BDP designs new universities in Libya

Building on a decade of experience in university and college masteplanning in the UK and Ireland, BDP has won the commission to design seven new universities as part of a major programme of educational development by the ODAC (Organisation for the Development of Administrative Centres) an agency of the Libyan Government. Two of the universities are located within coastal towns to the west of Tripoli and one in the mountainous area which lies 50 km to the south. The other four complexes are located within the Sahara Desert 1,000 km south of Tripoli. These will serve neighbouring communities in Libya as well as the wider regions of sub-Saharan Africa. The design ideas are shaped around the differing climatic factors of the localities, determining strong environmental and social groupings to the buildings and public spaces. Created as 'variations on a theme' the designs build on the academic plans set within the overall programme, to create a commonality and efficiency of built and special elements while bringing individual identity through response to local settings, microclimate and culture. BDP has been commissioned on an interdisciplinary basis including masterplanning, architecture, space planning, structural and environmental engineering, sustainability, acoustics, lighting and landscape design. Infrastructure engineering is by Scott Wilson and fire engineering by Tenos. Facts & Figures 7 sites in total1 in the mountains, 2 near the coast and 4 inland (Sahara) Student populations and no. of faculties (in this initial phase though all sites have scope for further expansion): Location Student No Faculty NoMountainGharyan 6500 8 faculties (incl. 3 existing)DesertSabha 7000 8 facultiesBirak 2800 3 faculties Marzuq 2100 3 facultiesAwbari 2500 3 facultiesCoastalSurman 3250 4 facultiesZuwarah 4250 5 faculties TOTAL 28400 14 different faculty types 14 different faculty types and related common facilities, 15000 student residential units and 600 staff units (spread across the various sites) Faculty Types:IT, Science, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Law, Linguistics, Medicine, Medical Technology, Accountancy & Economics, Natural Resources, Nursing, Literature, Engineering, Business Management. Programme:Masterplan to RIBA Stage D+ in 6 - 8 months. Construction:Construction contract would be an international 'turnkey' type.Principal construction period 2008 - 2010.