Chinese American International School
![The Chinese American International School is a dual Chinese-English dual language immersion school in San Francisco; the new middle school campus is an adaptive reuse of two abandoned buildings into a dynamic and collaborative new educational environment.](https://www.lmsarch.com/sites/default/files/project/CAIS_01.jpg)
The Chinese American International School (CAIS) prides itself on being a local school with a global community and the oldest Chinese-English dual language immersion school in the nation. For its new middle school campus, the CAIS envisioned a dynamic new facility which can provide enhanced educational opportunities.
Owner
Chinese American International School
Location
San Francisco, CA
Size
19,000 sq. ft.
Image Credit
Bruce Damonte
![](https://www.lmsarch.com/sites/default/files/project/CAIS_02.jpg)
Founded in 1981 in San Francisco, the CAIS is an independent pre-kindergarten through eighth grade co-ed Chinese-English dual language immersion school that creates a multicultural learning experience for students of all backgrounds. LMSA renovated two existing buildings and outdoor areas at an existing site in San Francisco’s Hayes Valley neighborhood into a new middle school campus with classrooms, science labs, a maker studio, a music room, and a learning center. The campus is near CAIS’s main Oak Street campus and allows for opportunities to share resources between the two campuses. The design carefully considers the school’s unique blend of cultures and integrates sustainable design strategies throughout. The new middle school opened in September 2015.
![The Chinese American International School is a dual Chinese-English dual language immersion school in San Francisco; the new middle school campus is an adaptive reuse of two abandoned buildings into a dynamic and collaborative new educational environment.](https://www.lmsarch.com/sites/default/files/project/CAIS_03.jpg)
![The Chinese American International School is a dual Chinese-English dual language immersion school in San Francisco; the new middle school campus is an adaptive reuse of two abandoned buildings into a dynamic and collaborative new educational environment.](https://www.lmsarch.com/sites/default/files/project/CAIS_04.jpg)
![The Chinese American International School is a dual Chinese-English dual language immersion school in San Francisco; the new middle school campus is an adaptive reuse of two abandoned buildings into a dynamic and collaborative new educational environment.](https://www.lmsarch.com/sites/default/files/project/CAIS_05.jpg)
![The Chinese American International School is a dual Chinese-English dual language immersion school in San Francisco; the new middle school campus is an adaptive reuse of two abandoned buildings into a dynamic and collaborative new educational environment.](https://www.lmsarch.com/sites/default/files/project/CAIS_06.jpg)