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The American School of Quito Wins First Place in the “Sustainable Building” Category at the Sustainability in Construction Awards

 

The American School of Quito was awarded First Place in the “Sustainable Building” category of the Sustainability in Construction Awards, organized by the Ecuadorian Council for Sustainable Building (CEES) and Ekos. The award ceremony took place on the evening of Friday, November 21, at the iconic Capilla del Hombre in Quito.

The recognition highlights the School’s deep commitment to environmental sustainability and its vision of an educational infrastructure that inspires, teaches, and protects its surroundings. The new Puembo campus will be the first educational campus in Ecuador to obtain LEED for Education certification, integrating principles of energy efficiency, water footprint reduction, and harmony with nature.

“This project represents our long-term vision: to form conscious leaders in an environment that also teaches. Our students will learn on-site because we aim to put into practice what we teach,” said Ignacio Barra, Vice President of the Board of Directors of the American School of Quito.

Meanwhile, Cristina Pachano, Director General, emphasized that “this is not only the construction of an innovative and sustainable building, but also an opportunity to nurture in our children a love and respect for the environment.”

The architectural project, developed by the Living Learning Lab consortium (Endara Arquitectos, Architekten, AHH Arquitectura, and Virai Arquitectos) and built by Semaica, incorporates innovations that reduce energy consumption by 30–40%, reuse 100% of greywater for irrigation, and generate clean solar energy equivalent to 15% of the campus’s total consumption.

In addition, more than 30% of the land will be preserved as green areas, with the planting of 1,000 native and pollinator-friendly trees and plants.

“Designing this campus meant creating an environment that learns, adapts, and teaches. Every architectural and landscape decision responds to one simple idea: to be sustainable and to serve as a learning tool for children. This award represents that journey,” said the team of architects.

The Semaica construction team added: “We are proud to build a national benchmark in sustainability—where every process, material, and system minimizes environmental impact and enhances the quality of life of the educational community.”

Located on a 13.5-hectare site in Puembo, the new campus will open its doors for all academic levels in the 2026–2027 school year. Beyond its high environmental and academic standards, the project will also generate a positive social impact, creating more than 1,500 direct and indirect jobs and strengthening collaboration programs with local schools.

With this distinction, the American School of Quito reaffirms its leadership in education, innovation, and sustainability, consolidating its purpose of forming leading voices—conscious, committed, and dedicated to building a better future.

Building the future of education

 

At the American School of Quito, we educate agents of change capable of transforming their community and the world, leaders with vision and commitment.

Our campus in Puembo reflects the spirit of innovation and excellence that inspires us every day.
Here, education transcends the classroom to become a transformative experience.

Welcome to the future of education

The new campus of the American School of Quito will be more than just an innovative environment — it will be a powerful learning tool for our students, where we will continue to shape leaders and build our #CommunityForLife.

This project not only brings us physically closer to our community: it is a decisive step into the future of education, inspired by six design pillars that promote a unique educational experience, well-being, and sustainability.

It will also be a driver of positive impact:
– Over 1,500 direct and indirect jobs created
– Road improvements in the area for greater accessibility
– Support and direct investment in a local public school
– Sustainable design in harmony with nature, including an ecological restoration project for the local creek

Phase one is already fully funded and represents a 100% increase in learning spaces.

We have a solid plan to welcome all students, from Nursery through Twelfth Grade, in September 2026.

👉 Discover the future.
We’re excited that you’re part of this journey.

#CommunityForLife

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FCAQ: A Living Learning Lab
FCAQ: A Living Learning Lab

LIVING LEARNING LAB: Un lugar para celebrar a la Comunidad del Colegio Americano de Quito y sus tradiciones.

El diseño del Nuevo Campus del Colegio Americano está basado en 6 pilares establecidos después de un detallado proceso de investigación y retroalimentación de distintos grupos de nuestra comunidad. 

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