ISB provides students an internationally qualified education with excellent facilities. The facility at ISB is a very important part of school life because it supports and provides a comfortable learning environment for students. Leveling up the quality of the school facility is a priority, and ISB comes up with plans and projects for every school year in response to evolving trends.
According to Mark DeVries, the deputy head of school (CFO), the longest project that he has worked on during the seven years he has been at ISB is the environmental wellness campus, which took more than a year to construct. Other big projects would include the sports complex, which also typically takes more than a year to construct. ISB has recently installed solar panels on the entire roof of the gym which the school is waiting to get a permit and officially start using in December. The school organizes new plans through a seven-year master plan, and there is currently a list of 20 other projects that ISB is planning to incorporate in future years which are still in the process of brainstorming and not finalized; these include the art quad, robotics room, food tech room, and engineering room.
Recently, ISB has been investing heavily in sports facilities in the past few years. For example last year, a new Pre-K and elementary school playground was made. The playgrounds at ISB are safe as the grounds are made from soft materials to avoid major accidents. Playgrounds are valuable to young students because they provide obstacles that stimulate growth and development.
According to Mr. DeVries, the current biggest facility project that the school has been working on since this summer is the elementary auxiliary gym (auxi gym). Elementary school students say the gym smells good and that the floors have paint that looks like stickers, which motivates them to use the gym. The high school auxiliary gym will be completed next year as well as the renovation of all the fitness areas. The auxi gym serves the best air quality and temperature for users, especially for days when Thailand’s weather is not safe or adequate for outdoor activity. The space is also used when the outdoor area is full.
In response to the new changes in the playgrounds and auxi gyms, some high school students have mentioned that ISB focuses on developing the elementary school facilities compared to the high school facilities. However, Mr. DeVries says that the school invests in all divisions but at different times. Many of the construction projects in the past have been for high schools because there are typically many students in high school. Now, the school is putting more emphasis on elementary school. It is also important for ISB to attract elementary students and their families with their high-quality facilities, because it may increase the chances of them staying at ISB. Additionally, because ISB is an international school where students go in and out, the school is trying to attract prospective families with their new facilities.
ISB is known internationally for its wide campus, and incorporating advanced facilities to enrich a student’s school experience is something that the school values and that students can definitely feel.