When most people think of school, they imagine students, teachers, books, school trips – maybe even a childhood prank or two. Few of us would think of maintenance, cleaning, security, garden upkeep, water supply, ID card systems, or logistics.

For a school and kindergarten to function smoothly, many hands and minds are needed behind the scenes.

Today, we’re accompanying Facility Manager Kelvin Feng. Every morning begins with a walk-through: The playground, fountain, water supply, power grid, parking lot, and the building are checked for safe operation using standardized checklists.

As we walk through the lush garden, a smiling cleaning staff member and an engineer greet us. They are all, like Kelvin, employees of GSN.

GSN is a company founded in Shanghai in 1996 – by a German, incidentally. Kelvin proudly explains to us: “We have cooperated on over 190 projects, including embassies, consulates, Bosch China, BMW, and German schools. We’re talking about a service area exceeding seven million square meters.”

At a school, construction and repairs must be precisely coordinated with school operations. For this, it’s essential that each of us understands the fundamental processes of school operations and the school philosophy.

We really enjoy working in this international environment. Since last October, our employees have been participating in an English course at the IGS. The English lessons are not just an opportunity for language learning, but also a platform for cross-cultural communication.

We exchange ideas on everything from basic daily conversations to life habits and local customs. Often, there are very funny situations where we just have to laugh.

This kind of exchange breaks down the traditional boundaries between service providers and clients. It enables teachers and property management staff to guarantee the flow of information and learn from each other. Here at IGS, we feel like one team.

The atmosphere and lived identity of a school don’t just come about by throwing various ingredients into a pot or adopting usual structures. Instead, it’s crucial to ensure good communication among the members of the school community and to create a space for creative, authentic design.