ABSTRACT
New skyscrapers are being added to global city skylines each year. With the need for further schools in cities, it is only a matter of time before educational learning within tall buildings becomes more commonplace. Precedents of tall schools around the world are limited. The majority of city centre multi-storey schools are operated privately, with funding and organisation varying between each. While the principle of creating sustainable cities with a social infrastructure that accommodates children and families is becoming an accepted requirement worldwide, there is still resistance to educating children in multi-storey environments. High-rise schools need to be developed in the context of an integrated policy approach to a child-friendly urban infrastructure that ensures access to suitable housing, parks and the natural world. Funding and procurement that accommodate a non-standard approach and elements like wide stairs and roof terraces must be considered from the outset, while a more holistic approach could address common local community concerns.
