Architecture Building and Science Lab Dedicayed in Name of Kamal Shair

Right: Shair unveils the inaugural plaque

The Dar Al-Handasah Shair and Partners Architecture Building and the Kamal A. Shair Central Research Science Laboratory were formally dedicated in a ceremony held at the lower campus of AUB on October 3.

In heartfelt words of tribute to Kamal Shair, whose international engineering consulting company is known worldwide, President John Waterbury referred to him as "a man whose passion and commitment are multi-faceted and deep."

"He is not merely interested in engineering, architecture, business, academia, politics, ethics, and the growth and development of the Arab world," said the president, "he is passionately involved in them. He does not shout about his concerns and his passions. He does not give long and wordy speeches about them. He simply lives them and commits his energies to them….Among Dr. Shair's passions is AUB. He has backed his devotion to AUB with his own resources. His support for the complete renovation and refitting of the architecture building is but one piece of a series of gifts that have touched many parts of the University….He created miracles in this region and with the people of this region. He never left this region. We should never forget his example."

In addition to the building and lab being dedicated, Shair has already supported AUB with a number of financial aid projects: a chair in engineering, a $2.5-million fund to support doctoral research in engineering and architecture, and an executive leadership studies program at the Suliman S. Olayan School of Business.

"This gift is very timely, since this building is in much need of renovation in order to accommodate the space, safety, and comfort needs of our students, whose numbers have increased drastically over the past few years," said Faculty of Engineering and Architecture Dean Ibrahim Hajj. Currently the faculty has nearly 300 architecture and graphic design students.

Shair, who is an AUB alumnus and trustee, expressed his deep appreciation for the tributes made and said, "Let's hope that today will mark another glowing date in the history of AUB in the world of international academia." He also commended AUB for having chosen to reinstate its PhD programs, a majority of which are in the sciences. "By reestablishing these doctoral programs, AUB today is becoming a member of the international scholarship community," he said.