Legorreta Project Director Miguel Almaraz comes to this AUC collaboration with 30 years of professional experience, providing design, planning and management services for a wide range of projects in Mexico, Central and South America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Encompassing all types of projects including residential, commercial and educational, Almaraz’s work prioritizes attention to detail and integration, which plays an important role in his designs.

Legorreta has designed AUC’s University Residences and Campus Center. How is it like returning to work with AUC?

It's an honor collaborating with one of the most influential universities in the Middle East and one that has a lot of history. AUC was my first project in the Middle East. When we did designs for AUC in the first phase more than 15 years ago, it was one of my first projects in the office. I was a newcomer; now I'm a partner. To come back after all these years and see how it has matured and developed is really special. We say our projects are like our children: When you let them go, you're very sad and hope that they're taken good care of. When I saw the AUC campus, it was clear it was very well taken care of. To come back and work on another building, the TRI-Lab, is just wonderful and very meaningful to Legorreta.

What do you see as the impact of the TRI-Lab for students and AUC community members?

The TRI-Lab brings together many disciplines. In a way, it's like a new program that 's developing throughout the world, mainly in U.S. universities but also in Latin America and Australia. Being part of this project and new development is very exciting for us. It's going to have a big influence on the practical educational approach where there is hands-on academic work while being able to work with companies at the same time. Students will experience what the real world is like. This is going to have an influence on new models of education and the concept of interdisciplinarity, bringing together fields such as engineering, arts, philosophy and history. It’s very exciting.

What are you looking forward to the most?

The challenge — and big opportunity — of integrating this project well with the existing campus, while making it feel contemporary yet not divorced from the past. 

The University Residences had a Mexican influence and style, and the Campus Center was designed to allow flexibility in the use of spaces. What is your vision this time?

Throughout history, we've assimilated the architecture and culture of the Islamic world in Spain, which was home to a Muslim civilization for nearly 800 years. Then Spain conquered Mexico. So there are a lot of elements that even though they're Mexican, they're inspired unconsciously by Islamic architecture. With the TRI-Lab, there are two important things to consider: the architectural elements and the human part of it. It needs to be a building that is inviting to promote interaction between students, connecting the exterior with the interior. In this particular project with so many disciplines, we’re inspired by the souqs (markets) because of the multiple and varied uses, distinct areas and elements in the souq that coexist under one canopy. We feel that the TRI-Lab has a similar quality of being a space with multiple distinct uses that remains part of a larger structure. That’s our biggest source of inspiration for this project.  

DLR Group is a globally recognized design firm assigned to design the expansion of AUC New Cairo's upcoming Extended Education Hub and NextGen Student Living and Learning Spaces, which are part of AUC's visionary Campus 2026 development project, with an ethos of creating spaces that emphasize learning and social development. With over 31 offices worldwide, DLR Group’s expansive talent will be involved in this project, with teams from the United States and Dubai offices working to provide a holistic and integrated design solution.

We sat with Principal and DLR Group Design Director Scott Pryde to learn about the team's design philosophy and inspiration.

What's the significance of this collaboration with AUC?

The collaboration with The American University in Cairo is of significant importance. We were delighted to learn of our involvement in the design of the future campus. The DLR Group team has been working closely with the AUC team and selected consultants to define a clear brief that will respect the future aspirations of the campus and its extended master plan. As an architect, I see this as an essential opportunity to contribute to the success of AUC’s community and create a balanced and harmonious addition to this future environment. 

You’ll be working on the Extended Education Hub and NextGen Student Living and Learning Spaces. What is your primary focus?

Our initial mission is a comprehensive analysis of the existing campus functionality, identifying its achievements and areas of improvement. We have dedicated a significant amount of time in consultation with President Ahmad Dallal, faculty members and various focus groups. This in-depth research has allowed us to gain a holistic understanding of each facet of the campus's components, integrated design elements and spatial relationships to ensure the new structures seamlessly harmonize. Our primary focus is on cultivating a nuanced comprehension of how these new building offers will impact the overall campus and its surrounding community.

How is this project unique from others you’ve worked on?

As an architect, this project feels like an architectural pilgrimage. The vibrant campus has beautiful buildings and landscapes, offering something new to discover everywhere you look. Students clearly love these spaces. A seamless array of buildings and spaces linking the campus as a whole. The importance of considering the project from an outside perspective, understanding how the buildings will respond to their context, reviewing the design guidelines of the existing campus, alongside the levels and general constraints of the site will be an important start to develop a clear strategy of how these design elements will come together. 

What are you looking forward to the most?

The DLR Group is excited to work with the fantastic team on campus, whether they are students or part of the leadership team. We are very much looking forward to developing this project to ensure it captures a deeply rooted response culturally, dynamically and with all principles as part of our journey of design with all stakeholders. Our aim is to ensure our outcome will benefit the campus for the next 50 to 100 years. This project's success will be a lasting achievement for AUC and indeed Cairo as a whole. 

What’s your vision for the designs?

We're focused on understanding the local culture and environment to ensure we create the right buildings for the people who will use them. People are our top priority. In terms of design, we are studying how to use passive design and Egypt's climate to make our buildings and landscapes more energy-efficient for heating, cooling, ventilation and lighting. We're also looking ahead to a future with zero carbon emissions. It's not a one-size-fits-all approach; we need to consider all these aspects together.

What elements will you incorporate into the designs to preserve the AUC identity?

It's crucial to respect the essence of the AUC campus when working with buildings that have such a unique history and character. Architecturally, we anticipate a consistent and grounded design theme that harmonizes with the campus, emphasizing technology and renewable energy. We aim to link the existing spaces with the new additions seamlessly. Understanding the sourcing and usage of materials is vital. At this early stage, we're developing the framework for these elements and layers to ensure the success of the future campus and indeed its students. 

AUC students won first place worldwide in a competition where 65 international university teams had to develop a sustainable alternative to traditional fats and oils, thereby reducing their carbon emissions and detrimental environmental impact. The AUC team created a unicellular microorganism oil prototype that has a zero carbon footprint.

“I’m so passionate about any research that helps alleviate climate change,” said Yasmin Maghraby ‘03, ‘13, ‘21, adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry. “At first, I thought our idea would be impossible to produce, so seeing it become a reality was so satisfying and gratifying.”

Headed by Maghraby, the AUC team was composed of graduate students Lereen Khaled, Dalia Kanna, Saif El Din Mofty and Louai Hariri. The competition was launched by Savola during an innovation session at the World Food Forum event, “We're supporting You(th). Open Innovation in the Private Sector,” held collaboratively with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. The competition was designed to promote the transformation of agrifood systems to be more sustainable, innovative and socially responsible. 

"It was an incredible opportunity to make a tangible impact and witness the positive results of our efforts,” said Khaled. “This achievement fueled my determination and passion to keep making a difference as well as bridge theory and practice for innovative, real-world solutions. It  inspired me to continue pushing boundaries for a better world.”

The networking experience also provided a unique opportunity for the student participants. “This life-changing experience enriched my ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary team and allowed me to engage with experts from Savola, FAO and fellow participants from different countries who share my passion for sustainability, which expanded my professional network and exposed me to different ideas and perspectives,” added Khaled. 

Participants were challenged to develop an alternative to traditional cooking fats and oils, which are not sustainably produced, providing more effective and eco-friendly substitutes that have similar functional properties but use less quantities of water and reduce greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the process.

“The Savola competition was one of the greatest opportunities I had as an AUC graduate student,” said Kanna. “Our goal was to search for green edible oil substitutes prepared using green methods. Teamwork was essential -  we held brainstorming sessions, designed plans, discussed strengths and weaknesses of each proposed idea based on the available literature, assigned roles, conducted experiments, analyzed the results and prepared the final presentation. We also built new friendships and were able to work with experts in the field, enhancing our intellectual and practical skills.” 

Tamer Shoeib, professor and chair of the Department of Chemistry, noted, “This shows clearly our commitment to excellence and the caliber of our students who are able to tackle problems of relevance and create highly impactful solutions to unmet, real-world needs. I am incredibly proud of our AUC team.”