Abstract:
The new campus of Universidad del Istmo is located in the rapidly growing community of Santa Isabel near Guatemala City, Guatemala. The 49-hectare site is situated on a beautiful hillside and valley. The university aims to enroll approximately 6,200 students in successive stages of implementation over twenty years. The educational objectives and mission of the university include a strong focus on the individual and the community within the learning environment. The form of the new campus is a response to the university's social goals and commitment towards contemporary learning relationships. Taking into account the ecological forces and systems that influence the site, together with a careful positioning and orientation of new buildings to promote natural ventilation and daylighting, the campus is a model of sustainable strategies.