“Any visitor coming to the ISKL Ampang Hilir campus is in awe. From the vastness to the perspectives, it gives a feeling of grandeur. The campus is constantly buzzing…The design allows everyone to find their own space.”
These are the words of Mr. Rami Madani, Head of School on The International School of Kuala Lumpur’s (ISKL) state-of-the-art campus. Since ISKL’s inception in 1965, the school has witnessed significant changes to its campuses as it continues its growth and development while maintaining its unique culture. Officially welcoming Panthers (the official mascot of the school, and nickname for ISKL’s students) in August 2018, the new purpose-built ISKL campus is a 25-acre urban sanctuary nestled in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, reflecting the school’s mission to provide an exceptional education that challenges each student to develop the attitudes, skills, knowledge, and understanding to become a highly successful, spirited, socially responsible global citizen. The campus was designed to support and foster engagement - creating learning spaces that provide flexibility, inspire ideas, and allow opportunities for interaction and connectivity. It allows students and faculty to collaborate, which ISKL believes is key to effective learning.
ISKL’s campus provides an advanced learning environment featuring state-of-the-art academic, arts, and athletic facilities. Alongside world-class science labs, classrooms, art facilities, and three libraries, the school also includes flexible spaces to incorporate the latest in teaching and learning concepts. The campus boasts leading-edge sports facilities with extensive playing fields, a regulation track, two gymnasia, a climbing wall, and tennis courts. Another key sports space is its Aquatics Centre, which includes:
A 50-meter Olympic-sized competition pool.
25 m daily activity pool.
A learn-to-swim pool for young learners.
The perfect home to unite the Elementary School (ES), Middle School (MS), and High School (HS) divisions together in a single location, the campus is arranged to meet the varied needs of each age group, and spaces adjust as students progress through the school. The Early Childhood Center nestles within a protective, walled garden at the base of the ES, with classrooms grouped about its Art, Music, and Science spaces. The MS is designed for a collaborative, cross-curricular program, while over at HS, it is designed to enable every learner to choose the curriculum best suited to their abilities, interests, and aspirations in preparation for life beyond ISKL.
Understanding that learning spaces can change as the school’s pedagogical approach evolves through time, classroom clusters are designed for adaptability with minimal internal structural elements. Student learning spaces are strategically placed throughout the campus to encourage a flexible and collaborative environment. Multi-sensory and Makerspaces, libraries, technology and science laboratories, dance, visual arts, digital art studios, and play areas provide stimulating spaces for students to learn and enjoy themselves.
A structure of sustainable architecture in a tropical climate, the ISKL campus represents ISKL’s commitment to educating the next generation of leaders about environmental stewardship. ISKL was the first school in Malaysia to achieve the Green Building Index (GBI) Platinum rating and serves as a laboratory for studying and understanding environmentally sustainable practices. The school reflects the institution’s ethos and focus on care for the environment through action-driven spaces such as the Eco Garden and Recycling and Compost centers that encourage students to get involved in a simple yet practical way.
Other initiatives include green jungle walls at the ES and MS/HS entrances, jungle trees providing welcome shade in the Coaches Garden, composting and worm farming with Prep Senior students, and bee-scaping with Grade 7 Science students. Additionally, there is a Community ‘Edible Garden’ at the Norma J. Hudson Amphitheatre, where parents and alumni work alongside students, faculty, and staff to cultivate a selection of vegetables and herbs for the community to enjoy. Materials with recyclable content were also used, including green cement with fly-ash content and recycled content steel bars to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from raw material harvesting and production.
From Early Childhood through High School, ISKL’s mission is to provide each student with the environment to follow their passion, develop their cognitive abilities and artistic capabilities. The Performing Arts is the heart of the whole school, where ISKL Panthers can showcase their talents and growth in music, dance, and drama. ISKL’s Performing Arts Centre (PAC) is a central open amphitheater that showcases local and regional events for the community. This complex includes the 600+ seat Robert B. Gaw Theatre, 345-retractable seats black-box style Melawati Theatre, and Dr. Norma J. Hudson Amphitheatre. Dance, visual, and digital arts studios provide students with the necessary spaces to explore their artistic capabilities. From talent shows to musicals, youth orchestras, to jazz nights, students have myriad opportunities to hone their talents and creatively express themselves.
Exceptional education is underpinned by a two-way partnership between school and family. ISKL values parents’ involvement in the school’s life and has intentionally created spaces for parents and volunteers to meet. From a full-service coffee shop to parent lounges and dedicated Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) areas, the campus design supports ISKL’s unique and warm community.
The state-of-the-art facilities are made possible with ISKL’s status as a not-for-profit, parent-governed school. This means that revenue generated by tuition and school fees at ISKL is reinvested back into the school, enabling the school to provide its students with the best learning environment possible. ISKL’s not-for-profit status allows the school to put its students at the center of decision-making and ensure a wide variety of opportunities are offered to enable every learner to discover their full potential.
While visualization is a powerful sensory tool, nothing beats experiencing a school and its facilities with a personalized campus tour. No matter where you are in the world, ISKL invites families to find themselves at ISKL with ISKL’s in-person or virtual live tours. Whether you’re here in Malaysia or are planning to visit, you’re welcome to schedule a visit with ISKL. ISKL’s dedicated Admissions team can create bespoke tours according to the needs and preferences of prospective families.
Julia Love, ISKL’s Director of Admissions, emphasized that the live virtual tour is an excellent way for families to view the campus from the comfort of their home or their office, wherever they may be in the world. She said, “ISKL’s admissions officers can take prospective families on a virtual tour either by using their tablet or phone, through a variety of social media platforms. This is a great way to engage in conversation with parents – and is very similar to how we would bring them on an actual campus tour. As if they were right there with us in person.”
Whichever option you choose, you can explore ISKL’s campus with one of ISKL’s STARS (Student Admission Representatives), ask all the questions you need, and chat with a member of the Admissions team. The team is looking forward to sharing all that the school has to offer you and your family. Head on over here to book your personalized tours, and if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Admissions team at [email protected].
This content is provided by The Society of the International School of Kuala Lumpur.
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