Staff Profile: Shahan Marashlian

Shahan Marashlian

One of the main figures who has been witnessing the remarkable number of new construction projects taking place at AUB over the past few years is Shahan Marashlian, the head of construction at the AUB Medical Center and a key individual in the development of those projects.

Marashlian, who began his 15-year career at AUB in 1992 soon after the College Hall bombing, recalls that acquiring his position at the University was not very difficult. He simply answered a newspaper ad looking for someone to supervise the reconstruction of Jafet Library and College Hall. Since then, Marashlian has been responsible for nearly all construction projects at AUB, among them the renovation of West Hall and the construction of the New Women's Dorm.

Born in Tripoli, Marashlian graduated from AUB in 1974 with a degree in civil engineering. He described the four years he spent while studying at AUB as the golden age of Beirut, and the best days of his life. Shortly before the eruption of the civil war, however, he decided to leave Lebanon and embark on a career abroad. He first went to Algeria, where in 1976 he was appointed the project manager of a cement plant. After that, he headed for Saudi Arabia in 1979, where he became the project manager for the construction of a five-star hotel in Riyadh. He remained in the Kingdom working on several construction projects, but in 1982 decided to return to Beirut. Then, from 1983 until around 1987, he was responsible for the construction of the Zouk power plant, after which in 1993 he pursued his career as a freelancer.

Marashlian lists the construction projects under way at AUB's Medical Center with enthusiasm, such as expanding Building 56 to include an in patient wing for the St. Jude's Children's Cancer Center. He is pleased to report that despite the great delays caused by the July 2006 war, the project is due for completion in October this year.

Marashlian says he will soon be leaving AUB to start "a new page" in his life," probably to pursue some freelance work or possibly work abroad.