At Nagoya International School, our commitment to delivering an exceptional educational experience goes beyond academic excellence and student well-being. It also means creating physical environments that are inspiring, inclusive, and aligned with our mission to inquire, inspire, impact, and also include.
For over 25 years, the Wing Building has played a central role in delivering our mission. Constructed in 1999, the building was a response to the community’s desire for safe, modern learning spaces. The wing-like roof and distinctive architecture reflect a time when NIS was growing into the school we are today, ready to take off for places around the world!
Now, a generation later, it is time to renew the interior to meet the needs of our current and future students. While the building remains structurally strong and iconic in design, the interior spaces have aged and no longer fully meet the needs of our community. As a result, we are excited to embark on a multi-phase renovation project to upgrade key areas of the Wing Building to ensure it remains a world-class learning environment.
The renovation will be carried out in multiple phases, beginning with major upgrades to the gymnasium and toilet/shower facilities during this summer (Phase 1), followed by further improvements in 2026 (Phase 2). Each phase is designed not only to modernize infrastructure but also to reflect best practices in safety, inclusion, comfort, and functionality.
The gym renovation will address long-standing challenges such as a lack of temperature control, poor acoustics, and outdated equipment. Improvements include the installation of a heating and cooling system, insulation, safety wall padding, acoustic surfacing, and modern audiovisual equipment. These upgrades will transform the gym into a safe and adaptable space for teaching, learning, athletics, and community events—usable year-round, even during Japan’s increasingly hot and humid summers.
Equally transformative will be the redesign of the toilet and shower facilities. While these spaces have served the school well since 1999, they no longer meet the expectations of a modern, inclusive international school. Working closely with student representatives, NIS has developed a new concept that replaces traditional gendered spaces with private, single-use rooms accessible from a monitored, safe corridor. The design emphasizes privacy, flexibility, hygiene, and safety, supporting all students and enabling NIS to host visiting teams and guests with dignity and care.
Informed by student voice and inclusive design principles, the new bathroom and shower facility will feature accessible toilets, private changing spaces, child-friendly elements, enhanced supervision via passive visibility and CCTV, and emergency access protocols. This shift reflects our commitment to creating environments that help all students feel comfortable and confident in making healthy, hygienic choices, now and in the future.
We also recognize that this transition may feel unfamiliar to some families. That’s why we’re approaching this change with care, transparency, and communication. The new facility is not a replacement for all other options; it is one of several choices available across campus, providing students with flexibility and support. We hope the inclusive vision behind this design resonates with our community and provides reassurance to those navigating this shift.
Looking ahead to Phase 2, scheduled for summer 2026, we plan to complete ceiling renovations in the gymnasium and renovate the 1F corridor and Japanese language classrooms. These spaces will receive new lighting, glass interior walls facing the hallway, improved temperature control features, and design elements that celebrate Japanese culture, enhancing their role as hubs for language learning and connection with our host country.
As we take these exciting steps forward, we’re reminded that school buildings are more than bricks and mortar; they’re the spaces where stories unfold, where relationships form, and where students grow. We are deeply grateful to our families for helping NIS create learning environments that reflect our values and support our mission.
Thank you to all our families for your continued support, and stay tuned for more updates as the Wing Building transformation takes shape!