St John’s School

In Kivimäe, there is something truly unique in Estonia’s educational and architectural landscape: a general education school that combines timeless traditions with a modern learning environment, and is the only one in Estonia to also include a church.

Created with heart and community spirit, St. John’s School is more than just a place for learning – it is a holistic and open educational and cultural center, where we provide high-quality, heartfelt education from kindergarten and preschool all the way to high school. The school also includes an extracurricular program, and hosts conferences, additional training, concerts, and family events. Everyone is welcome, not just the school community. For the first ten years we were a traveling school, but in the autumn of 2022 we began the school year in our new, very own school building. We retain the feeling of a cozy small school, and people are often surprised to learn that as many as 630 students study here.

Sustainable Solutions (Building Futures Together):

The building does not have mechanical (electrically operated) cooling; instead, the architecture of the building is designed in a way that eliminates the need for mechanical cooling. The windows are equipped with predominantly solar shading to protect the rooms from excessive sunlight. Over all major glass facades, there are awnings or canopies to block direct sunlight from entering the atrium.

The roof domes can be opened when needed, creating natural air circulation or natural cooling. The roof domes also provide additional natural light to the classrooms, reducing the need for artificial lighting.

Additionally, the building uses mostly recycled furniture.