The design of Istanbul International Community School involved converting a 20 year old factory building into a 21st Century Learning Environment. In order to change the function of the building & customize it into a school, certain structural interventions are made along with some amount of re-engineering. Certain challenges of the building like the existing service areas with sparse natural light are converted to an advantage by providing areas like the auditorium, black box theatre & storage spaces. The open shop-floor that was disconnected from the rest of the building has been provided with a gathering staircase that connects the first floor & second floor levels, which is designed as the central atrium or heart of the building. The roof is punctured with a skylight which allows a lot of natural light to enter this central space. The learning studios, commons, discussion areas & break out zones that overlook the heart create a dialogue between the various spaces & establish a visual connect between the floors. The large open floor plates have been divided into various learning communities with internal connections.