Charles Hostler Student Center

Located inside the campus of American University of Beirut, The Charles Hostler Student Center covers a area of 204,000 sq. feet that includes swimming pool, three basketball, handball, two squash and a volleyball court. It also has Gym for people to exercise. Apart from these, it has auditorium which could accommodate 280 people, meeting rooms, cafeteria and large underground parking area which can occupy nearly 200 vehicles.

The entire structure is a sustainable, eco-friendly building, which is smoke free and uses energy efficiently. The design is so perfect that it maintains the heat and cool at required level during summer and winter respectively. The use of water and other resource are efficiently designed to meet the Green Building Features.

The roofs are fitted with solar collectors that are used of heating water. It has large rain water harvest system. The other systems that are incorporated are Heat Recovery system, Chilled water generation system. The digital building management system will rank first when compared with other systems; it uses high-tech gadgets to conserve energy as much as possible. Properly designed window provides a good ventilation system and allows natural light to flow into building.

This building was recently chosen as one of the Top Ten Green Project 2009.

Source: AIA top ten