Puerto Rico High School Re-Envisioned Following Hurricane

Wesleyan High SchoolWith the intention to integrate building design techniques and technologies that not only comply with needs, but also respond to the human experience, building life cycle and operational efficiency, Fosis Corp. has started a new project which will re-create Wesleyan Academy's high school building.

Along with many other buildings in Puerto Rico, the Academy high school building was destroyed due to Category 5 hurricane Maria. Consequently, Fosis proposed a project to respond to the needs of high school staff and students.

Fosis cofounder and Principal Designer, Carlos Martinez Alfaro, explained "the project aims to relate with the day-to-day life of the student. Our intention is to achieve a space that stimulates learning and creates a sense of identity."

The design intends to promote natural light and ventilation, and scheme spaces that will adjust to students and the administration while integrating the existence gym facility with the new construction.

Designing a building that creates a unique identity while respecting the campus scale and administrative vision and helps create multidisciplinary integration are major goals of the new project. Nevertheless, the design seeks to provide an enriching student life experience, increase student retention and loyalty while attracting new students.

With an initial investment of $1.5 million, the construction is expected to begin in January 2018 and be completed by August 2018.

Featured

  • How a Portable Sink Helped an Art Classroom Run More Smoothly

    Classroom design decisions can have outsized effects on instructional time and safety at schools juggling mismatched infrastructure, strict budgets, and crowded schedules — particularly in the arts. Between spilled paint and dirty brushes, art classes run smoother with a sink in the studio. But many schools don’t have a sink in every art classroom.

  • Zurn Elkay Releases 2025 Sustainability Report

    Zurn Elkay Water Solutions recently announced the release of its annual sustainability report, according to a news release. The 2025 report discusses the organization’s efforts to maintain good environmental stewardship and the solutions provided in helping customers meet sustainability goals.

  • Countway Library at Harvard Medical School

    From Shadows to Sanctuary: The Transformation of Light at Countway Library

    The renovation of Countway Library at Harvard Medical School demonstrates how biophilic design and advanced lighting strategies transformed a formerly dark, insular space into a vibrant, welcoming hub that supports wellness, learning, and community engagement.

  • Hawaii Elementary School Breaks Ground on New Classroom Building

    Kealakehe Elementary School in Kailua, Hawaii, recently began construction on a new, $16-million classroom building for its campus, according to a news release. The 13,000-square-foot building will stand two stories and connect the existing upper and lower campuses.