New Campus Update: Construction Passes Halfway Mark

by Bob Pomeroy, Head of Operations

Construction Passes Halfway Mark

 As of April 5, 2021:

• Construction Progress Toward Completion: 52%
• Days Until Start of Classes in New Campus: 282 
• YIS2C Capital Campaign Progress: 9.7%

The pace of work at the new campus site continues to accelerate and construction work is now more than 50% complete. Both buildings are now fully enclosed, with ALC structural exterior wall panel installation and roofing work completed for both buildings. Most of the North Building’s windows are now in place, and despite the scaffolding around the building it is already possible to get a sense of the abundant natural light that will permeate the inside space from the large windows that have been installed.

A few weeks ago architect Kengo Kuma visited the site to check on the progress of the project and finalize numerous design details. This included reviewing a mock-up of the distinctive wooden wall panels that will be installed on the facades of the west side of the North Building as well as on the inward facing walls on both sides of the ‘Street’ in between the North and South buildings. Made of light cedar wood with a slight reddish tinge to the grain, the panels will be of different sizes and angled out from the facade of the building in an interesting pattern, and several will feature built-in window box planters to further soften the look of the facade with greenery. 

Meanwhile, interior work is proceeding apace in both buildings, including fireproof coating of the steel framework, installation of mechanical, electrical and plumbing infrastructure, and framing of interior walls and installation of drywalls. Looking ahead to interior finish work, crews are preparing a model classroom for inspection and finalization of design details by Kuma-san later this week. The model classroom will feature the proposed flooring, wall, ceiling and door treatments as well as built-in cabinetry.  Although still very much a work site in progress, it is exciting to get further glimpses of the school to come.

More videos and photos are available in the New Campus Construction album in YIS Photos.

Aerial view of buildings in mid-March. Roofing work has now been completed.
Architect Kengo Kuma visited the site on March 19 to check on progress and finalize design details.	Mock-up of cedar wall panels to be installed on three of the building facades.
Crews preparing model classroom for review of interior finishes.	Classrooms will feature built-in storage cabinetry with a large LCD display mounted behind sliding whiteboards.
Large sliding glass classroom doors help make learning visible and can be fully opened to allow learning to flow freely in between classrooms and open hub areas.	Covered open-air corridor in South Building; large window at right is future PE office.