Rashid and Latifa School, a visionary educational campus located in Dubai, has been named Educational Building of the Year at the prestigious Architecture Leaders Awards 2025, hosted by Design Middle East.
Designed by Koda, the architecture studio of Kidzink, the school is a pioneering example of what 21st-century education spaces can achieve — combining cultural authenticity, wellness-centred design, environmental responsiveness, and flexible modular systems.
Originally intended as a temporary facility for members of the UAE’s founding family, Rashid and Latifa School was designed to stand the test of time. Completed in just seven months, the campus meets the highest global standards for learning and wellbeing while remaining adaptable to future expansion.
“This school challenges the idea that temporary means temporary,” said Dain Dominic, Associate Director of Architecture at Koda.
“From the outset, it was envisioned as a lasting, flexible learning environment, one that honours tradition while embracing innovation.”
Redefining School Architecture in the UAE
Inspired by traditional Emirati settlement patterns, the campus consists of interconnected buildings sheltered under a unifying canopy. The layout includes gender-specific wings, each centred around its own courtyard, supporting cultural values while encouraging community and calm.
Classrooms and breakout areas are thoughtfully arranged to support sensory regulation, reduce cognitive overload, and transition students between zones of focus, interaction, and reflection. Natural materials, indoor-outdoor connectivity, and educational cues embedded in the built environment make every square metre a learning opportunity.
“We’re thankful to the Rashid and Latifa School team for entrusting us. This award highlights that the school and its story are more than a building. It’s a blueprint for the future of education in the region,”
said Charlotte Borghesi, Co-Founder of Kidzink and Koda.
A Milestone Moment for Koda
The recognition at the Architecture Leaders Awards 2025 caps a strong year for Koda, which launched officially in 2024 as the dedicated architecture practice of Kidzink, a Dubai-headquartered educational design firm with over 250 completed projects in 23 countries.
Earlier this year, Koda’s Mangrove Café project for Taaleem won a German Design Award, while their work on Dubai British School Jumeira was highly commended at the Identity Design Awards.
The awards evening also celebrated the studio’s design leadership:
- Laura Hughes, Senior Leader at Koda – Highly Commended, Woman Icon of the Year
- Dain Dominic, Associate Director – Shortlisted, Architect of the Year
“These awards reflect the collective vision of the Kidzink and Koda teams — a group committed to reimagining what learning environments can be when an innovative vision meets not just a diverse skill set and bespoke service offering, but also an unwavering commitment to quality in education,” said Borghesi.
To learn more, visit: