San Sebastián School in Melipilla is a private institution with public funding, offering pre-school, primary, and secondary education. Founded in 1997, its current facilities do not reflect the level of academic excellence indicated by national education performance metrics provided by the Ministry of Education. In addition to the precarious state of the existing infrastructure, a major challenge is the physical dispersion of facilities, with separate locations for sports areas, and the pre-school, primary, and secondary levels.
The project for the new campus is located on a plot of 7,881 m² on the eastern edge of the city. It aims to consolidate all educational levels—from pre-kindergarten to 12th grade—within a single 3,593.65 m² building distributed across two floors. The school will occupy land composed of two cadastral parcels. This application pertains specifically to parcel 2004-242, which will include classrooms, library, cafeteria, workshops, administrative offices, playgrounds, and parking areas. A portion of the parking will be located on leased land, as defined in the project drawings and the attached lease agreement.
The sports facilities and locker rooms will be located on the adjacent lot, identified as parcel 2004-298. While this area complements the school’s overall programmatic needs, it does not fall under the scope of this municipal permit.
The building is composed of a regular structural bay, 7.17 meters in width, arranged in a zigzag pattern across the site. Circulation spaces on both levels are located on the north and east façades, providing protection from direct sunlight, while the south- and west-facing classrooms benefit from direct daylight.
The structural system is composed of load-bearing walls, columns, and reinforced concrete slabs, all plastered and painted. The north and west façades feature vertical steel profile brise-soleils that shade semi-exterior spaces from direct solar radiation. Classroom views are framed by windows that capture the privileged landscape of Chile’s Central Valley. The seemingly irregular fenestration pattern is created through the deliberate alternation of three different window sizes, producing a playful and dynamic expression that reflects the identity and spirit of the school.
PROJECT DATA
Architects: Ian Tidy, Albert Tidy, Cecilia Aldunate
Location: Melipilla, Chile
Built Area: 3,593.65 m²
Structural Engineering: Claudio Hinojosa
Construction Supervision: COZ
Sanitary Engineering: Kenneth Page
Electrical Engineering: Ana María Carrasco
Construction Company: Not yet defined
Primary Materials: Plastered reinforced concrete, steel-profile brise-soleils
Year of Construction: 2007