped in the Sage Hall and
we are cramped in Rockefeller Hall,” said
Johnson. “We just need more space. It’s pure
and simple.”
Classroom sizes vary between 45 and 55
square meters – a far cry from the required
60 to 70 square meters per classroom. In fact,
the middle school and preschools are the two
educational facilities with the least amount of
classroom space on campus. (The construc-
tion of the elementary school was considered
a priority for security reasons – bringing in the
students on the campus itself.)
The new Elementary school building with
its large classrooms, gymnasium, music and
art rooms, drew many compliments from
parents. Johnson was bemused. “This is nor-
mal,” he said. “This is how schools are now.
It’s the way it is in normal schools.”
The fact is that today’s ‘normal’ has drasti-
cally changed from the ‘normal’ of 15 or 20
years ago.
Back then a teacher was expected to stand
in front of students and give the day’s lesson.
The students would hopefully listen, take
notes and memorize. Classroom size was of
less importance.
But somewhere along the way, education
has changed. New methods were introduced.
The era of interactive education began.
Students need to be engaged. Teachers need
space for cooperative learning and activities.
Not one to be left behind, IC quickly joined
this education revolution. Classroom space
is a main component. In fact, organizing a
learning space has become an art in itself.
One of the challenges is to create a classroom
environment that informs and engages the
student. Moreover, teachers need to have
the option to arrange and re-arrange seating
as required by the lessons. Materials and
other whatnots are ideally stored in the class
eliminating the time spent waiting for things
to appear.
So what’s going to happen?
Excavations are planned for this fall and the
entire project is forecasted to be completed
within two years. The Boston based Flans-
burgh architects have again been commis-
sioned to design the buildings – along the
same lines as the Elementary school. The
construction will be in coordination with local
architecture firm, Rashid Karam Architects &
Consulting Engineers.
Once the Middle school and Preschool
buildings are completed, Sage Hall and the
Preschool building (officially called elementary
school from the old days) will then be fully
renovated. Sage Hall will be turned into a
center – for music, art, small performing areas
and science. The old Preschool will serve as an
extension for the new Preschool building and
will also house about half of the Preschool
classrooms.
Green space
More buildings less green space, right?
Not so.
“Nobody wants to eliminate any green
space,” said Johnson assuredly. “We are
very sensitive to the environment. That was
one of the school’s first goals,to preserve the
environment.”
One building has even been designed
Partnership for
Excellence Campaign
From 2009 through 2013,
the Campaign raised more
than $40 million. Thanks to
this generous outpouring
of support, IC was able to
construct three buildings
on the Ras Beirut campus.
Two of these buildings,
which together comprise
the Elementary School, are
named for Hisham-Ezzat
Jaroudi and Talal and Maha
Shair. On the Ain Aar cam-
pus, a new playing field
has greatly expanded op-
portunities for sports and
recreation.
Plans are now underway
to build a new Preschool
and Middle School on the
Ras Beirut campus, while at
Ain Aar new construction
will include an Activities
building, modernized class-
rooms, and underground
parking to improve drop-
off and pick-up.
Over the course of the next
two years, IC needs to raise
an additional $45 million,
of which $12 million has
been raised to date.
Without the generous sup-
port of IC Trustees, par-
ents, alumni and friends,
we would have never been
able to accomplish so much.
Our plans are solid and we
are positioned to move for-
ward with the next phase
of the Campaign.
A new
Phase:
A new Middle
School and
Preschool