Client: Saba Comprehensive School
Program: gym and sporting facilities
Status: Under construction
Sint Johns, Saba
2025
Gym Saba Comprehensive School
We are working on the design for a new gym on Saba, as part of the Campus in Saba. We aim to make sports and physical activity more appealing for students through our design.
The old gym is run-down and in need of a fix-up. Students have noted that the building often feels uncomfortably warm, and the current design limits their ability to enjoy the stunning view. This is the first project to make the entire school more inviting for its students, teachers and other users, as part of a large-scale development for the Saba Comprehensive School. The campus will also include a Technical School and an Enrichment Center, creating a comprehensive educational hub for the island’s community.
Embedded in the mountain
The gym will serve as both an educational space and a general sports facility. Inside the building there is a sporting field, where teachers can teach sports lessons. The ground floor will use natural materials, creating a illusion of a seamless extension from the ridge where the building is located, 175 meters above sea level. Besides the sporting field, we’ve also created space for storage and teachers’ rooms. A portion of the building is integrated into the surrounding landscape, with one of the wings nestled within the hills. This will help cool the building. The rooftop will be covered with grass, making the building’s visual footprint appear significantly smaller and harmonizing it with its natural surroundings.
Playing on the roof
We wanted to make a nice space outside where students can play and enjoy the view of their island. That is why we have also made a design for sporting facilities on top of the building. On the rooftop we’ve made three distinct play areas, two of which can be flexibly adapted by the school. The permanent area contains a climbing and sports structure, which will offer students a space to explore and be active.
By providing a range of play options, from structured games to informal interactions, we’re encouraging diverse physical activities outside. We’ve added some shaded relaxation areas to provide space for social connections and moments of rest.
Comfortable and inviting
Inside the gym, a visible wooden structure will create a welcoming and safe atmosphere. The use of wood not only adds a distinctive character but also ensures a sustainable and cost-efficient design. Lightweight facade panels and a raised viewing platform will emphasize the height and openness of the space, making it both functional and inspiring. We also wanted to add more windows, for the students to enjoy the view.
Natural ventilation is another key feature of our design, another reason why we wanted to add more windows. The windows are situated at multiple heights and will allow fresh air to flow through the building, using the island’s climate for creating comfort without the need for mechanical systems. Research conducted by Deerns supports this approach, ensuring effective ventilation. Additionally, the semi-underground placement of the building helps stabilize indoor temperatures, enhancing the gym’s usability.
More than just a gym
This project is about more than constructing a gymnasium. It’s an opportunity to create a space where education, community, and the natural beauty of Saba come together. By reorienting the current building and adding sports activities on the rooftop, we aim to give students a unique connection to their island, letting them feel the wind, enjoy the view, and embrace active lifestyles. This design envisions a gymnasium that will serve as a cornerstone for community pride and belonging, connecting Saban youth to the world while staying deeply rooted in the island’s identity.
This gymnasium is just the beginning. As the first step in the development of the Campus in Saba, it sets the stage for the Technical School and Enrichment Center, promising a brighter future for education and community life on the island.
Gallery
Team
Kendra Heide
Kasia Antoszyk
Maya de Ridder
Lyongo Juliana
Advisors
Deerns
Karocon
BT&C
Timo Cents Landscape & Urban Design
Ministry of WVS