On September 4-5, a delegation of the renowned Danish company BIG, headed by its partner Catherine Huang, was in Yerevan. The visit was aimed at the finalization and approval of the architectural concept for the new High School building. The concept development works started several months ago.
Ayb's collaboration with this leading architectural organization will be considered not only as an important educational achievement for our country but also as an ambitious project in educational architecture on a global scale. Founded by renowned Danish architect Bjarke Ingels, BIG is considered one of the best innovative architectural companies in the world and carries out projects all over the world, creating buildings that transform urban areas into popular tourist destinations.
“It is education that transforms you and changes the direction of your life. So this project is full of endeavor, ambition and inspiration, and being a part of it means a lot to us. It is very inspiring to work here in Armenia. Ayb is a truly special place, where you see a strong desire to make the best of things and strive for excellence. It is a matter for us to think about how architectural spaces can shape a learning culture and environment,” says BIG partner Catherine Huang.
The new building to be built at the Ayb Educational Campus will increase opportunities for competitive, high-quality and innovative education, and will double the number of high school students. This means that, regardless of their families' financial means, more children will have access to the best education, as around 70% of Ayb High School students study with the support of benefactors.
According to Davit Sahakyan, Ayb School executive director, education is constantly evolving and we are preparing children for a future we have no idea about. “That means education needs to go beyond the familiar. So today's actions are directed toward a more distant future. Furthermore, this project also has a social impact: it is important for us that a child’s education does not depend on the family’s financial capability, but solely on the child’s abilities. And we want to give that opportunity to as many children as possible.”
Along with the international architectural company, Armenian partners are also involved in the project. Storaket Architectural Studio acts as the executive architect, and the project management is carried out by Prodeco. Revizto also joined the project as a sponsor and partner, providing advanced software solutions that will facilitate the successful implementation of the design and construction of a new building at the Ayb Educational Campus.
Henderson Armenia has already made the first major investment in the implementation of the project. The new building is planned to be built entirely with funds from benefactors and the Ayb community. At this stage of the project, the delegation of BIG, Ayb and partners also met with the Mayor of Yerevan, Tigran Avinyan, and the Deputy President of the Urban Development Committee, Nune Petrosyan.
According to the Ayb philosophy, an educational environment is more than just a physical space. It has its unique role in the organization of education, so every architectural solution must reflect our values and ideas.