SDG 11: Sustainable Cities & Communities
LAU’s Commitment to Advancing SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
LAU is steadfast in its dedication to fostering sustainable, inclusive, and resilient communities in alignment with SDG 11. This commitment is exemplified through a dynamic blend of sustainable design, community engagement, and the integration of art and culture into its initiatives.
Sustainable Design and Construction
LAU demonstrates leadership in environmentally responsible practices through projects like the Architecture L1 renovation and the Wadad Sabbagh Khoury Student Center renovation. These projects prioritize energy and water conservation and reflect LAU’s progress toward green design guidelines, which aim to institutionalize eco-friendly principles in all future projects. This long-term vision underscores LAU’s role in creating campus environments that are not only functional but also sustainable and inclusive.
Art for Community Engagement and Activism
The university leverages art as a powerful medium for activism, education, and community connection. Initiatives such as the 16 Days of Activism Arts Competition and theatrical performances like “Let Us Play House (Beit Byout)” highlight social issues, including gender-based violence, and engage the public in meaningful dialogue. Similarly, film screenings such as “Octopus” and “Women in Time” showcase LAU’s efforts to preserve cultural narratives and address critical societal challenges.
These initiatives actively involve students, faculty, and external audiences, creating spaces for shared learning and community participation. LAU’s use of the arts demonstrates its holistic approach to achieving SDG 11 by fostering cultural enrichment and advocating for social change.
Community-Focused Facilities
LAU enhances its commitment to sustainability by opening its facilities to the public, including libraries, industrial hubs, museums, and event spaces. The university’s residence halls, such as the Siran Towers and Santona Residence, offer safe, well-maintained living spaces that foster academic, emotional, and social growth for students.
Furthermore, initiatives like the partnership with Monsif International School exemplify LAU’s dedication to accessibility and inclusion, allowing school students to benefit from LAU’s extensive library resources. This step promotes not only quality education (SDG 4) but also sustainable community-building (SDG 11).
Empowering Change Through Art and Leadership
From hosting the Arts Competition annually to supporting women artists in Lebanon and beyond, LAU highlights the intersection of art, sustainability, and activism. These efforts amplify underrepresented voices, particularly women’s, and drive dialogue on critical global and local issues. The university’s focus on women’s contributions to contemporary art in the Arab world further strengthens its role as a cultural and educational leader.
A Holistic Vision for Sustainable Communities
Through sustainable campus practices, cultural initiatives, and robust community engagement, LAU exemplifies its commitment to SDG 11. By integrating sustainability into its infrastructure and operations, fostering artistic expression, and actively engaging with the broader community, LAU continues to create vibrant, safe, and sustainable environments that inspire both academic and cultural advancement.
Art for Activisim
- Arts Competition 2023 Winners (11/01/2024)
- Arts Competition 2022 Winners (09/12/2022)
- 16 Days of Activism Arts Competition 2022! (06/10/2022)
- Arts Competition 2021 Winners (16/12/2021)
- 16 Days of Activism Arts Competition 2021! (30/10/2021)
- Arts Competition Winners! (05/01/2021)
- 16 Days of Activism Arts Competition! (26/10/2020)
- Screening of Ayyoubé (20/12/2019)
- Film Screening: “Women in Time” (03/06/2019)
- Festival Next: A Busy and Boisterous LAU Production (01/04/2019)
- Play: “Ana Mou Mazharieh” (30/01/2019)
- Arts Competition Winners! (24/12/2018)
- Theater Performance: The Rite of Spring (16/10/2018)
- Ta’ Sakena (24/09/2018)
- The Hunting Ground (18/04/2018)
Women Artists in Lebanon
Some research of contemporary art in the Arab World has been done, but the specific exploration of women’s participation in this field is a unique feature of this study. The author traces the background and development of these artists and documents their present status with specific reference to those who have made significant contributions in painting, sculpture, graphics, and ceramics.
Year of publication: 1987
Film Screening: “Octopus”
January 30, 2023
On January 20, 2023, The Arab Institute for Women (AiW), in collaboration with the Alumni Relations Office at the Lebanese American University (LAU), hosted the screening of the award-winning documentary “OCTOPUS” by Mr. Karim Kassem (BA ‘12).
The documentary “OCTOPUS” distinctively captures the traumatic moments which many have endured shortly post the Beirut Blast, yet in a very silent, poetic, and sensitive representation. The film reproduces the events in the aftermath of the blast through the portrayal of a pattern of scenes which allows the audience to recall and rethink a moment of terror and what has now become a dividing line in the history of the country.
In an opening word, Assistant Vice President for Alumni Relations Mr. Abdallah El Khal expressed his sincere appreciation for Mr. Kassem’s work of art and offered him, on behalf of the LAU Alumni Relations office, an honorary award. Then, Director of The AiW, Ms. Myriam Sfeir, shared her acknowledgement of the film’s warm, sentimental, and powerful message, and emphasized the need to never forget the Blast’s existential impact on Lebanon and its people.
