2025

Several projects were carried out during the summer of 2025 targeting the improvement of premises and raising the campus standards, for the benefit of our students and community.

Structural reinforcement of Elementary school – phase B

Following the successful completion of the Elementary School’s structural upgrade (Phase A), during the summer we initiated and successfully completed phase B.

This phase primarily concentrated on the structural reinforcement of the building's eastern and western sections. The intervention involved two main elements:

1. Column Reinforcement: The columns were strengthened using steel plating.
2. Wall Enhancement and Integration: Strength was further enhanced by connecting the reinforced columns with HEB beams. These beams were then integrated into the wall areas between the columns using the Gunite technique (a method of spraying concrete), remarkably strengthening the load bearing structure as a cohesive whole.

Additionally, a key technical objective was to strengthen the foundational bond of the structure with both the ground and the adjacent building.

The project timeline for Phase B was exceptionally demanding, requiring the expertise and close collaboration of multiple parties to ensure its successful and timely completion.

Solar Panels installation

The installation of the photovoltaic system for electricity production has been completed and put into operation. Our system comprises 181 solar panels placed on various terraces. We have a total capacity of 100kWp (kilowatt peak), the output of which can be either directly consumed or fed into the city grid; this practice is known as net metering. Production is monitored via a dedicated application, and by the end of next year, we will have actual data from a full cycle.

Air Conditioning of Elementary school classrooms

To enhance student comfort and ensure a pleasant learning environment, we initiated and implemented a plan for centrally air conditioning the classrooms campus-wide.

This year, we successfully installed a modern, centralized air conditioning system in all sixteen Elementary School classrooms.

The air conditioning system's design adheres to the latest standards, is highly energy-efficient, and maintains high coefficients of performance (COP). It is capable of providing sufficient cooling and heating capacity for all classrooms.

The system has been engineered for resilience and maximum functionality. It comprises two independent and integrated sub-systems which, in the event of a major failure, ensure the system retains a minimum of 50% of its cooling capacity.

Furthermore, each classroom is equipped with two autonomous and independent inverter units of 18,000 btu each, which may operate partially or fully depending on the specific needs of the space.

Dehumidification of the indoor swimming pool

A long-standing challenge requiring improvement in the indoor swimming facility was the enhancement of hygienic conditions, with the goal of controlling and maintaining low humidity levels within space.

Given the unique conditions of a heated, enclosed swimming pool, which is a continuous source of humidity production, this project was particularly demanding from an engineering point of view.

Taking into account the existing building infrastructure, we proceeded with the installation of a new system. This system consists of two dehumidification units and one fresh air handling unit, all harmoniously connected to the existing infrastructure and fully integrated into the main Building Management System (BMS). This setup ensures the monitoring and control of air quality are continuous, efficient, and fully automated.

The new system is modern and sophisticated, controlling both the humidity and temperature of the pool area in conjunction with the ambient environmental temperature at any given time.

Crucially, the system features a built-in energy recovery system. This system utilizes energy that would otherwise be wasted by using it to primarily heat the pool water and secondarily the pool air.

The entire undertaking was exceptionally difficult, both due to the complex engineering design required for such an application and the constraints imposed by the existing infrastructure. The installation has been successfully completed, and comfort conditions in the pool area have been significantly improved.

Repairs of facades & Painting 

As we do every year, we carry out repairs on the buildings’ façades before extensive corrosion builds up on the steel reinforcement of the concrete structures. [We perform] specialized treatment on the steel reinforcement at the initial stage of corrosion, thereby restoring the design strength and hindering further deterioration.

Renovation of Lab 101

Following the campus lab renovation plan, Lab 101 was renovated this year according to the same high standards as the others. 

During this process, all electromechanical infrastructure, including water supply, drainage, sewage, and electrical installations, was entirely replaced with new components, aligning with the latest safety and operational standards. 

The lab space is functionally separated into two areas; one dedicated to experiments and another featuring desks for typical classroom teaching. The overall design is modern and contemporary, offering numerous educational opportunities for students. All the furniture was replaced with new, custom-made pieces to precisely fit our needs, both educational and storage related. The materials chosen are of the highest quality and suitable for heavy use, capable of dealing with chemical agents and corrosive liquids. Furthermore, a natural gas system was installed in the lab, accompanied by all the necessary safety measures, providing the capability to conduct a variety of experiments.

