How The Campus Ampang is revolutionising Malaysia’s retail landscape through adaptive reuse

What were the biggest challenges in transforming a school into a mixed-use retail and recreational space while retaining its original character?

The scale and language of a school is fundamentally different from that of a retail or community hub. Classrooms are cellular, corridors are narrow, and circulation is driven by very different rhythms. 

One of our biggest challenges was reprogramming the existing built form while preserving its identity. We had to transform enclosed classrooms into welcoming retail spaces, introduce transparency where there were once solid walls, and improve sightlines without compromising the integrity of the structure. 

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Accessibility and wayfinding were also crucial–we introduced new drop-offs, added amphitheatre steps to the new central courtyard for orientation, and redefined key axes. 

At every stage, the balance between preservation and transformation was delicate–but the outcome, we believe, is something both grounded and forward-looking.

What role did vernacular architecture play in guiding the adaptive reuse strategy, and how did you ensure it was respected throughout the redesign process?

The former ISKL campus had a deep-rooted presence in the community, and it was essential that we responded with sensitivity to both the physical and cultural memory of the site–rather than erase the past, we sought to enhance it.

As such, vernacular architecture grounded our approach from the very beginning, and we looked to Malaysian vernacular principles as the starting point for environmental and spatial strategies: passive ventilation, shaded verandas, and open courtyards; while materials like fair-faced brick and pebble-wash, once seen as utilitarian, were celebrated and retained. 

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We also worked carefully within the existing architectural framework, making surgical additions and omissions rather than wholesale reconstruction.

Interventions such as the folding roof canopies and open courtyard respected the building’s legacy, while supporting its transformation into a vibrant community space.

Could you elaborate on how the design choices–naturally ventilated public spaces and folding roof canopies–contribute to environmental responsibility?

Natural ventilation was not just a design feature–it was a principle. We saw it as an opportunity to create comfort in the tropics without relying heavily on mechanical cooling. 

By opening up formerly enclosed corridors, adding generous roof overhangs, and carving out a new central courtyard, we allowed natural breezes to flow freely through the development. 

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The folding roof canopies, inspired by the simplicity of origami, extend this logic by creating sheltered yet porous drop-off points. They allow light and air to penetrate, reduce heat gain, and provide a visual identity for the new era of The Campus Ampang. 

These choices reduce energy consumption and celebrate Malaysia’s climate, rather than resisting it.

What specific measures were taken to minimise construction waste and maximise resource efficiency during the adaptive reuse process?

Adaptive reuse, by nature, is an exercise in resource efficiency–but we took that commitment even further. We retained the major structural elements: beams, slabs, stair cores–even the swimming pool and theatre–reworking them into new uses rather than demolishing them. 

Meanwhile, existing finishes were selectively preserved and cleaned rather than replaced. For example, the fair-faced brickwork and exposed concrete elements were restored rather than clad. Construction waste was carefully managed and re-used for back fill in raising the other areas of the site. Even landscape strategies favoured native and existing plantings to reduce the need for irrigation and long-term maintenance.

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This project involved collaboration with NTL Nawawi Tie Leung (retail advisory), Nala Design (branding and signage), and Gary Nai of Intsia International (landscape). How did these partnerships help ensure that the reconfigured spaces meet diverse community needs while maintaining functionality and inclusivity?

This project was never about one singular voice; it was about creating a community hub–and that meant drawing on a wide circle of expertise. 

NTL brought a deep understanding of what retail today needs to thrive, and their retail advisory role helped us choreograph the mix of uses across the site, which includes placing anchor tenants like Qra in key positions and ensuring circulation was intuitive and engaging. 

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Nala Design, on the other hand, brought emotional depth and storytelling to the branding and signage. Their colour palette and graphic approach reflected both nostalgia and vibrancy, adding a layer of warmth that connected with the local audience. 

Finally, Gary Nai’s landscape work played a crucial role in weaving the old and new together, softening the concrete legacy of the school with greenery that reclaims and reanimates the site. 

Together, these partnerships helped ensure The Campus Ampang was not just functional, but aesthetically inclusive for its demographically diverse target audience.

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As Malaysia’s first-of-its-kind adaptive reuse retail development, how do you envision The Campus Ampang influencing future adaptive reuse initiatives in Malaysia?

We hope The Campus Ampang serves as a blueprint and an inspiration. In a city like Kuala Lumpur, where land is scarce and heritage buildings are often under threat, adaptive reuse offers an incredibly sustainable and culturally rich alternative to demolition and rebuild. 

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This project shows that it’s possible to repurpose with care, imagination, and commercial viability. By retaining much of the original building and its spirit, we’ve created something unique in the retail landscape–not a conventional mall, but a hybrid space that lives and breathes with its community. 

We hope it sparks a shift in mindset, where developers and designers see potential in adaptive reuse and where policy begins to actively support reuse as a future-forward strategy.

Looking ahead, how do you see The Campus Ampang evolving to continue serving the community sustainably over time?

The Campus was always conceived as a flexible platform–a canvas for community life to unfold and evolve. For us, sustainability is not just about materials or energy, it’s about longevity and relevance. 

We’ve designed the spaces to be adaptable, with pop-up areas, multipurpose halls, and performance spaces that can shift with the community’s changing needs. We imagine more cultural programming, more youth-driven initiatives, perhaps even co-working or educational elements re-emerging in new ways. 

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As a former school, it was always a place of learning and exchange, and we believe that spirit will continue, just in different forms. Our role, moving forward, is to remain open and responsive to that evolution, ensuring The Campus Ampang continues to be a place that embraces its community.

The Campus Ampang aside, what’s in HL Architecture’s pipeline that you can share with us?

HL Design Group and our architectural practice HL Architecture have been actively involved in adaptive reuse projects over the years. Iconic projects such as the Royal Selangor Visitor Centre, which we redeveloped 20 years ago, have stood the test of time and remain as relevant today as when they were conceived. 

Likewise, our upgrading of the old Terminal 3 to what is now Subang Skypark has extended its operational life for a further 15 years. 

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Current projects include the adaptive reuse of office buildings to residential and hotel use which we believe shall be a critical model moving forward as existing tertiary commercial buildings become vacant. 

Our most exciting new project, however, on which we are working together with Conservation Architects CGBC, is the refurbishment of the heritage Carcosa Sri Negara building to a public gallery and F&B space, due to be opened to the public at the end of the year.

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