Facilities
Construction of the school’s building on the Byblos campus is under way and is expected to be completed for the class entering in 2012.
Visionary design that makes a difference
LAU’s School of Medicine is no ordinary building. It is envisioned as a state-of-the-art educational structure. It is designed to motivate students and promote learning as an activity, support collaborative as well as formal practice, provide a personalized and inclusive environment, and be flexible in the face of changing needs and educational trends. This is why the individual spaces are flexible, creative, supportive and enterprising.
The underlying concept behind the design is to build space around people rather than just technology. Fundamental human needs like comfort, natural light, good social ambiance, overall quality and window views take prominence. The modern design promotes access for all and is based around a central core, offering environments that are both self-regulating and allowing for ample natural light, which is maximized by the use of atria that create a noble, inspirational ambiance.
The building boasts world-class facilities supported by a range of technological solutions in the classroom and beyond, from video streaming/videoconferencing and digitized collections of microscope slides to a library that is primarily electronic.
From the very entrance, the building welcomes, impresses, and embodies the future. The use of space, light and architecture are coupled with touch panel information screens featuring institutional and course information for potential students, floor plans and promotional video displays for visitors, and key updates for students. A large plasma screen overlooking the entrance informs students of key events in the faculty calendar or activities for the day.
The interior of the medical school building will be divided into teaching, research, and administrative spaces. A state of the art simulation center will enable students to learn and practice clinical technical skills.
The school will be flanked by the new library (left) and the Frem Civic Center (right)
The construction area in Byblos.