Anglo American School of Sofia

A School’s New Visual and Performing Arts Center

The Anglo American School of Sofia is a K-12 international school located in Sofia, Bulgaria.  Our design studio worked with the school leadership team, staff, and students to develop the 2017 master plan as well as design the new Visual and Performing Arts Center.  The new arts center addresses the need for the school to have a dedicated facility reflecting the vision of a growing visual and performing arts program.  The project provides a state of the art 350 seat main stage theater, a 100 seat black box theater, theater support spaces, a choir room, band room and three practice rooms, two visual arts classrooms, digital arts classrooms and green rooms, an innovative maker space, visitors’ center, and marketing and communication offices.

The project received LEED Gold Certification by the USGBC for its many green design strategies including:  1. A new 150cm cistern that captures storm water from the parking areas and roof as well as gray water from the sinks that is then used for flushing  2. Bioswales to assist with water drainage from parking and previous pavers at every parking space  3. Zero scaping  4. Treating all waste water on site since there is no municipal hook up in the area  5. Biomass/pellet boiler system that uses agricultural waste materials for fuel for 100% of heating in the building  6. Solar panels for heating and hot water  7. FSC wood at windows, siding, soffits, roof brackets and theater seating.