Project: Amsterdam International Community School / TASC
Location: Amsterdam, NL
Year: 2018-2019 & 2022-2023
Program: Public, Educational
User: Esprit Scholen
Total students: 600
Gross Floor Area: 5.500 m2 plus 650 m2 bvo expansion
total 6.150 m2 bvo
Client: Municipality of Amsterdam,
Esprit Scholen, De Meeuw 
Interior Design main building: Studio MAF
Builder: De Meeuw & Norel Hallenbouw
Installations: Mersoch
Photography: Elisabeth van den Arend Schmidt & Thijs Wolzac

Schools are one of the most dynamic and flexible architecture building types we know. Due to ever changing curriculum demands, uncertainty of occupancy rates and increased requirements for environmental quality, schools want the flexibility to be able to change, expand, contract, relocate, transform, add functions and disassemble in very short time intervals. As a leading expert in modular building in urban settings BurtonHamfelt was asked by the Municipality of Amsterdam G&O, de Meeuw and Esprit Schools to assist in the renovation of the main building and design an extension for the new user TASC. An accelerated design and build process allowed for the project to be designed, built and in use in less than one year.

Due to this open building concept and new user, a striking new interior layer was designed inspired by the new skills necessary for technical profiles of the future (Studio MAF) with further modifications to the classrooms and main spaces. Integration of various flows in the building around the central auditorium has led to a dynamic, shared and open school design concept. Young children like to move a lot and by maximizing the relationship between the various learning environments, outdoor spaces and the entrance, healthy and discovery-based education environment is facilitated and stimulated.

Shared meeting places are spread throughout the building to encourage interaction between the students and teachers. Large openings made in the facade in the main volumes, create a spacious feeling connecting inside and outside.

To fulfil the new requirements, an addition of 650 m2 extra high garage space was needed incorporating the same circular and modular design principles as the main building. In order to create a temporary expansion with a permanent feel we strove for an expressive facade using simple materials. Gold colored profiled steel panels combined with a play of scale and rhythm were chosen to create a lively façade expression. The eye-catching color creates a smooth connection between the campus and the surrounding forest. The gold colored extension is built out of a demountable steel structure and sandwich panels, it is finished with light golden profiles and fins that follow the rhythm of the original facade. The infilling is composed of 3 different textures, forming a dynamic and glowing facade that continuously changes appearance depending on the sun’s position. Through the façade openings one can see the interior’s exposed green structure that expresses the technical character of the space and connects with the green color of the façade of the existing building.