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ANNOUNCEMENT JULY 17, 2024 

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​UOB DEK Campus Extension - Design+Build Competition

JURY’S ASSESSMENT AND DECISION 

The Jury met on Friday, July 12, at 09:00 am at ALBA-Dekwaneh Campus, to attend the presentations for the Design+Build competition for the University of Balamand Dekwaneh Campusextension. The Jury was assisted by the members of the competition Advisory Board. 

Members of the jury: President Elias Warrak (Chair), Mr Walid Barake (member of the Board of Trustees-UOB), Prof. Rami Abboud (VP, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering-UOB), Prof. Fadlallah Dagher (Dean of ALBA), Mr Abdul-Halim Jabr (Director, School of Architecture-ALBA), Ms Hala Warde (architect), Mr Aram Yeretzian (architect, expert in sustainability), Eng. Antoun Abboud (director, DGJones & Partners). 

Members of the Competition Advisory Board attending the presentations: 

Dr. Youssef Bassim (COO-UOB); Eng. Afifa Semaan (Director of procurement-UOB), Eng. Adib Sawaya (Acting Director of Office of Construction and Maintenance-UOB), Dr. Nabil Semaan (Associate Professor and Program Coordinator, FOE, Engineering Management), Dr. Wahib Arairo (Associate Professor, Chairperson, IFFT, Department of Civil Engineering and Construction), Dr. Ali Jahami (Associate Professor, FOE, Civil & Environmental Engineering), Dr. Gaby Issa-El-Khoury (Associate Professor, ALBA, School of Architecture, moderator); Mr. Ronnie Richa (Architect, Head of Department of Communication, ALBA-UOB). 

The presentations were held according to the following schedule: 

• 109 Architects + MAN Enterprise @ 09:30 

• FAR x AMH + Mouawad-Edde SAL @ 10:30 

• Joe Ingea Architects + Entreprises A.R.Hourie @ 11:40 

• PARALX Architects + Matta Enterprise @ 12:40 

• CEH Architects + Kfoury Contracting @ 14:30 

• AK Architects + Entreprises André Hakimé @ 15:30 

• Akl Architects + 1% Architecture + SNH @ 16:30 

The objective of the competition is to select the optimal team and its proposed comprehensive design, construction budget and timeline for the construction of its new academic building on the UOB DEK Campus, prioritizing academic, environmental, social, and economic sustainability while promoting flexibility, livability and inclusivity. 

The new building is intended to open its doors for the start of the 2025-2026 academic year (September 1, 2025). 

The seven proposals are distributed into two typ​es of architectural designs: 

• Type 1: Five proposals formed by two parallel North and South blocks, perpendicular to the avenue: 

• 109 Architectes + MAN Enterprise 

• PARALX Architects + Matta Enterprise 

• CEH Architects + Kfoury Contracting 

• AK Architects + Entreprises André Hakimé 

• Akl Architects + 1% Architecture + SNH 

In 3 proposals out of 5, the blocks are linked on the West façade (109 Architects + MAN Enterprise; CEH Architects + Kfoury Contracting; AK Architects + Entreprises André Hakimé). 

The heart of these Type 1 proposals is a central square open onto the "Alexis Boutros" atrium. These proposals present spatially rich solutions integrated with the existing campus through landscaped plazas. They also address the University’s openness to the community through the West façade. 

Yet, none of these projects meet the University's essential demand to deliver the building for the start of the 25-26 academic year in September 2025. 

• Type 2: Two proposals consisting of a single building block, parallel to the avenue: 

• FAR x AMH + Mouawad-Edde SAL 

• Joe Ingea Architects + Entreprises A.R.Hourie 

These two proposals offer ingenious and innovative constructive solutions as well as efficient architectural layouts, enabling the building to be delivered for the start of the 25-26 academic year in September 2025 as required. Both projects have the added advantage of lower construction costs than Type 1 projects. On both proposals, the contractors took the lead in determining the decisive technical solutions to meet the deadline within an optimal cost of construction.

While recognizing the significant architectural qualities of the Type 1 projects, the jury therefore examined the Type 2 proposals in detail:

Joe Ingea Architects + Entreprises A.R.Hourie’s proposal: Despite its technically smart and advantageous Top-Down construction and transfer slab solution, the Ingea + Hourie proposal fails to offer a soft integration of the new building with the existing campus. 

FAR x AMH + ME's proposal is distinguished by its simplicity, its technical efficiency and its adaptability. The simple construction solution consists of dividing the building into a superstructure block of academic facilities and an underground block of parking floors, to be built simultaneously. The clear spatial floor organization offers possibilities for flexible development. The open forecourt extends into the Alexis Boutros atrium, blurring the boundary between the campus and its extension. Finally, this proposal also stands out for the precise study of all the parameters and the interaction between the contractor and the designers (whose team includes young students), as well as for its optimal budget. 

In accordance with the evaluation criteria announced in the competition brief (construction and delivery deadlines, construction budget, modularity, integration with the campus, integration of technical elements, team spirit, etc.), the jury unanimously decided to select the winning project presented by the Mouawad-Eddé + FAR x AMH team (Lead Architects Karine Fakhry, Diane Sawaya & Mario Hajjar). 

The jury recommends a further development of the elevations, as well as an improved hardscaping and softscaping treatment of the plaza. 

Congratulations to the winning team. 

The jury wishes to thank and congratulate all the participants for their efforts and challenging designs. All the projects will be published on the UOB website, and a public presentation will be held in the presence of all the participants.

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