Imagine Aiglon. The Campus Masterplan

Transcription

1 Imagine Aiglon The Campus Masterplan

2 Cover : View from the Kalouti Observatory, Aiglon College, Switzerland Photograph by: Marcus Ginns

3 Aiglon College: Unique among the best Aiglon College was founded on a vision. Today it remains a visionary place. The future for which we are equipping our students more than ever requires global fluency: a rising generation of resolute and resilient young people with integrity and sound values, a spirit of adventure, an appetite for challenge and empathy for those in need. The young people we form are enlightened individuals who touch the lives of others and who make a difference in their communities and in the world. They are actors, not spectators. They lead, they serve, they transform. They are world citizens, who through the holistic education they receive at Aiglon, go on to make the planet we inhabit a better place. In the world of today there remain profound injustices, hardships and challenges which need to be faced with courage, confidence and creativity; perhaps most importantly they need to be approached with love and generosity. A school must therefore, in my view, still unrelentingly seek to foster the balanced development of mind, body and spirit. It is my abiding hope that these priorities, so single-mindedly articulated and enacted by John Corlette when he founded Aiglon and led it for a quarter of a century to its position as an institution with a unique global reputation, will evolve and endure. Richard McDonald, Head Master 1

4 Our history Founded in 1949 by John Corlette in the breathtakingly beautiful setting of Villars high in the Swiss Alps, Aiglon s purpose has remained constant: to provide a unique educational experience that challenges and inspires our diverse family of young people to contribute to the world through their enduringly positive, respectful and responsible lives. That purpose is underpinned by a sustained set of guiding principles: the balanced development of mind, body and spirit informed by our core values of challenge, respect, responsibility, diversity and service. It was John Corlette who intially stressed the importance of these qualities and values, and they remain as relevant today as they were 65 years ago. The Alps offer a physical and spiritual challenge such as the youth of today needs more than ever, in the shape of mountains to be climbed, on ski and on foot, and battles to be fought with the elements in the form of snow and ice, cold rain and cloud, sun and heat let alone gravity. John Corlette, Founder of Aiglon College 2

5 Aiglon today: what makes us distinctive? Aiglon College takes a holistic approach to education. This combined with an intimate learning environment in a spectacular alpine setting is what makes us unique. Our academic curriculum is designed to reflect the School s guiding principles, fostering student achievement and success and encouraging life-long learning. Our students come from all over the world to study at Aiglon College. Our largest student groups are from Britain, the United States and Russia, but we have students from Nigeria, Colombia, Saudi Arabia, China and South Africa, and many more. We are almost 350 strong, with students of 58 nationalities ranging in age from 9 to 19. Yet from such diversity comes a strongly-knit community. There is no cultural majority at Aiglon College. We are a community that eats, sleeps and plays together, faces challenges together, and together we explore our strengths and discover talents we never knew we had. We reveal each individual s special qualities. We strive to create a school environment and climate that promotes both individual and collective well-being and happiness. The lives our graduates go on to lead bear witness to the quality and substance of the education we provide. We measure success through the universities they attend and the jobs they do, of course. But above all it is their contribution as human beings who make a positive difference that is the ultimate measure of their and our achievement. Governance and Leadership Our not-for-profit status sets Aiglon College apart from boarding schools in continental Europe. Aiglon is led by a volunteer board of governors that ensures all the school s resources are responsibly managed and continually reinvested in improving the campus and educational experience of our students. The stable and experienced senior leadership team is comprised of a group of highly regarded professionals with many years of service in leading schools and universities worldwide. 3

6

7 Imagining Aiglon What we do is not haphazard, or done because other people do it or somebody has said it ought to be done that way. Everything we do has been thought out with reference to our basic aim and developed from our principles. John Corlette, July 1973 We are constantly seeking to improve Aiglon College while maintaining the distinctive education ethos of the school. The campus strategic masterplan has highlighted the necessity for a number of new buildings at Aiglon College. The next phase of the plan calls for the construction of an important Assembly and Arts building. It is anticipated that this new facility will cost in the region of 14 million Swiss francs. The building will be a landmark structure and a transformational element unlocking further development of the campus. As a not-for-profit school, we are fortunate to partner with individuals and organisations who share our commitment to educational excellence. With this support we can design the spaces we inhabit and shape our student body to create an exceptional learning experience for the next generation of global citizens responsible for the future. The aim of Aiglon College is the balanced development of mind, body and spirit through: - Challenge - Respect - Responsibility - Diversity - Service. 5

