Dubai English Speaking College, Dubai

The new dedicated Sixth Form Hub for Dubai English Speaking College (DESC) opened its doors to 360 students in October 2017, and has already been hailed as “game changing” by Which School Advisor. Designed and executed by Lulie Fisher Design Studio (LFDS) and Al Tayer Stocks it is the first of its kind in the Middle East and has the capacity to accommodate up to 500 six formers aged between 16 and 18.

The school took over the neighbouring campus that previously housed Delhi Private School, after the Indian curriculum school closed in January 2017 and since then it has undergone a major transformation taking just nine months in total for the design and construction phases. The brief was to provide a grown-up environment for the students to prepare them for University life and the independent study that will be expected from them whilst providing them with a facility to thrive in both academically and socially.

The existing building housed a kindergarten and comprised long, low, dark corridors with external light-wells that were poorly utilized. LFDS transformed the building into an open plan, dynamic, light filled environment fostering a sense of community and civic pride amongst the students. The central light-well has been enclosed with a roof structure and stretched fabric ceilings with back lit daylight simulating light sources to provide a luminous enclosed food court and study area reminiscent of an out door garden courtyard. Freestanding banquette seating units with timber louvered canopies further perpetuate the illusion of the outdoors.

A second linear light well has been enclosed at either end to provide the students with chill-out lounges and full height glass sliding and folding doors have been inserted to open up these lounges into a grassed and planted external garden. Glass doors have been introduced down the length of the flanking corridors providing daylight, green views and direct access into the garden with routes across it connecting study rooms on either side. The lounges are furnished with pool tables, fun and colourful Verpan modular seating, Eames rockers, bean bags, ottomans and Hay side tables. The partial enclosure of these light wells effectively adds 30% to the GFA and provides the capacity required to meet the school’s future expansion plans.

The rooms flanking the corridors are devoted to different types of learning spaces ranging from communal and collaborative study to quiet, private study pods. The selected furniture complements the various methods of study and includes long communal bar height tables with integral task lighting, pairs and groupings of high and low backed easy chairs with side and coffee tables and acoustically separated study pods for individuals. Specialist chairs and stools are upholstered in sophisticated colour palettes and all desking is fully enabled with power and USB charging points and served by task lighting.

A healthy selection of hot and cold food options are served from polished black granite food counters which are highlighted by red rubber pendants and set against a backdrop of colourful tiles inspired by tribal designs. A dedicated pantry for the students’ use incorporates work surface, sinks, microwaves and banquette seating combined with high bar counters for snacking and working – all equipped with charging stations and dedicated lighting.

Students’ health and wellbeing are at the heart of the DESC philosophy and as a physical manifestation of this LFDS has incorporated a state of the art strength and conditioning gym with weight lifting and cross fit rig which would not look out of place in any private health club. It is serviced by changing rooms housing individual glass fronted shower cubicles and wet and dry vanity counters for hair drying and make-up.

A Wellness Centre comprises quiet relaxation areas, a yoga studio and the student counselor’s and careers suites all of which are positioned around an external, shaded Japanese-style Zen garden and provide a place of respite for the students whilst cementing the DESC philosophy.