User:Wikiataylor/Lycée international des Pontonniers

The International Lycée des Pontonniers is an outstanding place. Its architecture, its history, its reputation, the excellence of its specific teachings and academic environment, but above all, especially its students, teachers and educational community make this an exceptional school.

The lycée is home to 1,052 students (2014 ) and has a good reputation for its baccalauréat results.

History of the school
The Lycée des Pontonniers was constructed in a specific spatial and political context. In the 13th century, the land was the site of a Franciscan monastery. When the French arrived in Alsace in 1681, Vauban quartered regiments in the empty buildings and in 1792, it was inhabited by the corps des Pontonniers, a military unit specialized in engineering and bridge construction, after which the Lycée is named.

In 1870, the military buildings were surrendered to the new German authorities, and they presented a favorable and inexpensive location for the construction of a school, which was supposed to be a model establishment, situated between the Kaiser's place and the University near the city centre. Indeed, Strasbourg, the capital of the new imperial territory of Alsace-Lorraine, annexed in 1871, was supposed to be a showcase for the new German Empire. In 1899, the city council decided to make this site of the Ecole Supérieure de Jeunes Filles, which has been founded in 1815 and had been situated in a cramped building of the Court of Andlau: they wanted a new and innovative architectural construction. The mayor of Strasbourg favored a building in the style of the 16th century, inspired by a mix of Gothic and Renaissance styles.

Construction began in 1901, under the supervision of the architect-in-chief of the City of Strasbourg, Johann Carl Ott, with the help of several other architects (G. Oberthür, C. Dauchy, Kratz) and craftsmen. The building was planned for 18 classes and four academic levels, 654 students overall.

Completed in time for the beginning of the 1902 school year and inaugurated on the 26th of January, 1903, the Höhere Mädchenschule (Young Girls' Upper School) broke with the official neo-Renaissance style of the German Empire and adopted a 'picturesque' style. To inculcate an appreciation of local art in the young girls, the architect Johann Carl Ott used the technique of reuse: decorative elements from buildings destroyed in the process of modernizing urban Strasbourg were re-used and integrated in the new school building. The Katzeroller house, rue du Parchemin, was the source of the half-timber constructions of the facade facing the street and the oriel window at the end of the teacher's room comes from the old "poêle" or meeting centre for the Baker's Guild on rue des Serruriers. However, nothing recalls the French art of the 18th century, because of the policy to promote German art.

As early as 1912, the four story lateral wing of the Lycée was extended, to include the covered section of the courtyard (le préau) and 7 new classes.