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| Why schools are leaving the city When the architect Pedro Caparrós approached Allied Steel Buildings' branch in Chile, he knew it was the safest bet for his project. Caparrós, who had previously worked with Allied, knew about the expedited service provided by the company and under the challenging schedule conditions, he realized it was the right way to proceed. Mr. Caparrós, when asked about the project, said: "Our proposal suggests an architectural body able to identify and reflect the values of the institution: "Discover, Perceive, Feel, Imagine, Create." and the value of caring for nature and their surroundings. We propose that the disposal of the enclosures, their proportions and spatial characteristics, such as natural light, colors, and constant visual connection, trigger a playful character for the project to become a permanent game between the students and the building, reinforcing the idea of identity and student participation." In 2014, the Board and Management Team of the Lycée Charles de Gaulle in Concepción realized that the school had outgrown its current facilities. They came to the conclusion that sooner than later a decision will have to be made to relocate to the outskirts of the city in the following years. With more than 1,800 students from kindergarten to high school, the current infrastructure was not enough to provide an adequate service. The Board approved the investment to build new facilities including: classrooms for the elementary school; an administrative area; and a workshop area, adding a total surface of 1,800 Sq m to the school. Also, they wanted these new facilities to be portable, in order to be able to take them when the school finally changed locations. The Lycée Français Charles de Gaulle is a large French co-educational primary and secondary independent day school, aligned with the French Government that operates as a separate unit in Concepción. Concepción is one of the largest urban conurbations of Chile, located in the geographic center of the country. It is known as "the university city" thanks to the numerous universities within the urban agglomeration. This metropolis has a large educational offer, focus on international schools, institutes, and universities, most of them located in downtown. The daily access to these buildings extremely challenging, there are lots of commuters on the road and traffic is congested. Many schools, such as the French Lycée, are considering selling their land in downtown to move its facilities to a more accessible location. On top of that, in the case of the Lycée, the main entrance was in front of another school, and neither of them counted on a student drop-off and pick-up system. Mr. Caparrós requested several proposals to different companies, but Allied's expedited service was considerably superior to the other options in quality, time and budget. The school expansion not only sorted out the access problem by providing an extra entrance to the school but also supplied the most advanced pre-engineered educational buildings in the city. All the walls and roofs are designed with insulation blankets; all the windows are insulated, and all wall panels are designed with a mix of colors and projected frames. This implies scholars will study in a positive school environment with appropriate facilities, well-managed classrooms, and available school-based supports. "It has been a very rewarding experience to be able to take Mr. Caparrós' architectural vision and turn it into a beautiful new facility that will be enjoyed by the children of Concepción for years to come." said Chris Rucker, Director of International Accounts at Allied Steel Buildings. Two months after the initial approval in February 2015, eight containers carrying the seven steel buildings engineered and fabricated in the United States, left the Port of Houston with final destination Concepción, Chile. The construction process started on July 9th, and it is expected to be completed by the 14th of August. The facilities will be fully operative by the end of September, leading up to the Independence week break. In Concepción, the whole community will benefit from this project, with which Allied Steel Buildings sets the top standards for educational facilities in the region. About Allied Steel Buildings Allied Steel Buildings, is a recognized leading supplier of high-quality pre-engineered steel buildings and metal building systems. In its more than ten years of experience, the company has developed almost 4,000 different steel projects all over the world, delivering building solutions for diverse industries, from industrial to commercial. One customer and one building at a time. write your comments about the article :: © 2015 Construction News :: home page |