Community

AISJ worked through a strategic process in 2010 to establish what size we would optimally wish the school to be. This was determined at 1350 over both campuses and approximately 1000 on the Johannesburg Campus. The school is currently growing at 8 -10 per year and therefore we urgently need to expand to meet that increase capacity and demand! We are also very aware that programs must develop at the same time and therefore a large part of the Johannesburg redevelopment is also about providing critical facilities to expand and improve programs befitting a world class international school.

In May 2011 the AISJ Board approved a Five Year Master Facility Plan for the Johannesburg campus. This was developed by Flansburgh Architects, out of Boston, who are now playing a critical role in the conceptual design of each phase. Phase one was completed during the 2011/12 school year and Phase two started in late April 2012. The timing of each phase is based on school needs and capacity and it is anticipated that phases will follow on from the preceding phase depending on funding for each phase and while demand for school spaces continues.

Phase 2 involves three key components the dinning facility and accompanying kitchen and outdoor eating areas, additional teaching spaces to the Fine Arts Center and a new undercover Aquatics Center.  Earthworks for the new facilities commenced in late April and building will commence on all three projects in early June.

Intended completion dates are:

• Fine Arts Center renovations and additions – 1st September 2012
• Aquatic Center – 15th October 2012
• Dinning facility and surrounds – 25th November 2012
  

The AISJ has approved a budget of R 40 million for Phase 2

Funds for Phase 2 will come from a combination 2012 / 13 capital funds, previous accumulated surplus funds and borrowings from a local bank.  Borrowings will account for approximately 65% of the total costs.

It is a conscious Board decision to make borrowings a significant portion of the funding to ensure that the burden of future facilities is not borne only by current student population but also future families through ongoing repayment of borrowings. By borrowing funds we are also able to move the Phases through quicker to ensure we have better facilities for everyone sooner than later.

Phase 2 will be managed in its entirety by a professional group of consultants engaged by the school and coordinated by a highly experienced project manager Jim Henrey, of Jim Henrey and Associates. The team of consultants includes local architects, a quantity surveyor, civil, electrical, and mechanical engineers together with aquatic, kitchen and health and safety consultants. A full list of these individuals:

• Landscape Architects – Uys and White
• Pool Specialist – MTG Consult
• Lead Designer / Local Architect – GLH Architects
• Project Manager / Principal Agent – JM Henrey and Ass
• Quantity Surveyor – TMS Quantity Surveyors
• Structural and Civil Engineers – WSP Group
• Electrical Engineers – Taemane
• Kitchen Consultant – KDH
• Geo Technical Engineer – Crossman Pape and Ass
• Land Surveyor – HL Wattrus and Ass
  

A critical part of the planning and execution of this phase is safety and security. Protocols and procedures have been developed by the consultant team in conjunction with school staff to consider the movement of workers, deliveries and traffic movement, devising construction zones and the erection of appropriate hoardings limiting access.

The consultants also place limits on the contractors in reference when work can be conducted and what critical measures must be in place before any work can commence.

AISJ will definitely run a Winter School in the winter break as in previous years. Some facilities and space will be unavailable; however, with the vast majority of the campus unaffected we do not believe this will negatively impact the winter program in any way.

While the new aquatic center will be constructed adjacent to the main parking area the construction area it totally isolated from the car park through a hoarding fence. To also assist in this separation of construction from school activities construction personnel and vehicles will only use an alternative entrance at the top of the property.

As above stated above all construction areas will be totally separated as will construction traffic. The hoarding separating construction areas from teaching areas will in some cases require students to move to classes by a different route than in the past and in some cases that may take them marginally longer. Teachers will be aware of this and will make appropriate allowances. It is intended to coordinate much of the high noise construction activity during the winter break so as to mitigate any possible disruption to our learning program. Noise levels, when the school is in session, will be closely monitored by the school in consultation with the Project Manager and contractors.

We believe Phase 2 construction will have limit impact on our learning program but of course that will be carefully monitored. While we are optimistic that we can meet our completion deadlines, however, as very little classroom space is being added in this phase relocation for any student will be limited if necessary at all.