In Mexico City, American School Foundation’s Architectural Flourish(es)

Clean, modern lines: an outside view of ASF’s new Ángeles Espinosa Yglesias Fine Arts Center, designed by José Moyao (photo: ASF).

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The American School Foundation (ASF) in Mexico City, now celebrating a 125-year history, started the school year with two new facilities: the Ángeles Espinosa Yglesias Fine Arts Center, and the Jenkins Foundation Wellness Center. The school inaugurated each complex with a special event last spring, but their biggest impact is in becoming part of students’ day-to-day learning experience.

The Ángeles Espinosa Yglesias Fine Arts Center is the result of dreams, and hard work, dating back to the 1990s—when school leaders first pinpointed the need for an arts complex. A donation finally made that dream come true. The Fine Arts Center is named for the late Ángeles Espinosa Yglesias, a philanthropist, museum founder, and the mother of the president of the Fundación Amparo, which provided the building’s cornerstone donation.

Designed by architect José Moyao, the Fine Arts Center includes a 650-seat theater and second-floor art gallery. Future building phases will incorporate remodeled music and art classrooms, and theater seating that can be configured in different arrangements depending on the event. An educational green roof complements the building which, like all new construction at ASF, was built according to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards.

Not far from the Fine Arts Center, the Jenkins Foundation Wellness Center is now the center of ASF’s physical education, athletics, and extended learning programs. Featuring an indoor double-court gym, a fitness area, staff offices, and classrooms, the Wellness Center is useful for a variety of functions, from championship games to routine practices, health classes and assemblies.

A generous cornerstone donation from the Puebla, Mexico-based Fundación Mary Street Jenkins made it possible. “I strongly believe this marvelous new space will enable us to contribute by helping and teaching others in society,” foundation representative Guillermo Jenkins Anstead said.

The Wellness Center was also designed by José Moyao, and complements the Fine Arts Center; both buildings feature glass walls and a modern, clean look. The Wellness Center is in use now, but planned improvements include adding retractable bleachers, new equipment and acoustics, tennis courts, and a green roof atop the structure.

ASF has designated both new buildings as resources for student and community events, cultural exchanges with the U.S. and other countries, and as sites for ASF’s robust community-service programming.

Last but not least, low-income neighborhood children who come to campus for after-hours classes in art, science, and English will be able to use both facilities, as will public school teachers who take part in ASF’s Community Enrichment Academies.

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