Expected completion 2025
Academy Learning Commons
“The Academy Learning Commons will support the inquiry-led, project-based learning that has become central to Punahou’s curriculum. Technology-rich spaces will empower our students to work with the tools of virtual reality to build scientific and economic models, and to navigate a growing global ocean of data and information.” – President Mike Latham ’86
Ka Punahou (the new spring) Junior School Learning Commons Academy Home of the Future Academy Learning Commons
ON THE COVER: The Academy Learning Commons repurposes our current Cooke Library with a design that features multiple entrances, creating a stronger connection from the Junior School to the Academy Quad. ABOVE: The Junior School Learning Commons and the Academy Learning Commons both face Ka Punahou, the spiritual and physical piko (center) of our campus.
A letter from our Co-Chairs
The Future of Punahou Mahalo for your interest in our Academy Learning Commons project! As alumni, parents and grandparents, we understand the great importance of learning environments in K – 12 education, and we are thrilled to help bring this dream to fruition on behalf of the entire Punahou ‘ohana. While values and traditions ground a Punahou education, as they have for more than 182 years, methods of teaching and learning have changed dramatically. With the partnership of our generous community of donors and volunteers, we have transformed and modernized key campus facilities over the past two decades, including the rebuilding of the entire Junior School. It is now time to focus on the Academy infrastructure, which has not been modified since the completion of the Mamiya Science Center 25 years ago. We are now within reach of our vision for our K – 12 Learning Commons, a reimagining of our libraries into innovative, vibrant gathering centers for collaboration and creativity. The Academy Learning Commons will offer a full continuum of 21st-century teaching and learning resources for generations of Punahou students. Together, we can provide the right spaces and opportunities so that our students can gain essential skills to become the leaders of tomorrow. We invite you to partner with us and invest in Punahou’s future at this pivotal moment. With Aloha, Ethan Abbott ’72, Wendy B. Crabb and Kitty Sullivan ’75 Wo Academy Learning Commons Fundraising Co-Chairs
The new Academy Learning Commons will be a welcoming, vibrant and lively space that offers our students and our community a deep sense of belonging.
Academy Learning Commons: Case for Support
Hub for Innovation, Creativity and Collaboration The K – 12 Learning Commons are a reimagining of our libraries into dynamic intellectual hubs where students can find their purpose and passion, creating space for the yet unimagined. The first phase of this undertaking, the Junior School Learning Commons (kindergarten – grade 8), has been inspiring students since it opened in 2019. The second and final phase, the Academy Learning Commons (grades 9 – 12), will repurpose the School’s current Cooke Library. The new LEED- Certified design reconnects grades 9 – 12 to the center of campus, creates collaborative new spaces for learning and innovation, enhances project-based learning and sparks imagination at a time when the world has been transformed by an innovation-driven economy. The building’s new design honors our history and traditions while paving the way forward for Punahou students now and in the future.
“The ALC will be an inclusive gathering space for our students, faculty and broader community to collaborate, discover and create together.” – Noelehua Lyons ’91 Archambault Vice President for Institutional Advancement
Academy Learning Commons
Sustainability Fostering a sustainable campus and educating students to work toward a sustainable future are core Punahou values that the School encourages inside and outside the classroom. The School has invested significantly to
The Academy Learning Commons will meet LEED Gold Certification or higher. Sustainability features of the project include: » Water efficient landscaping via a series of bioswales, elevated walkways and native plants. » Covered, la-nai spaces provide natural lighting and ventilation to enhance student well being by immersing them in a natural environment. » On-site renewable energy through full roof PV array. » Efforts taken to maximize permeable surfaces and reduce “heat island” effect.
reduce its carbon footprint and become an educational model for green building
» Emphasis placed on environmental quality, including indoor and outdoor thermal comfort, daylight and views.
design, and aims to have a completely
» Intentional use of locally sourced and recycled materials and finishes.
net-zero campus in the coming years.
» Optimal energy performance through efficient mechanical systems while still providing design transparency and use of natural daylight.
“Our new LEED-certified facility leverages the latest in green building design and sustainable practices, including water efficient landscaping and a full roof PV array. The building will maximize daylight and prioritize efficient mechanical systems to reduce energy use.” – Nate Armour Director of Physical Plant
“Fostering a sustainable campus and engaging students to work toward a sustainable future are core Punahou values that the School encourages inside and outside the classroom. The new Academy Learning Commons provides the perfect physical environment to educate our students to become leaders in climate resilience.” – Debbie Millikan Director of Sustainability
Academy Learning Commons
Emerging Technology Punahou’s Design Technology and Engineering Labs build and maintain a student-centered, school-wide environment intended to empower the development of social-emotional skills, technical abilities, design thinking and growth mindset for our students. State-of-the-art equipment offers the opportunity to solve real-world challenges and helps engage our students in the kind of deep intellectual discovery that will encourage them to become the innovators and leaders of the future.
Two new design labs paired with an additional classroom space will provide an excellent education in traditional design theory and practice, and create pathways that will empower Punahou students as leaders in the new, rapidly emerging, virtual and augmented reality worlds.
Design Technology and Engineering Lab This large lab will offer opportunities for learning design and fabrication essentials and is planned to be the Design Technology and Engineering center’s gateway for broad use. In addition to hosting DTE courses and clubs, students and teachers from every department can take advantage of open lab time, technical support and readily available prototyping technologies.
Emergent Technologies Lab A cutting edge space where students will explore and develop emerging media such as virtual reality, augmented reality and artificial intelligence. The facility was purposely designed to host leaders from industry and education and to support the very latest technological advancements with maximum flexibility going into the future. Our new labs will also allow us to bring in the foremost experts from around the world to teach our students to leverage the technology.
