Location: Beirut, Lebanon (West Asia)The master plan for the American University of Beirut was developed to shape and guide the development of the university’s century-old campus over the next 20 years. Situated on a hill overlooking the Mediterranean, the existing campus is composed of more than 80 academic, residential and administrative buildings, primarily of neo-Moorish and modern design that represent different eras of architectural development. The master plan provides architectural, landscape and urban design guidelines to serve the existing and future needs of the university. It articulates an integrative landscape plan that demonstrates a subtle use of topographical conditions to enhance the existing landscaping, in particular that of the green and wooded middle campus at the heart of the university with its lush environment and dramatic views towards the sea. The plan addresses improvements to the campus infrastructure, proposing new facilities such as classroom buildings and parking structures. It covers the renovation of existing buildings and preservation of historic structures; the expansion of the medical campus and its integration with the main campus; and the building of a new sports centre and business school. Pedestrians have replaced cars almost everywhere, with roads giving way to promenades, plazas and new green spaces designed to link the upper, middle and lower campuses. The generation of the master plan was a truly participatory process, successfully engaging the large number of beneficiaries including the entire university community.
Existing and proposed buildings.© Sasaki Associates
Entrance of the American University of Beirut, built in 1866.© Aga Khan Award for Architecture / Yasser Mahgoub
View on the sea fromt the higher level of the campus.© Aga Khan Award for Architecture / Yasser Mahgoub
View on the Charles Hostler Student Centre, football playground and the sea from the medium level of the campus.© Aga Khan Award for Architecture / Yasser Mahgoub
Public spaces.© Aga Khan Award for Architecture / Yasser Mahgoub
Stairs linking the different levels of the campus.© Aga Khan Award for Architecture / Yasser Mahgoub
Stairs on the North façade of the Charles Hostler Student Centre.© Aga Khan Award for Architecture / Yasser Mahgoub
West façade of the Charles Hostler Student Centre.© Aga Khan Award for Architecture / Rayya Haddad
View on the sea from the swimming pool.© Aga Khan Award for Architecture / Yasser Mahgoub
Walkway nearby the street, in front of the sea.© Aga Khan Award for Architecture / Yasser Mahgoub
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