At the end of the screening, amid rounds of applause, the audience shared with Mr. Kassem their many opinions and feelings. As many explained, the film reawakens the quiet thoughts of those who have survived the Blast’s shock waves and provides a metaphysical perspective to remember a devastating episode in the history of Lebanon.
The screening concluded with a Q&A session.
Play: “Let us Play House (Beit Byout)”
March 14, 2023
On March 9, 2023, The Arab Institute for Women (AiW) in collaboration with GIZ Lebanon, hosted the theatre play “Let us Play House (Beit Byout)” – written and directed by Dr. Lina Abiad. The play, performed by LAU Performing Arts students, showcases the real stories of women survivors of violence.
In an opening word, Director of The AiW, Ms. Myriam Sfeir, welcomed the audience, underpinned The AiW’s long-standing commitment to raising awareness on gender-based violence, shared her acknowledgement of the play’s powerful message, and emphasized the role which art can play in encouraging the young generation to take action and support survivors of violence. Then, Dr. Abiad, in few words, introduced the play’s rationale and urged the audience to emotionally and critically engage with the performance.
The play is a harrowing portrayal of a cruel and pervasive social issue in Lebanon: violence against women. Through the reproduction of the raw and horrific stories of women survivors, who were the victims of emotional and physical abuse, the play invites the audience to confront the disturbing reality of domestic violence. By recalling the journeys of these women, the theatre play acts as a powerful tool to break the stigma on violence, empower women victims, and harness community support.
At the end of the play, amid rounds of applause, the attendees, many of whom were moved to tears, shared with Dr. Abiad, Ms. Sfeir, and the performers their opinions and reflections. As most expressed, the play is as emotional as provocative and sparks a sense of collective responsibility vis a vis violence against women.
Living at the LAU Residence Halls (Dorms) in Beirut
Dorm life helps students establish strong communities and supportive relationships as they make the transition from home to university life. The facilities, security, and care provided by LAU’s residence halls, will help smooth that transition, while encouraging academic, emotional, and social growth. The residence halls are supervised by LAU staff.
View the fees for academic year 2024 - 2025
Siran Towers
This facility is an off-campus residence building providing a unique luxury living experience to meet the students’ housing needs. A supervisor and a team of assistants manage these dormitories. It provides residents with a wide variety of services to make their stay convenient and comfortable for all LAU students’ academic and social needs. Rooms are neatly furnished with beds, desks, cupboards, safe boxes, bed sheets, and covers. Each room includes a private toilet and kitchenette with a small living room. Cable TV, Internet connection, internal phone lines, laundry facility, housekeeping, and maintenance are also provided. The first level includes a 24/7 reception area with CCTV surveillance and a lobby. Siran Towers is conveniently located at 2-minute’s walking distance from LAU, in a secure area of Madam Curie Street in Koreitem.
Santona Residence
This facility is an off-campus residence building providing state of the art dormitories to meet the students’ housing needs. A supervisor and a team of assistants manage these dormitories. It’s a comfortable and trendy accommodation convenient for all LAU’s students’ academic and social needs. Rooms are neatly furnished with beds, desks, cupboards, safe-boxes, bedsheets and covers. Each room includes a private toilet and kitchenette with a small living room. Cable TV, Internet connection, and internal phone lines are also provided. The first level includes a reception area with 24/7 CCTV surveillance and a nicely furnished multipurpose lounge. Santona residence is conveniently located at 7-minutes walking distance from LAU, in a secure area of Leon street in Hamra.
LAU Libraries Enter New Partnership that Gives Access to School Students
Students from the Monsif International School can now access LAU Libraries through a formal subscription plan signed with the university, which includes training and information sessions on how to use the library facilities. This step underscores the university’s commitment to Quality Education and Sustainable Cities and Communities, two of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); SDGs 4 and 11, respectively.
Graphic Design Exhibition
June 22 till June 25 from 10:00 till 18:00
605, Gezairi Building, Beirut Campus
The annual graphic design students’ exhibition 2021-2022 is opening on June 21st at 5pm in Gezairi 605.
It is open daily from June 22 till June June 25 from 10 till 6 pm.
Graduate Fashion Show: Ignite
June 23, 2022 4:30 PM–6:30 PM
Level 7 - Ground Floor, Gezairi Building, Beirut Campus
LAU is proud to be organizing a fashion show celebrating the work of its Class of 2022. The show will feature the collections of its 11 graduates of the BFA in Fashion Design in collaboration with ELIE SAAB.
