American School Foundation of Guadalajara | High School

American School Foundation of Guadalajara | High School

• Architecture firm: Flansburgh Architects, GVA Arquitectos  
• Owner: David McGrath
• Location: Guadalajara, Mexico  
• Category: Merit
• Project site: Previously developed
• Building program type(s): Education - K-12 school 

This new seven-story open-air structure has doubled the American School Foundation of Guadalajara’s academic space in one of Mexico’s rapidly growing cities. Bold and forward-looking in its approach to serving its 1,500 students, the school draws on the bright colors, natural materials, and crisp designs that resonate with the city’s cultural heritage and elevate campus spirit.

The project was influenced by community feedback gathered across three design workshops, which engaged stakeholders and ensured they felt connected and empowered. The team’s primary goals were to increase classroom size and introduce compelling modern educational facilities. Guided by the idea of extending its ground plane upward as developments and high-rise buildings continue to grow around it, the school has increased its space to accommodate enrollment growth and benefit the surrounding community.

Sustainability was crucial to the design, and the school connects to lush green spaces that harness the city’s climate. More than 90% of the school is naturally lit, and its open design and room arrangement support airflow through the building. The concrete floors, comprised of local sand and crushed stone, absorb the city’s low nighttime temperatures to radiate coolness throughout the day. 

The school’s flexible academic spaces elevate educational aspirations and support a wide range of teaching and learning. Indoor classrooms boast acoustical wood panels and glass walls that help establish verbal and visual connections between students and faculty both in and out of the classroom. Additional learning environments, such as a library, makerspace, hands-on science lab, and collaborative learning spaces, shape an engaging academic environment. Motivated by a sense of freedom and connection to their community, students are encouraged to reflect and reenergize in the school’s outdoor classrooms and rooftop terraces.

The series of common areas and meandering paths help stimulate interaction among the school’s diverse population and between academic programs. Students and faculty are connected directly to the community surrounding them, and the school’s outdoor spaces provide sweeping views of Guadalajara. Firmly rooted in its place, the school celebrates its locale while providing an engaging environment for bilingual and bicultural education.