King’s College School: A New Landscape of Learning in the Bahamas

King’s College School signals a profound shift in how learning environments are conceived in the Bahamas, embracing a contemporary, climate-responsive, and community-centred design ethos. Conceived by SAOTA for the Inspired Education Group, the campus reflects a global evolution in education—one that values adaptability, collaboration, and an authentic connection to place.

For decades, Caribbean school architecture has relied on familiar typologies: outward-facing classroom blocks arranged beneath deep verandas or formal, symmetrical structures oriented around courtyards. King’s College School reimagines this tradition. At its core is a continuous base structure—a robust plinth—that grounds the campus and forms an interconnected network of learning spaces. Rising above, a series of classroom volumes shift in height and orientation, creating a dynamic architectural rhythm reminiscent of the Bahamian archipelago: distinct elements, unified as a whole.

The design draws deeply from the environmental and cultural realities of the islands. Rooted in the principles of Bahamian vernacular architecture, the buildings harness shading, ventilation, and natural materials to ensure comfort and resilience. Broad, protective roof overhangs offer shelter from the tropical sun and sudden rainfall, while shaded breezeways and open-air circulation routes sustain the longstanding regional tradition of fluid, indoor–outdoor living.

Departing from the convention of fully air-conditioned school buildings, the campus adopts a blended passive cooling strategy. Natural ventilation, covered courtyards, and open-air connections work in concert to moderate temperature and reduce energy demand, promoting healthier, more engaging learning environments.

Materiality deepens the project’s relationship to its setting. The darker tones of the plinth invoke the surrounding ocean, gradually shifting to lighter hues on upper levels inspired by sandy shores and the pastel palette of traditional Bahamian buildings. A bespoke pigmented concrete floor embedded with seashell aggregate provides a subtle, tactile link to the landscape, grounding students in the ecology beneath their feet. Practical considerations also guide these choices: the durable, weather-resistant materials enhance longevity in a climate where resilience is paramount, and the overall form responds to the realities of hurricane preparedness.

Landscape design, led by renowned landscape architect Raymond Jungles, is integral rather than ornamental. Lush tropical vegetation, shaded courtyards, and planted pathways weave nature through the campus, softening boundaries between built and natural environments. These outdoor spaces serve as classrooms, gathering zones, and passive cooling areas, extending the learning experience into the open air.

This seamless interplay between interior and exterior mirrors the social rhythms of Bahamian life—where movement, gathering, and shared experience shape community. In doing so, King’s College School becomes more than an educational facility: it emerges as a landscape of learning, rooted in its environment and reflective of the people it serves.

Design Architects: SAOTA
Landscape Design: Raymond Jungles