BioFashion Factory Exhibition
June 24–27, 2022 10:00 AM–6:00 PM
600A, Gezairi Building, Beirut Campus
Bio-Fashion Factory is an exhibition showcasing a series of research conducted by LAU’s first BioDesign in Fashion course in collaboration with Vancouver based innovations lab Temporal Futures.
Investigating what the future of sustainable fashion could be, students were asked to collaborate with one or more microorganisms to develop an innovative fashion system addressing three different themes of Color, Textile and Symbiosis.
Sustainable Design and Construction
Green Building Certification
We are committed to developing sustainable buildings that reduce resource consumption while protecting the environment and providing a high indoor environmental quality. Increasingly, our building projects involve certifying our buildings by means of green building rating systems, thus obtaining recognition and creating further awareness.
On the Byblos campus, two buildings have recently followed this path:
The Library and Riyad Nassar Central Administration buildings were being constructed with USGBC’s LEED gold certification in mind.
The Tohme-Rizk building in Byblos has obtained the International Finance Corporation’s EDGE certification, becoming the first EDGE certified office building in Lebanon (PDF - 0.7MB). This will result in reductions of 41 percent in energy, 29 percent in water, and 34 percent in materials’ embodied energy compared to local benchmarks. It will reduce, at no additional capital cost, utility expenses for the building by around $600 each month, in addition to saving the environment 21 tCO2 per year.
High Performance Renovations
We aim at transforming LAU’s campuses into high performance facilities, one project at a time, without necessitating large budgets for the retrofitting or replacement of inefficient installations. For example:
- Byblos’ Architecture L1 renovation was designed and is being executed with energy conservation features.
- Beirut’s Wadad Sabbagh Khoury Student Center renovation was designed and executed with water and energy conservation features.
Green Design Guidelines
We are in the process of establishing guidelines for green criteria/systems to be adopted in all of our designs. These would consist of solutions that are most relevant to our culture and to our university’s context, most technically appropriate to each building type, and most financially feasible. We are currently identifying the appropriate systems and will launch this initiative in 2016.
Libraries’ Visitors Rules
- The LAU Libraries exist primarily to meet the needs of the students, faculty and staff of Lebanese American University. We also regularly serve alumni and special guests of the university.
- Other visitors are welcome to use the Libraries’ on-site facilities and resources for research and educational purposes, generally for limited periods of time depending on individual need.
- Visitors from other institutions in Lebanon or abroad working on a special research, Ph.D. or masters’ thesis project are entitled to subscribe (for a fee) to the Library after providing a formal letter from their institution proving the field of study and specifying the time needed to use the Library.
- Once the guest’s eligibility status is confirmed and approved by the Library administration and the subscription fee is paid at the Business Office, the LAU Security Office will be informed in order to facilitate the guest’s entrance to the Library.
- Exceptional cases will need the approval of the Library Director and the Provost.
- Library staff will assist visitors in using the Library’s resources as time and workload permit.
- To facilitate the on-site use of materials photocopy machines and scanners are provided at various locations inside the Library.
- The computers in the Libraries are for use by LAU students. Their primary purpose is for academic applications, with an emphasis on Library-related applications such as searching the online catalog, electronic resources or other online research activities. Questions may be directed to the Circulation Desk staff.
- Visitors’ Library privileges may be terminated at the discretion of any librarian for violation of policies, disruptive behavior or any activity deemed detrimental to the Library or our primary users.
For assistance, please contact:
- E-mail: circulation@lau.edu.lb
- Riyad Nassar Library circulation desk (Beirut Campus), ext: 1213
- Joseph G. Jabbra Library circulation desk (Byblos Campus), ext: 2280
- Health Sciences Library circulation desk (Byblos Campus), ext: 2977
Dr. Zahi Hakim Museum
In the Spring of 2019, Dr. Zahi Hakim generously gifted the Lebanese American University the collection of X-ray tubes and radiology antiques he had painstakingly sought, acquired and maintained over more than 60 years. The collection is now on display at the Chagoury Health Sciences building in Byblos, next to the auditorium, where it can be viewed by visitors and LAU’s medical scholars.
Planning a visit?
The Dr. Zahi Hakim museum is open Monday to Friday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, and during the summer from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm.
The Museum closes only on weekends and official holidays.
Visitors can tour the museum but cannot access any other part of the LAU campus.
To book a visit to the Zahi Hakim Museum, kindly send an email to may.chahine@lau.edu.lb specifying details (date, time, number of visitors, names, etc.).
LAU Industrial Hub
The LAU industrial hub is a one-of-a-kind physical and cyber hub for industry-academia collaboration. We provide services and products tailored to the industry’s needs using LAU’s community and high-tech infrastructure.
The added value of the industrial hub is its ability to provide a certified US-trained workforce, reliable infrastructure in Lebanon, effective management and administration, a legal framework with a reputable US-based institution, and money transfer services through bank accounts in Lebanon and the US.
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