Archive for Jorge

Chadwick International opens the doors this fall

July 5, 2010 Education, Songdo IBD in the News 2 comments

By Dr. Jorge Nelson, Headmaster
Something very special is happening on this world-class campus, Chadwick International.

There is an intense focus on a Quality of Learning for students built on the legacy of Chadwick School’s goals of Academic Excellence and Exemplary Character, Chadwick’s five core values of Honesty, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness and Compassion as well as 21st Century Competencies of Worldview, Emotional intelligence, Academics in balance, Creativity and Technology. The synergy of the twin goals of the Chadwick Mission, the five Core Values, and 21st Century Competencies will set our students well on the way to realize Margaret Chadwick’s call for action to “…do something constructive for humanity…” and to do it as first class global citizens.

In 1937, Mrs. Chadwick stated, “Experience is the best of all schools. School curriculum should consist of experiences.” State-of-the-Art Information and Communications Technologies and the aspiration to become an International Baccalaureate World School are at the heart of Chadwick International’s visionary, collaborative, and experiential learning environments. This confluence combined with taking the 75 year old legacy of Chadwick School to an international level will make Chadwick International one of the finest schools anywhere. Quality of Learning is why students will thrive and excel at Chadwick International and we welcome you to join us as we follow Mrs. Chadwick’s vision to “…habituate children to the ways of living that are satisfying and worthwhile.”

Visit www.chadwickinternational.org for more information about this new school in Songdo, Korea.

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Sustainability in Songdo IBD: from the Environment to the Community.

January 8, 2009 general, Uncategorized 4 comments

By Dr. Jorge Olaf Nelson

Songdo IBD will encourage and foster sustainable design practices by incorporating the latest design standards and technologies that reduce energy consumption, increase energy efficiency, utilize recycled and natural materials and generate clean or renewable electricity.

Six core design goals for Songdo International Business District reflect our commitment to sustainability for this new city spanning 1500 acres near Incheon, South Korea. These design goals are ambitious targets. But setting them — and meeting them — will set a new standard for green design for large-scale development projects across the globe.

Songdo IBD parcels target certification under the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program (LEED). Third party development land sale agreements will contain language mandating that buildings erected must pursue LEED Certification. Songdo IBD is also part of the LEED-ND (Neighborhood Development) Pilot program. The LEED-ND program emphasizes neighborhood connectivity, access to transit, energy efficiency in building design, efficient infrastructure design and the provision of open space and habitat for residents of all kinds. It builds upon the principles of New Urbanism and aims to promote the incorporation of positive planning aspects into local and municipal zoning codes focused on Smart Growth, Transit Oriented Development and Green Growth. The KGBCS (Korean Green Building Certification System) is used on selected parcels within Songdo IBD. The use of both Korean and International green building rating systems ensures that projects are built to a high standard of sustainable design and construction.

Yet another part of sustainability is helping out with the direct participation with the greater Incheon community via the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program going on at Gale International. There are a number of ways that Gale has given back to the citizens of Incheon.

Please take a quick look at the video to catch a glimpse of how Gale takes CSR seriously in Songdo IBD. Comments? Questions?

Songdo International School tour from Chinese Mayor and Microsoft

December 15, 2008 Education 3 comments

By Dr. Jorge Olaf Nelson, CMO, Songdo uLife

 

Chinese mayor and guests tour Classroom of the Future

Chinese mayor and guests tour Classroom of the Future

On December 11th, two tours of the Songdo International School (SIS) were hosted by Gale International on the site in Songdo. In the morning the general manager of Microsoft Research – Beijing and team were given a tour of the entire IT/CCTV/Cable/broadcast TV infrastructure of the SIS campus. This tour was designed for them to get a glimpse of the state-of-the-art technology already in place at the school. They mentioned how impressed they were by the huge investment in IT and went away with a bigger picture of how SIS is truly going to become the Most Ideal Environment (their words) for Microsoft’s initiatives in international education.

In the afternoon a large tour group from China arrived in two buses at the school. They were escorted by Chairman Stan Gale into the SIS Classroom of the Future, where they learned about student-centric, personalized learning that SIS will offer to all students K-12. The SIS team presented the concept of School 2.0 – how children who attend SIS will be learning in small, collaborative groups with teachers who are Guides by the Side, not Sages on the Stages. The SIS team is using best practices as identified by Clayton Christensen, Harvard Business School professor who has recently published a very successful book about where education should be heading.

See HBS publication http://hbswk.hbs.edu/item/5978.html for more info. Note Learning-centric (left) and Teacher-centric (right). Click to zoom.

Songdo IBD is for everyone

December 15, 2008 general 10 comments

jorge-face By Dr. Jorge Olaf Nelson, CMO, Songdo uLife

We want everyone in Korea to feel proud of Songdo IBD and visit often, if not live there. There are going to be many opportunities for all residents and guests throughout Songdo IBD as the quality of life amenities are world-class and available for everyone to enjoy. Songdo IBD is rising more and more everyday and we want everyone to know they are welcome to share in the realization of this dream of the City of the Future now – in Incheon – rising along the Western Sea of Korea.

For example, the 100-acre Central Park is beginning to take shape with the salt water canal going in and the bike and walkways being surrounded by freshly-transplanted pines (Songdo means pine forest in Korean). Electric water taxis will ferry folks up and down the canal, passing by the Ecotarium and Museum along the banks as well as arriving at either the Cultural Center at one end down by the sea shore or at the North East Asia Trade Tower at the other up at the central business district. The environmental sustainability of the park is evident as the recovery of rainwater will be used for irrigation in the forest and gardens located there. And, the 2500 space parking garage is entirely underground to help keep the idyllic nature of Central Park pristine and quiet – a peaceful place for respite in the center of the bustling city.

Across from the Central Park is the Taubman Shopping Centre – designed by Studio Daniel Libeskind and interior by Benoy – which will bring the first regional shopping centre experience to Korea. Lotte department store, Megabox cinemas, and HomePlus hypermarket are signed up as anchor stores, already occupying 70% of the 1.1 million sq. ft. leased space and approx. 160 more stores will soon follow. Inside the Taubman Shopping Centre one major amenity – the ice rink (also available as a venue for 3000 visitors for car shows, fashion shows, etc.) will feature an hourly original free interactive multi-media show for shoppers to experience during the grooming of the ice.

Transportation to and from Songdo IBD will be easy and inexpensive to access as there are three major subway stations in the IBD as well as city buses, taxis, bike paths and underground parking for thousands of cars. The city is designed for pedestrians in mind so strolling around the master-planned city of architectural wonders will be an enjoyable activity in itself.

Songdo IBD is a city that is open to all Koreans and will soon become the pride of Korea as the gateway to Northeast Asia. The smorgasbord of amenities are world-class and the open air feeling, the beauty of the buildings and the easy access to the entire city is inviting, enjoyable as well as environmentally sustainable. It is our hope to create many lucrative opportunties for good jobs for Koreans to work and live in Songdo IBD. As you look around now and begin to see all the quality of life investments and improvements made already, you can see that we are well on our way in fulfilling that promise to Korea and her people. Do stop by soon and see for yourself how Songdo IBD welcomes all people to live and thrive together in an ideal urban setting.