American University of Beirut - IOEC Building, Lebanon

Client

American University of Beirut (AUB)

Architect

Nabil Gholam Architects

Location

IOEC – Irani Oxy Engineering Complex
New engineering laboratory building on the AUB campus
Beirut, Lebanon

Description

A $10 million new-build 6-storey university building of around 10,000m² above ground with two basements totalling about 5,000 m², to house new laboratory engineering facilities for AUB students.

Objective

The Client’s aspiration was to achieve a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design LEED “Gold” certificate.
This building was the first registered in Lebanon to be assessed according to the US Green Building Council (USGBC) LEED sustainability scheme, LEED New Construction v2.2.

Achievement

The USGBC has approved in June 2011 all the Design Review credits submittal.
The IOEC officially received the LEED GOLD certification on April 22nd, 2015 and is the 4th LEED certified project in Lebanon.

Brief

While still at a conceptual stage, we were appointed and joined the project’s design team as Sustainability Consultants. Our role throughout the design, tender, and construction stages was to advise on the various LEED credit requirements and sustainability measures to ensure that the building obtains the LEED certificate.

Part of our responsibility entailed undertaking 3D simulations and thermal modelling analysis of the proposed building, and advising on cost-effective and suitable energy-efficiency solutions and renewable energy technologies for this project –taking into account the local coastal Mediterranean climate and available resources. The aim was to reduce the building’s cooling load, as well as its overall energy consumption. Day-lighting simulations were also carried out to assess natural day-lighting levels within each occupied space.

Other sustainability issues have been addressed, such as: significantly lessening the project’s water consumption; improving internal thermal comfort and indoor environmental quality; enhancing vegetated outdoor space and green roofs with the selection of native plant species requiring little irrigation and maintenance; and specifying a larger proportion of locally sourced and low-impact materials.
 

 Image Courtesy of Nabil Gholam Architecture & Planning

3D Thermal Model using TAS - EcoConsulting (UK) Ltd.

Pictures Gallery

Pictures of the completed building are available at Nabil Gholam Architects

World Architecture News

Awards 2010

The Faculty of Engineering and Architecture District (FEAD) and Irani Oxy Engineering Complex (IOEC) has been selected one of the six best Buildings of the Year, Education Sector, at World Architecture News (WAN) Awards 2010.

The jurors were impressed by the high level of design excellence displayed by the award entries, commenting: "With a few exceptions, it was encouraging to see that schools design is going from strength to strength.  The shortlisted projects this year spanned all corners of the Earth - from Chile to Kuwait and Lebanon to Japan - all displaying an exceptional level of architectural design talent. "

"As one of the major constructions for the lower campus regeneration, this building establishes an exemplary model. The objective is to create a setting conductive to learning-by-example; a well designed, well thought, and well executed construction, in tune with the ambitions of the American University of Beirut in providing high excellence in education. This project is the first in Lebanon registered for a LEED certification."