Sinjar Academy

Architects Without Borders – Seattle was approached by the Sinjar Academy, a US based nonprofit, for the design of a post-secondary school expansion they would like to build in the Sinjar region of northern Iraq. The mission of the project is to help restore the Yazidi community in Sinjar, who went through genocide in 2014. Inspired by the courtyards and the flat roofs of the region’s vernacular, our design team developed a campus at the acquired site, that emphasizes community building through well connected buildings, courtyards and pathways. An administrative building, library, auditorium, classroom buildings, dorms and gymnasium are arranged around a central cafeteria, as the social heart of the campus. Each structure is oriented to welcome winter sun while shielding from summer heat. Roof terraces provide additional outdoor spaces along with photovoltaic panels for generating energy. The campus is about 150,000 sqf including a soccer field and will serve up to 1000 students.

AWBS team partnered with a local Iraqi architect throughout the process. Reinforced concrete frame structure, inexpensive CMU, rubble brick, and cementitious plaster, all available and commonly used in the area, are chosen as a result of this partnership.

While the whole project was a collaborative effort, I was responsible for the design and development of the dorms.