Arranged linearly along the boundary of the site, the school’s striking, folded form creates a grand canopy and terrace while framing the landscape and outdoor activity space to showcase the grounds to the surrounding neighborhood and create a garden-like setting. Its theater is considered the first professional opera house in Hanoi, complete with an orchestra pit.

The Ecopark Daesung International School blends a European modernism with the traditional architecture of Hanoi. Photo courtesy Turner

“Turner has coordinated not only with the design team, but also the client and contractors to develop every design element in accordance with local building codes, as well as balancing expectations of design intent, cost impact and time impact,” the team says.

Building information modeling played a key role in coordinating the design across several continents, with a person assigned to each discipline and models uploaded to apps accessible via smartphone.

A spread-out team wasn’t the project’s only challenge. COVID-19 brought labor shortages and delayed materials deliveries at the peak of construction. Turner says it cleared obstacles using Lean Construction principles, including its Last Planner system to reevaluate and reprioritize tasks.