Why Nonprofit Means Nonstop Upgrades
As usual this summer, while students were off on college tours, internships, exciting programs or adventures, Shanghai American School campuses turned into mini construction zones, taking on renovation projects designed to make our spaces safer, more comfortable, and more inspiring for students. From new, flexible learning spaces to a fresh look in our Performing Arts Center, these updates continue our tradition of investing in facilities that grow with our community. And because SAS is a nonprofit, every improvement is made with one purpose in mind: reinvesting directly into the learning environment of our students. While many changes happen over the summer, these are just a few of the highlights.
At Pudong, the focus was on creating new, innovative spaces that meet a variety of learning needs. To accommodate our growing middle school population, we added a dual-purpose academic hub, complete with quiet zones for independent study and collaboration areas for group projects. The Library Learning Hall (LLH) now offers a safer, level floor with durable rubber finishes and a new LED screen that brings assemblies and learning moments to life in bigger, brighter ways. In the band room, improvements were made to enhance sound quality, safety, and aesthetics, including upgraded acoustic panels.
Our aquatics centers on both campuses are opening the year with new looks, featuring brand-new pool deck flooring featuring slip-resistant materials and improved drainage. This ensures swimmers can train and compete in the safest possible environment.
In Puxi, the Performing Arts Center was elevated with new acoustic panels, stainless steel “cloud” ceilings, and upgraded sound and lighting systems that give performances a polished edge. What makes this project especially meaningful is the collaboration: with guidance from art teacher Ivy Wong, alumni Carina Tian (‘25) and Julia Wu (’24) contributed original designs that now have a permanent home in the PAC, ensuring students stay connected to the stage they once performed on. To pay homage to our host country, ancient Chinese poems now line the columns in junior Emily S.’s elegant handwriting.
The elementary school art and band room as well as the middle school science labs were also completely revitalized, with professional acoustic walls, durable rubber flooring, and new sinks that make it both inspiring and functional – a space where young artists and scientists can create and innovate without limits.
Each of these changes reflects a simple goal: making sure students have the right environment to learn, play, and thrive. And as a nonprofit school, we’re proud to reinvest in projects like these, ensuring our students directly benefit from the spaces where they learn, create, and grow. Special thanks to our facilities and maintenance teams, who always work tirelessly to keep our campuses best in class!
