KAUST’s core campus, located on the Red Sea at Thuwal, is sited on more than 36 square kilometres encompassing a marine sanctuary and research facility.

KAUST was Saudi Arabia’s first LEED certified project and is the world’s largest LEED Platinium campus.

Designed by international architecture firm HOK, it was also chosen by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Committee on the Environment (COTE) as one of the 2010 Top ten Green Projects. The University Library received the 2011 AIA/ALA Library Building Award for accomplishment in library architecture.