Originally, the Campus of the American University of Beirut streamed freely within a green flow from Bliss Street towards the Mediterranean,
but is today only exposed at its periphery, and the international competition held in 2002 aimed to re-emphasize this main interface with the
city’s seaside promenade. At the same time, the University launched the first phase of development set out in the master plan of 2001, by
requesting a main amphitheater and a Sports Center.
In our entry, presented jointly with Bernard Khoury Architects, the adopted concept tended to oppose the erection of a building in its traditional
sense, avoiding the significant massing which the extensive program involves, to integrate the functions within an already dense urban setting.
This approach translates a will to preserve an exceptional educational site opening, as in its origin, towards the Mediterranean sea.
The proposal takes over the Sports field and its facade starting at the western heights of the Campus; it reinstates the green continuum cascading
from the middle campus to the Mediterranean, through a plate sheltering the new sports center and housing the amphitheater within a
two-level esplanade. The two levels allow horizontal light from the sea and the green field to penetrate across the spaces housed within; even
the amphitheater, bare-skinned during the day, never stands in the way of transparency.
Proposed built-up area: 16,200 m2
Construction budget: Above USD 10 million
Services provided: Design concept in the framework of an international competition
Completion date: October 2002