Located in a mixed-use, pedestrian-friendly neighborhood in Beirut, City Campus 01 serves as a dynamic communal hub, exemplifying an efficient and innovative co-living and socially collaborative environment for students and staff alike. Just a short walk from the university campus, these modern dormitories act as an extension of university life, a vibrant space where students, resident interns, and faculty members interact.

Given the density of the urban setting around the university, several lots were merged to accommodate this expansive, 32,700m² student complex. Centered around a main piazza with open corners, the stepped low-rise volumes house a gym, common areas, and undergraduate living units, culminating in a soaring tower primarily designated for graduate student housing. This 30-story structure rises high above Beirut, offering panoramic views of the city, mountains, and sea, while giving the university a modern presence on the Beirut skyline.

Contributing to a biophilic living approach, green terraces emerge as the main volumes step back, creating multi-story breathing spaces within the bustling neighborhood and facilitating cross-ventilation across the site.

The tower is equipped with perforated panels that decrease in size as the units ascend. Consequently, the building’s façade transitions from more opacity and privacy at the neighborhood scale to a more transparent and airy treatment towards the top, a parametric design element distinguishable in Beirut’s skyline.

architect: nabil gholam architects
3D images: nabil gholam architects