8

9 Developing our campus The school has crafted an ambitious and long-range campus master plan that identifies the needs for new and upgraded facilities, situates these on the campus and provides a sequence for the execution of planned developments. At the same time we are committed to regular re-evaluation of the School s technological capabilities to ensure that Aiglon remains capable of delivering an ICT platform of the highest standard to the community. We are constantly seeking to identify strategically important opportunities to acquire real estate that will allow us to make the most of our integrated village campus and where possible further extend the existing facilities. Key challenges of the strategic campus masterplan To develop a masterplan vision that meets the real needs of the school To develop a vision that preserves the unique Alpine character of the landscape and architecture To develop a masterplan that is viable within the rules of the local planning authorities To develop a phasing strategy for the masterplan to ensure that the school can be functional at all times during the delivery To develop a series of projects that are financially sustainable. Key goals of the strategic campus masterplan To provide excellent teaching accommodation, well positioned with the campus and grouped by academic area To provide an excellent Junior School connected to the wider campus To welcome visitors to the heart of the school, providing excellent arrival spaces and administrative facilities To provide a clear circulation spine through the school to link all the key facilities and defined service delivery/areas To provide excellent dedicated boarding accommodation New girl s boarding house (planning permission secured groundbreaking anticipated in ) To provide high-quality facilities for whole-school activities, specifically for: Sports and Expeditions (completed delivered in 2012) Assembly facility along with drama and arts (object of this proposal) Library and learning resource centre Dining together, with kitchens. 7

10 The Assembly and Arts Building This new building will be key to the school s future campus development and educational mission. The sense of community at Aiglon College is a defining feature of education here. We hope to build an internal community space as beautiful and inspirational as our unique alpine exterior. We also recognise the importance of the creative and performing arts in the education of young people. These creative outlets both build and balance the skill set necessary for academic and personal success. To study art and drama is to begin to understand what it is to be human; the arts are an essential element of school life. Our school campus is spread over the mountain, more resembling an alpine village than a conventional school campus. For this reason, we need to phase the construction of our campus carefully. This uniquely designed space will be a keystone building unlocking further development of the campus. Its construction will give the school additional space, allowing us to refurbish and empty other buildings with minimal disruption to school life. It will be built in a fashion that blends harmoniously into our pristine alpine village environment. This dedicated space at the heart of the campus will reinforce the sense of community at the school and allow the full potential of the students wide-ranging talents to be realised, while at the same providing a facility with the potential to serve the entire Villars locality. Naming Opportunity The creation of this facility provides a range of naming opportunities for individuals and foundations who wish to have their philanthropic support recognised. The building itself will be named for a donation of 10 million Swiss francs. 8

11 9Diagram 1 Aerial View of Existing Site Plan of Aiglon College Acanthus Clews Architects

12 Diagram 2 Existing Site Plan of Aiglon College Illustration of the Aiglon campus considering quality of existing facilities Acanthus Clews Architects 10

13 Diagram 3 Masterplan with a New Assembly Hall Acanthus Clews Architects artist s concept not intended as the final design 11

14 Diagram 4 New Buildings around School Hub Space Acanthus Clews Architects artist s concept not intended as the final design 12

15 Plan of Activity The campus masterplan is complete and we now seek funding for the next phase of campus development. We will begin planning and construction of the Assembly and Arts building when we have acquired 80% of projected cost through external philanthropic funds. The cost estimate for the building is based upon initial estimates from quantity surveyors. A breakdown of anticipated construction costs and the design brief will be made available on request. Milestones Secure Funding Planning 80% of Funding Secured Design and Permissions 2 years Construction 18 months You can help to transform Aiglon College Aiglon College is a not-for-profit school. As such we rely on the Aiglon community of parents, alumni and friends to continually improve and enhance the unique Aiglon educational experience. The first phase of our campus development was delivered by the construction of the Tony Jashanmal Sports Centre opened in The proposed Arts and Assembly building will be a significent step to creating the Aiglon campus of tomorrow. We invite you to help us transform this dream to reality. Contact: Advancement Office +41 (0) [email protected] 13

16 Aiglon College Avenue Centrale Chesières-Villars Switzerland T +41(0) F +41(0) [email protected] MARCH 2015