Gym floor

The parquet flooring of the indoor basketball court was fully replaced with new, solid oak hardwood flooring. New line markings and court colors were applied to give it a look consistent with contemporary trends.

Fire Doors – Fire resistant stairways

Aligning with Fire Service regulations, we converted all the main stairwells of the Middle School and Academy into protected stairwells (fire-rated compartments), establishing safe and fire-protected escape routes in case of a fire. This year, we completed the installation of the fire doors, rated for 60 or 90 minutes of fire resistance as required by the specifications.

Painting of Elementary School

Several interventions were made at the elementary school (or: primary school) with the aim of changing the external appearance of the building to make it cheerier and more appealing for young children. For this purpose, some vibrant colors were chosen, which were used to paint sections of the exterior walls under a uniform pattern, and to an extent and degree that creates a pleasant aesthetic result without being overwhelming.

Extension of Innovation Lab

Due to increased needs, the Innovation Lab was expanded and a new supplementary space of approximately 100m2 was constructed, which includes a teaching and learning area for students, an office, and a storage room. The areas are fully air-conditioned and appropriately configured for the students' needs.

Renovation of Learning Commons floor 

Continuing the renovation plan for the Learning Commons from last year, this year we replaced the old flooring on the first level with wood-looking tiles, giving the entire space a unified, appealing look.

Renovation of Accounting  

The Accounting and Financial Services office space was redesigned and fully renovated to meet the needs and accommodate more employees. The new space can host 12 employees in a welcoming and modern environment. During the renovation, provisions were made for the replacement of the basic electromechanical infrastructure, plumbing, heating, and electrical installations, as well as the air conditioning and ventilation of all areas.

Waterproofing

In line with our maintenance plan, this year we maintained the waterproofing of the Annex terrace, waterproofed a main drain channel at the pool, and carried out necessary repairs for the E/S reinforcement project

Electrical main switchboards

According to the plan for the staged replacement of the main electrical infrastructure, during this period we undertook the upgrade of the main switchboards coupled with the reorganization and rearrangement of key electrical loads. The objective was to promote an even distribution of electrical loads between the two substations by partially unloading one and transferring loads to the other, thus achieving a more balanced operation. In this context, we replaced and upgraded a Main Distribution Board (MDB) to facilitate the targeted load redistribution.

Technology Department Works

During the summer, the technology department successfully completed several key infrastructure upgrades.

Key achievements include:

• Workstation Replacement: A total of 95 new workstations were installed, effectively replacing nearly all computers used by teachers in their classrooms.
• Monitor Upgrades: 15 new 27-inch monitors were deployed to replace older models in various offices and classrooms.
• Networking Infrastructure: A new rack was installed in the Administration Building's business office to support services on the second floor.
• Wi-Fi Enhancement: 20 Cisco Access Points were replaced with higher-capacity models to reinforce Wi-Fi coverage in areas with high user density.
• Interactive Panels: 15 new technology interactive panels were installed in the Academy building.
• Projector Upgrades: 7 LCD projectors were replaced with newer models school wide.
• Interactive Board Upgrades: Several defective interactive boards were replaced school wide.
• Video Conferencing Owl: One additional Owl purchased.

Preventive Maintenance Plan Works

As in previous years, we successfully executed numerous maintenance tasks on all main machinery and equipment according to our annual Preventive Maintenance Plan. This systematic approach is critical for ensuring the reliability and longevity of our core assets, minimizing the risk of unexpected failures, and maximizing operational uptime.

Appreciation to Donors and Maintenance department 

We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to our Capital Project donors for their generous financial contributions this year. These funds play a crucial role in enhancing the student experience at ACS Athens. With their support, we were able to complete the renovation of Lab 101, upgrade High School classrooms with state-of-the-art Interactive Panels, and improve our athletic facilities with a new Squat Rack in our Fitness Room. Additionally, we are grateful for the PTO's donation, which contributed to the installation of Central Air Conditioning in Elementary School classrooms, ensuring a comfortable learning environment for our students.

Also, we would like to thank our school’s maintenance team for their tireless support and continuing dedication to ACS vision, which allowed us to complete the projects timely despite the very challenging pandemic conditions.