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The Druk White Lotus School in Ladakh, north India, designed by London-based architectural design practice Arup, has won the Inspiring Design International Award at the British Council for School Environments (BCSE) 2009 Awards.

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The school in Ladakh was chosen as a winner from over 170 entries. The Druk White Lotus School is an instance of unified design methodology to generate truly sustainable design.

The aim of the project was to build and sustain a new school for 750 pupils in the village of Shey, Ladakh, in the western Himalayas of north India under the patronage of the 14th Dalai Lama. Ladakh is inhabited by people of Indo-Aryan and Tibetan descents and is one of the most sparsely populated regions in the area.

The school is designed to offer sustainability, energy conservation, and has preserved local identity and building using native techniques and materials.

Currently, construction of a new school library, senior school classrooms, an additional residence and IT facilities are underway. The entire design and construction project is scheduled for completion by 2011.

Druk White Lotus project is founded in traditional values and cultures and yet at the same time seeks to advance educational needs in the context of the 21st century.

The British Council for School Environments (BCSE) is a charity and membership organization made up of schools, local authorities, construction companies, architects, and all those involved in, and passionate about, designing excellent learning environments.

International Inspiring design Award is won jointly by Arup along with UK-based architectural firm HOK for Haileybury Almaty School, Kazakhstan.