Sustainable Action

School of Architecture and Design

Conscientious Education

The School of Architecture and Design integrates community service engagements and socially impactful projects into its curriculum, addressing specific community needs. By fostering connections with local and global communities, organizing student exhibitions, and revising curricula to remain dynamic, SArD ensures its students contribute to improving access to services in areas like art, design, and architecture. This commitment is strengthened through partnerships with industries and accrediting bodies such as the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) and the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).

Students are taught to prioritize sustainability in their professional careers and real-life solution offerings. At SArD, students participate in competitions to conserve cultural heritage and architectural landscapes.

The first day of the Creative Dialogues festival, titled was hosted by the Foundation Program at LAU’s School of Architecture and Design. Together with a vibrant community of designers and art enthusiasts, LAU’s own faculty, staff, alumni and students explored, through talks, workshops and installations, the role of creativity in both shaping cultural expression and reimagining how one can design, build and live responsibly within current ecological systems.
 
Architect Mohamad Mortada (BArch ’15) visited the Institute for Environmental Studies and Research at the School of Architecture and Design to give a talk on Green Buildings in Practice: How Sustainability is Implemented in the Built Environment. The session gathered students, faculty, and industry professionals to explore green building projects in Lebanon. Mortada shared case studies of certified residences, schools and offices, highlighting technical features, sustainability criteria, and differences between major green building certification systems.
The Institute for Environmental Studies and Research at the School of Architecture and Design hosted architect Adib Dada for a public talk titled Building Habitats for Humans and Other Creatures to Thrive. Speaking before an audience of students, faculty and practitioners, Dada addressed the role of architecture in regenerating ecosystems while simultaneously serving human needs.

Research for Sustainability

The mission of the Institute of Environmental Studies & Research (IESR) is to investigate issues of environmental nature, and the impact of such issues on the long-term sustainability of the region and its resources. These issues include but are not limited to: the impact of urban growth, zoning and urban development on cities and suburbs, and the impact of building construction and energy use on the environment. 

Community Engagement

The School of Architecture and Design invests in helping the community and creating a sustainable future for Lebanon. After the 2024 war on Lebanon, the school held a symposium then an exhibition in partnership with the the Italian Embassy and the Italian Cultural Institute of Beirut. This strategic collaboration intends to support the sustainable construction and rehabilitation of Lebanon post-war.

To learn more about sustainable initiatives and updates from School of Architecture and Design, visit our news page.