Our award winning buildings embody the school’s ethos.
Designed by international architects Arup, the buildings combine the best of traditional Ladakhi architecture with 21st century engineering excellence and so act as a model for appropriate, cost effective and sustainable development.
Ladakh is an area of few resources and extreme temperatures. Here are the highlights of Arup's design solutions to an extremely challenging design brief.
Arup hosted an event in London on the 23rd January 2026 to celebrate 25 years of Druk Padma Karpo School in Ladakh, India, with His Eminence Kyabje Thuksey Rinpoche as the guest of honour. The celebration was an opportunity to reflect on why school design matters and what it can enable over time. This was brought to life in a film featuring the school’s students and Principal, Mingur Angmo, and a panel discussion of experts.
Jerome Frost, Arup CEO, wrote about the event:
Key features
- Using locally available materials, which have the least impact on the environment
- Exploiting natural ventilation and passive solar heating
- Minimising energy use and emissions
- Minimising water use
- Refining and adapting traditional techniques to provide modern solutions
Progress to date
The school is being built in phases:
2001 – The Nursery and Infant courtyard opened.
2003 – First residence opened, allowing the school to accommodate children from remote areas.
2005 – The Junior School opened.
2007 – Construction of Science Laboratories and Art room started.
2008/9 – Construction of Residence 3.
2010 – A devastating mudslide swept through the school, the granite buildings stood firm, unlike local mud-brick buildings that were swept away.
2011 – Construction started on a three-metre-high, 1 kilometer-long mudslide defence wall & embankment.
2012/13 – Construction of Residence 4.
2014 – Final two secondary school classrooms were completed.
2015 – Dining Hall & Kitchen extension started.
2016 - Dining Hall & kitchen extension and dining hall latrines.
2017 - Start of the Mudslide Repair & Seismic Upgrade Programme and the first Eco Shower Building.
2018 - Seismic Upgrade & Mudslide Repair Programme.
2019 - Seismic Upgrade & Mudslide Repair Programme, second and third Eco Shower Buildings.
2020 - Seismic Upgrade & Mudslide Repair Programme and fourth Eco Shower Building.
2021-23 – Continuation of the Seismic Upgrade programme. Planning of the future expansion including: classroom and science facilities for students aged 16-18, health centre; extra school offices, central library, four secondary school classrooms.
2024 - Health Centre started, four secondary school classrooms started.
2025 - Four secondary school classrooms, with new sloping metal roof design completed. Seismic upgrade of classroom buildings started. Health Centre structurally completed.
How to Help
Donations and investments can be made online or sending a cheque to the UK project office. You can find out more on our Donate page.