Kahramanmaraş Beyza Schools
An Educational Building Redesigned After the Earthquake
Designed as a school project in Kahramanmaraş, Beyza Schools is a reconstruction project developed to replace the middle school building destroyed in the February 6, 2023 earthquakes. Beginning with the urgent need to rebuild the region’s educational infrastructure after the earthquake, the process was led by PARC | Parlak Architects from the concept stage onward.
Earthquake-Resistant Structural Design Decisions
The most decisive criterion in the design process was structural safety. Kahramanmaraş’s location in an earthquake zone directly shaped every decision, from the choice of structural system to the foundation design. The building was designed with a safety margin beyond the current seismic code; structural resilience is supported not only by engineering calculations but also by the architectural layout. A low-rise, compact massing was chosen to minimize the effect of seismic loads on the structure.
A Spatial Layout Shaped by Modern Educational Needs
The school’s interior organization is planned to provide the flexibility required by contemporary educational approaches. Classrooms, laboratories and social areas are positioned so they can operate independently, and spaces are scaled to suit the needs of different age groups. Sufficient daylight in every classroom, corridor widths suited to emergency evacuation and barrier-free access standards are among the key parameters of the layout.
Student-Centered Outdoor Design
The design was not limited to indoor spaces; open areas were conceived as part of education. The schoolyard is organized in layers as play areas, an assembly square and green spaces. Used actively by students during breaks and social activities, these areas offer an outdoor experience integrated with the school building. Planting suited to the region’s climate was chosen for the landscape design.
An Investment in Kahramanmaraş’s Educational Infrastructure
The Beyza Schools project is an architectural work that contributes to rebuilding Kahramanmaraş’s educational infrastructure after the earthquake. Developed at the concept stage, the design aimed not simply to put a building in place of the old school, but to create a safe, high-quality learning environment that meets the needs of the local community. The project gives concrete form to the critical role education plays as a community recovers from destruction.