“Punahou has a long history of graduating world-changing leaders and innovators. Today, we live in an era of accelerating change driven by emerging technologies. Our future leaders need opportunities to explore these technologies, understand them and start imagining and prototyping new uses and possibilities. We want them to feel comfortable and empowered to help guide us all toward a better future with these new tools.” – Mark Loughridge, Director of Case Accelerator for Student Entrepreneurship (CASE)
“I am excited to have access to new equipment in the ALC design labs. For example, in the current Richardson Lab, we have a lot of tools and materials, such as the water jet, 3D printer, etc. This often inspires me to approach the design process from a new perspective, and I always try my best to incorporate as many tools as I can. Having these tools leads to a diverse range of projects and outcomes.” – Qinglin "Charles" Ye ’26
Academy Learning Commons
Community We seek to inculcate a sense of belonging for our students, employees and families on our campus. Empathy, collaboration, creativity, innovation, social responsibility, global awareness and moral leadership are central to our institutional culture. Our educational spaces foster collaboration and build community.The Academy Learning Commons will offer a full continuum of modernized teaching and learning resources as well as social spaces to strengthen our community. We envision the building as: » A hub of creativity, innovation and collaboration. » A technological and creative resource to turn inquiry into meaningful work and problem-solving for real audiences. » Student-centered spaces, increasing indoor and covered outdoor gathering areas. » A place to learn from experts and mentors from the world outside school.
The Cooke Library Collection of books and resources will be housed in a bright, modernized open space with meeting areas intermingled. New clerestory windows will maximize natural light and create more inviting spaces for groups as well as individual, quiet study. The Café is envisioned as a gathering space designed to foster engagement, collaboration, intersection and connection among students and faculty. Places for our students and faculty to interact and share food as they socialize or study is currently lacking on our campus. These thoughtfully designed gathering areas will help to better connect our community. Updated and expanded room for our School Archives and rare book Hawaiiana collection will be housed on the lower floor, providing educational opportunities and state-of-the-art digital and hard copy access to Punahou’s rich history.
“The café, grab-and-go kiosk and food design lab are central to the design of the new Academy Learning Commons. Food is an integral and necessary part of education, and these new spaces will give us the proper equipment and settings to explore multidisciplinary, ‘a-ina-based lessons.” – Mark Noguchi ’93, Food Curriculum Specialist “Our new Archives will offer much-improved climate controls, which are crucial to maintaining our historic photos and documents. I am excited that our location will be more visible to all students, and that we will have working spaces available to help bring our history to life. Preserving and learning from our past is an important way that our community can honor, understand and draw lessons from the history of Punahou.” – Kylee Mar, Archivist “I look forward to being able to study in a nice, relaxing and peaceful environment in the new ALC. I imagine that it will feel like a place where everyone is welcome to study and relax. I hope to be productive in the new Learning Commons so I can have the best senior year possible. ” – Riley Mishina ’26 Above: Located within the café, the food design lab and teaching kitchen will support interdisciplinary learning for K – 12 students. LEFT: Located in the Academy Learning Commons café, a grab-and-go kiosk, will offer fresh, healthy and convenient food options for busy Academy students and faculty.
The building will feature extensive outdoor gathering spaces with generous la-nai on all four sides. Students and faculty will enjoy covered outdoor seating and charging stations for studying, collaborating and socializing, protected from the sun and rain.
Community is at the heart of the Academy Learning Commons’ design. Students and faculty will be able to come together as co-creators of their educational journey and seek the skills necessary to become creative problem solvers.
The new interior layout will create more inviting places for collaborative group gatherings and individual study and research. Enclosed, technology-rich rooms will allow for silent study as well as formal and informal gatherings by student government, clubs, faculty and the larger Punahou community.
The Cooke Library Collection of books and resources will be housed in a bright and modern open space to maximize natural light and inspire creativity and connection.
A new café space with indoor and outdoor seating will offer students a convenient alternative to the cafeteria where they can eat, study and socialize.
A light-filled overlook will include a view into the café below. This upper level will provide room for student meetings, study areas or gallery exhibitions.
Conversation Bays
“The Beach” Lanai
The Upper Commons Courtyard
(multiple)
Mauka Grand Lanai Makai Grand Lanai Stairway Entrance Makai
Stairway Entrance Mauka
Idea Box
Gallery
Emerging Technologies Classroom
Library Team Office
Café Overlook
Studio 5
Emerging Technology Pool Entrance
Punavision Collaborative Seating 1
Collaborative Seating 3
History Wall Reception Desk (Circulation Desk)
Path
Collaborative Classroom
Stairway to Innovation
way
to
gin Emer
The Library Collection
Book Stacks
Collaborative Seating 2
g Tec
hnolo
Studio 6
gy
Emerging Technologies Lab
Book Stacks
Mechanical Enclosure
Elevator
Flexible Learning Space 1
Flexible Learning Space 2
Lanai Ramp
Ka Punahou Lanai Makai
Mauka
Amphitheatre Entrance
Upper Learning Commons
These floor plans are subject to change during the final stages of the design process.
The Café Courtyard & Lanai
Grab-and-Go Kiosk
Academy Cafe
Information Technology
Food Design Lab
Pathwa y to Tra dition IT
Archives 2
Archives 1
IT
Pa th wa yt oP ro gr e
Archives 3
ss
Design Lab Storage
Design, Technology and Engineering Lab
Conference Room
Lower Learning Commons
Transformer
IT Service Desk
Custodial Network Core
IT
IT
Information Technology
These floor plans are subject to change during the final stages of the design process.
Your transformational gift will change the lives of Punahou students for generations to come. Mahalo nui for your support! For more information about the ALC project please contact Wendy Chang, Senior Director of Development, 808.943.3626, wmchang@punahou.edu.
For dreams. For creativity. For community. For everyone. learningcommons.punahou.edu