The British School of Lisbon (BSL) has revealed a €30 million project to build a second campus in Lisbon, near the football stadium of Clube de Futebol “Os Belenenses”, the historic Restelo football club.
The project was unveiled on Friday (May 20) in Restelo during an event which brought together students, parents, the British Ambassador to Portugal Chris Sainty, and Belenenses president Patrick Morais de Carvalho.
Designed by Portuguese architect Nuno Mateus, the 7,000sqm campus will feature state-of-the-art facilities, including 30 classrooms, science labs, art and design studios, music and theatre rooms, a semi-Olympic indoor pool and access to the Belenenses sports facilities. It is expected to open within the next three years.
“BSL’s ambition is to create a leading international school on a European level, with its students entering the most prestigious universities. The deal with Belenenses allows our school to grow and have access to ample sports facilities,” said BSL head teacher Zoe Hubbard.
The semi-olympic pool will boast “stunning views” over the Tejo River and 25 de Abril Bridge. It will be shared with Belenenses club members outside of school hours and on weekends and will have its own independent entrance near the stadium.
Adds BSL, the partnership with Belenenses will also allow students and their parents to become members of the club, as well as work on joint initiatives.
Belenenses boss Patrick Morais de Carvalho believes the new campus near the club’s stadium represents an “opportunity” to fulfil its plans to serve the population, get local youth involved in the community and in sports, and bring international attention to the Belenenses brand.
“It is with joy that we will have BSL students colouring Restelo, along with thousands of youngsters who do sports there daily. It is also an important step in the reconversion and modernisation of the stadium, namely with the construction of a new complex of pools, as well as a new sports gym. Everyone is very welcome to the Belenenses family,” he said.
Meanwhile, Jessica Ordovas, a Trustee at The Schools Trust – the group that founded BSL and over 20 other campuses around the world – hailed the project.
“With a group of students of over 30 nationalities, BSL is a truly international school. We are very excited to have found the perfect area to build our second campus. The location, views and special relationship with Belenenses will allow us to grow with an international education of excellence in the centre of Lisbon,” said Jessica Ordovas.
