Partial conversion of a secondary school

‘De l’Autre Côté de l’Ecole’ is a secondary school based on the Freinet teaching method, located on Chaussée de Wavre in Auderghem. The school is part of an architectural complex used for offices, shops and private residences. The establishment has 550 pupils and 70 staff members. Work to convert the office building into a school began in 2014 and continued in several phases (ACE)

The challenges of this final phase include maximising the use of available space; developing multifunctional spaces and improving circulation between the different areas; bringing natural light into the premises; reflecting the Freinet teaching method in its spatial and social organisation; and finally, integrating the school's participation in the European Probono research project.

To meet these requirements, the project plans to:

- Redesign the surroundings to provide pupils and staff with more welcoming entrances, in particular by creating a real forecourt with a large staircase and a covered playground. The project also includes 110 bicycle parking spaces to encourage cycling.

- Redesigning the school's façades by replacing the mirrored glazing to improve natural lighting and make the building more vibrant.

- Create two new staircases between the basement and the ground floor to let in light and improve circulation between the different spaces.

- Turn the atrium into a real ‘agora’ with multifunctional furniture allowing for different uses.

- Encourage cohabitation or shared use of the different spaces.