Zaha Hadid's 'gravity defying' Issam Fares Institute opens in Beirut

After eight years of deciding a design for the Issam Fares Institute at the American University of Beirut, the building’s inauguration took place last week.

The building is full with the signature indicators of a Zaha Hadid building: asymmetry and the illusion of defiance to gravity. Like many modern, non-contemporary designs, the building gained mixed reviews among the architecture community and citizens of Beirut.

Standing at 22 meters with 6 floors, the building has a total site area of 7000 square meters and a total floor area of 3000 square meets.

Here is a description from the firm’s website:

“The Issam fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs building by Zaha Hadid Architects at the American University of Beirut continues the on-going implementation of the 2002 AUB Campus Master Plan by Sasaki Associates (in collaboration with Machado and Silvetii, MGT of America, and Dar Al-Handasa, Shair and Partners) to advance the university’s academic mission in the 21^st century with facilities of the highest international standards.”

Two innovations—program manager Gafcon’s SharePoint360 project management platform and a new BIM “wall creator” add-on developed by ClarkDietrich Building Systems for use with the Revit BIM platform and construction consultant—show how fabricators and owner’s reps are stepping in to fill the gaps between construction and design that can typically be exposed by working with a 3D model.