The Challenge Ahead

When I first visited the future site of the Center for International Banking Studies CIBS), reality set in. The 6-story building was an abandoned seaside hotel on the Asian side of Istanbul.

Apart from the shock of seeing sheep wandering through the lobby, the extent of the complete renovation hit me hard. It meant designing and building:

· Classrooms and breakout rooms for small group discussion

·  Dedicated micro-computer lab for teaching IT skills

·  Bourse room for teaching Treasury and the role of Central Banks.

·   Makeover of 66 bedrooms, including design of furniture for double occupancy, and bathrooms

·         Restaurant and new kitchen

·         Lounge areas for relaxation given some courses will span several weeks

·         Office space for the faculty and administration team

·         Clean-up of pool, beach, and repair of pier jutting into the Marmara Sea

·         New power plant with emergency back-up generator

·         New electrical, plumbing and lighting throughout the building

·         Decent access to the institute, replacing a potholed dirt road

Not to mention:

·         Hiring faculty and support staff

·         Finding a way to manage a hotel and restaurant

·         Designing the curriculum and preparing teaching materials

It was going to be quite a project.

Despite the condition of the building, one thing was breathtaking.

The view.

From the rooftop we could see the Princes’ Islands

Standing there, a vision for what CIBS could become began to take shape.

More soon...