Avenues School by aflalo/gasperini

Presented by Hunter Douglas

_project: Avenues School 
_architecture: aflalo/gasperini 
_location: São Paulo, Brazil

The evolution of education has shaped and been shaped by architecture. As pedagogical models shift towards flexible, collaborative, and project-based learning, spaces must adapt. Schools today foster interaction, exploration, and discovery, requiring innovative solutions that support both structured and spontaneous learning experiences.

This transformation is evident in Avenues: The World School in São Paulo, designed by aflalo/gasperini arquitetos. Located in a repurposed industrial building, the project focuses on adaptive reuse, transforming a former office space into a dynamic learning environment that encourages movement, interaction, and interdisciplinary engagement.

“The teaching model at Avenues is project-based rather than subject-based, requiring students to navigate through different spaces,” explain the architects. “This demanded a fluid design, enabling seamless transitions between classrooms, laboratories, corridors, and informal tutoring spaces.”

To support this, the design integrates open communication voids and strategically placed vertical circulations - both internal and external - ensuring diverse learning encounters throughout the day. Common areas remain highly flexible, eliminating conventional elements like a singular enclosed library. Instead, books and study areas are dispersed throughout, making learning an omnipresent experience.

Retrofitting an existing industrial building posed unique challenges and opportunities. “One of the biggest challenges was converting a 1990s office building into a forward-thinking school,” the architects note. “The original floor plan, with varying spans, influenced the positioning of classrooms, labs, and communal areas.” Rather than resisting these constraints, the team leveraged them, carving out large collaborative spaces and introducing unexpected architectural solutions.

This project is more than a school - it’s an active urban participant. Situated in a dense part of the city, it revitalizes its surroundings. “Transforming an outdated office into a school immediately brought new energy to the area,” say the architects. “It also fostered a stronger connection with the local community through social initiatives and employment opportunities.”

_article written by Daniela Moreira da Silva
_film by Architecture Hunter
_cover and image scroll by Pedro Mascaro

_drawings by aflalo/gasperini:

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