Godwin Austen Johnson (GAJ) has announced the completion of an upgrade project at Dubai College. According to a statement from the firm, the institution’s former administration building (D Block) has been refurbished to create a modern teaching space.

The new teaching space is said to have open plan spaces and think tanks, which are said to create collaborative learning environments for students and teachers.

“The think tanks and open plan spaces are a complete shift in traditional teaching methods. We wanted to remove the blackboard approach and provide more collaborative spaces that embrace a more contemporary style of teaching with more technology and more interaction,” said Jason Burnside, partner at Godwin Austen Johnson.

According to GAJ, the existing building was stripped back to its shell and insulation was added into its walls and roof to improve the building’s thermal rating. The now more energy-efficient building includes a 140-seat lecture hall and nine classrooms with a teacher training space, as well as informal study pods with writing walls and desks.

“Our work on the college has always been carefully considered in terms of how we go from one plot to the next without impacting too much on the day to day activities of the campus and its students. Equally important is the sustainability of the campus. When designing the new buildings, it’s not just about the physical teaching spaces but also about how the school will cater to future demands as it grows and develops,” Burnside added.

GAJ says the next phase of its work will focus on the institution’s sports hall and drama building and will be its biggest upgrade to at the campus yet. Work is expected to begin later this year.