School Construction and Education Campus Building
Most of the references of ÇET Yapı, active since 1993, are education buildings. We have built school buildings, sports halls and campuses from kindergarten to high school for TED, Doğa College, Okyanus College, Bahçeşehir College and Vega Schools, and renovated some of them.
- Reference projects
- 19
- Total construction area
- 185,496 m²
- Years
- 2010–2022
Institutions we have worked with: Turkish Education Association (TED) · Doğa College · Okyanus College · Bahçeşehir College · Vega Schools · Dokuz Eylül University
Why does a school building require specific expertise?
A school is more than a building made of classrooms. Many dimensions, from classroom size to garden area and from laboratories to the sports hall, are set by the MEB Standards Directive for Private Education Institutions. Under the Turkish Building Earthquake Code, the structural system is designed to a higher level of safety than housing (building importance factor I=1.5). On top of this comes a fixed deadline: September, when the academic year begins.
Managing these three conditions (standards, earthquake safety and schedule) at the same time sets school construction apart from an ordinary building job. That is why most of ÇET Yapı's reference projects are education buildings.
Handover planned around the academic year
The start and end dates in our project records show how tightly schools must be planned to be ready for the academic year:
| Project | Construction area | Duration | Handover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florya Doğa College | 8,357 m² | 3 months | September 2012 |
| Topkapı Doğa College | 3,600 m² | 5 months | November 2010 |
| Başakşehir Doğa College | 9,388 m² | 6 months | August 2013 |
| Kayseri Doğa College | 10,028 m² | 6 months | October 2013 |
| Ankara İncek Okyanus College | 17,656 m² | 6 months | October 2015 |
| Halkalı Doğa College | 10,250 m² | 7 months | September 2012 |
| Avcılar Doğa College | 17,250 m² | 8 months | September 2011 |
| Kristalşehir Vega Schools | 8,300 m² | 8 months | August 2016 |
| Bakırköy Bahçeşehir College | 8,457 m² | 22 months | September 2017 |
| TED Üsküdar College Campus | 19,233 m² | 2018–2022 | September 2022 |
Because every project differs in size, ground and scope, these durations are not a "standard time" to compare with one another. What they have in common is that handover was planned around the academic year.
Which education buildings have we built?
- School buildings from kindergarten to high school: most Doğa College campuses house kindergarten, primary, middle and high school levels in the same building. For example, Avcılar Doğa College was built with 78 classrooms and Kayseri Doğa College with 67.
- Campuses: TED Üsküdar College Campus in Kandilli, Istanbul consists of two blocks, 85+5 classrooms, a sports hall, a swimming pool and two conference halls seating 225 and 460. At 33,106 m², Büyükçekmece Doğa College is our school project with the largest construction area.
- Sports and social facilities: sports halls, swimming pools, libraries, laboratories and conference halls; as well as the Necat Hepkon Sports Complex in Seferihisar for Dokuz Eylül University.
- School buildings in İzmir: Müşerref Hepkon Primary School and Middle School in Seferihisar.
- Renovation and facade work: renovations at Cevizlibağ and Güzelce Doğa Colleges and Beşiktaş Geo College, and the exterior facade of Kemerburgaz Okyanus College.
The process of a school project
- Site and zoning review: the size, zoning status and garden area of the plot are assessed against the space programme of the school levels to be opened. The area requirements of the directive are taken into account at this stage.
- Space programme: the number of classrooms, laboratories, library, sports hall, dining hall and administrative areas are defined according to the school's levels.
- Design and permits: architectural and structural designs are prepared for a school building under TBDY 2018; the soil survey and building inspection process start at this stage.
- Construction: the work programme is planned backwards from the start of the academic year.
- Handover: the building is handed over ready for the school's licensing application.
We can make the first assessment of your plot or existing building together. For details of the MEB requirements and the process, see our private school building guide.
Reference Projects
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to build a school?
It depends on the size of the building, ground conditions, the permit schedule and the scope of work. According to our project records, the 8,357 m² Florya Doğa College was completed in 3 months, the 17,656 m² Ankara İncek Okyanus College in 6 months and the 17,250 m² Avcılar Doğa College in 8 months. The two-block, 19,233 m² TED Üsküdar College Campus was built between 2018 and 2022.
When should construction start so that a school can open at the start of the academic year?
Schools open in September, so the handover date is not negotiable. The time needed for design, permits and the school's licensing procedure must be added to the construction period and a schedule planned backwards from that date. Most of our reference projects were handed over in September, when the academic year begins.
Which standards must a private school building meet in Turkey?
Private schools must comply with the Ministry of National Education (MEB) Standards Directive for Private Education Institutions: for example, a classroom in primary, middle and high schools must be at least 20 m², with at least 1.5 m² per student. See our private school building guide for details.
Why are school buildings treated differently in the earthquake code?
The Turkish Building Earthquake Code (TBDY 2018) classes schools among buildings where people stay for long periods and in large numbers, and requires them to be designed with the highest building importance factor (I=1.5). This means a stronger structural system than a residential building of the same size on the same ground.
Do you convert or renovate existing buildings into schools?
Yes. Cevizlibağ and Güzelce Doğa Colleges and Beşiktaş Geo College are education projects that ÇET Yapı carried out as renovations. Whether an existing building is suitable for a school must be assessed separately in terms of its structural system and the regulations.
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