Overview

The School of Architecture & Design was officially established in 2009, following the consolidation of the Fine Arts, Foundation, Architecture, Interior Design, and Graphic Design programs under one school. The established programs have a long history at LAU, with the program in Fine Arts dating back to 1957, Interior Design to 1982, Architecture to 1993, and Graphic Design to 1994. In the fall 2002, the Foundation program was established as a common platform for all entering design students, upon completion of which they choose their area of specialization.

Degrees and Minors Offered

Undergraduate Majors

• Bachelor of Architecture
• Bachelor of Fine Arts in Fashion Design
• Fine Arts
• Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design
• Interior Architecture
• Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design

Graduate Majors

• Mutaz and Rada Sawwaf MA in Islamic Art

Minors

• Minor in Animation
• Minor in Digital Media
• Minor in Fine Arts
• Minor in Islamic Art and Architecture
• Minor in Photography
• Minor in Visual Arts

* Pending completion of registration formalities with the New York State Education Department.

Mission & Vision

The mission of the School of Architecture & Design is to educate competent designers and fine artists in the various design fields, who will have the breadth of knowledge and the skills necessary to creatively engage different artistic and design problems, in addition to a broad culture founded on liberal education that will allow graduates to operate as responsible citizens and ethical professionals in a global world.

The School of Architecture & Design’s mission and values drive its vision to:

1. create a school that brings together the various design and fine arts disciplines,
2. develop an atmosphere characterized by collegiality, the exchange of ideas, experimentation and research,
3. provide a forum for emerging talent in the various design and fine arts fields, and
4. meet the goals of the university in achieving excellence and measuring up to international standards of education and practice in the design and fine arts field.

Institutes Housed in the School of Architecture & Design

The Institute of Islamic Art & Architecture (IIAA) is mainly concerned with the investigation, documentation, and interpretation of the material heritage of Islam, particularly as it pertains to the cultural manifestations of the Arab world. Its mission is to expand the teaching of Islamic art and architecture, to promote excellence in academic research, and to further the understanding of Islamic architecture and urbanism in light of contemporary design practices.

The main purpose of the Urban Planning Institute (UPI) is to address problems of urban growth and environmental change in Lebanon and the Middle East. It aims at assisting relevant Lebanese ministries in studies related to planning, zoning, land use, demographic projections, CAD mapping, urban statistics, utilities, conservation and recycling of resources, land management, and natural reserves, among other activities.

School of Architecture & Design Facilities

Architecture & Interior Design Computer Labs

One computer lab in Beirut and two in Byblos are dedicated to architecture, interior architecture, and interior design applications. They are used for computer lab courses as well as support facilities for design studios, and are equipped with scanners and plotters.

Graphic Design Computer Labs

Three computer labs in Beirut and one in Byblos are dedicated to graphic design digital production services. The labs are equipped with state of the art computers, digital cameras, scanners, plotters, and other equipment. The labs are open to graphic design students, and support all graphic design studios, in addition to design workshops, held during the semester. One of the labs is dedicated to all digital graphic design studio courses.

Photography Studios

The studios, one each in Beirut and Byblos, are open to all students taking photography courses, who may develop film and prints in the professional dark rooms. Both spaces are equipped for studio photography, with a professional digital camera, as well as small, medium and large format analogue cameras, and full digital studio equipment.

Silkscreen Studio

The Silkscreen Studio (in Beirut) is open to students enrolled in the silkscreen studio course. It is used for silkscreening and binding projects, and is fully equipped with screen-printing machines, frames, water guns, a light room, and printing material.

Ceramic Workshop

The ceramic workshops, one each in Beirut and Byblos, are equipped with the tools needed for the production of ceramic artwork, such as slab rollers, coil extruders, wheels, and kilns. They are open to all students taking ceramics courses.

Fabrication Labs

The fabrication labs, one each in Beirut and Byblos, are equipped with metal and wood machinery used for the production of three-dimensional, hand-made design models, allowing students to produce their own study and final models for architecture and design studios.

School Administration

The school houses the departments of: 

• Architecture & Interior Design
• Art & Design
• Foundation Program: this is not a separate department. It is a program required for all students that should be completed in the first year of enrollment.

Dean

• Elie Haddad, Ph.D.

Assistant Dean

• Sophie Khayat, D.E.S.

Chairs

• Randa Abdel Baki, M.F.A., Art & Design
• Maroun El-Daccache, Ph.D., Architecture & Interior Design

Associate Chairs

• Melissa Plourde Khoury, M.F.A., Art & Design

Staff

• Michella Bou Nader, Lead Executive Assistant
• Ruba Khoury, Assessment Officer

Contact Information

Byblos

• Phone: Extension 2474
• Address: Architecture Building 502 B
• SArD Website