GEMS Commissions MACE to design the School of the Future

GEMS, The school design will form the basis for all greenfield GEMS schools in the UK, US and the Gulf region.

GEMS currently manages a growing network of international schools in the Gulf and the UK, with advanced plans to open their first school in the US. MACE, a premier, international project management and consulting firm, has been extensively involved in large publicly funded projects, in addition to work for a number of institutes of higher learning in the United Kingdom.

Using a central focal point as the focus for the school design, the new GEMS School of the Future is aimed at providing an aspirational learning atmosphere that is Information and Communication Technology [ICT] rich, and one that is aimed at bringing parents and the community into the school. All of the school's facilities and special learning areas will be easily accessible and visible from a central atrium. The school has also been designed with stringent security considerations as part of the final design.

The design for the GEMS School of the Future proposes a very dynamic learning centre that can be easily adapted to mirror potential changes in educational methodology. "With this fresh approach to design, featuring large social spaces and small break out areas for learning in small groups or individually, education will take on a whole new dynamic. We have created a learning environment that

is integrated with the community; schools should be focal centres of the community, places of lifelong learning that provide family learning opportunities as well as dynamic centres within the community for shared activities. Our new design embodies all of this, yet provides strong focus on exemplary education and exceptional service standards," said Dean Villa, Property Director for GEMS UK, during a recent visit to Dubai.

The new GEMS Schools of the Future have been conceived to ensure ICT rich environments that allow both students and teachers quick and extensive access to resources and knowledge. It will be possible to access curriculum plans, resources, homework, learning platforms and key information from home or elsewhere at any time of the day.

"The GEMS Schools of the Future are planned to be highly dynamic, flexible, and virtual learning environments that are able to meet the varying needs and requirements of students and their families. The focus, will of course, be on exceptionally high standards of education, with an approach that provides a wider range of enhanced services, aimed at supporting parents," said Hugh MacPherson, Chief Operating Officer of GEMS.

Construction on the first of many new GEMS Schools of the Future is planned to begin next year.