Kuwait University Central Administration Facilities

Kuwait University, Central Administration Facilities, Shadadiyah Building, Campus Gateway, ADFA Project

Kuwait University, Central Administration Facilities: KUAF

KUAF Building: New Education Facilities at multi-faculty institution of higher learning – design by SOM / Pace

May 22, 2017

Kuwait University, Central Administration Facilities, Shadadiyah

Design: SOM / Pace

Administering world-class education facilities for Kuwait

Aerial view at dusk:
Kuwait University, Central Administration Facilities, Shadadiyah
images courtesy of Pace

A unique shading system is implemented to overcome extreme heat, the design of which achieves this goal whilst ensuring each building retains an original and culturally appropriate identity.

Central Admin building, The Stairs:
Kuwait University, Central Administration Facilities, Shadadiyah

Established in 1966, Kuwait University was the first in the country and has evolved into a multi-faculty institution of higher learning. The new ‘University City’ will bring together for the first time the university’s operations to improve the experience of students, staff and visitors.

Visitors’ Center exterior perspective:
Kuwait University, Central Administration Facilities, Shadadiyah

The administration facilities will become an iconic gateway to the new campus. Comprising of seven separate buildings, the facility will include main administrative and ceremonial facilities, a library, cultural centre, mosque, visitor’s centre, conference centre, a central administration building along with a ‘pearl-like’ convocation hall, to be used for ceremonies.

Central Admin building stairs:
Kuwait University, Central Administration Facilities, Shadadiyah

The primary goals for the design of these facilities, which together total nearly three million square feet, included creating a unified architectural language for the buildings each with distinctly different programmatic requirements, mitigating the effects of the harsh desert climate of Kuwait and creating a design that drew inspiration from local vernacular architecture. The design team’s greatest challenge was to deliver a collection of buildings that achieved design excellence to reflect that of the institution itself, yet to do so at the same time as ‘designing out’ the extremes of heat.

Library Exterior:
Kuwait University, Central Administration Facilities, Shadadiyah

Many educational establishments lean towards a central ‘quad’ around which buildings gather. Breaking from this tradition Pace and SOM created smaller, protected exterior gardens or plaza spaces for each building. Collectively they form a quasi-plaza, but each keeps its own characteristics and purpose. academic programme for the new campus and client’s intent to enable world-class educational experiences through its facilities.

The Pearl at dusk, no larger image:
Kuwait University, Central Administration Facilities, Shadadiyah

Kuwait University, Central Administration Facilities, Shadadiyah building images / information from Pace

Administration Facilities (ADFA) Project comprises of the following facilities:

• Central Administration Building
• Conference Center
• Grand Mosque
• Convocation Hall
• Cultural Center
• Central University Library
• Visitor Center

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Location: Kuwait University, Kuwait City, Kuwait

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Comments / photos for the Kuwait University Central Administration Facilities Shadadiyah Building, ADFA Project – Administration Facilities page welcome

Website: Kuwait University – Al-Shadadiyah