The Lebanese American University (LAU) expands its academic presence in Beirut, in line with a shared vision with Mrs. Nazek Rafic Hariri, honoring the legacy and preserving the memory of the late Prime Minister Rafic Hariri in the heart of the capital.

True to its strategic vision of bolstering its academic presence in Beirut, LAU has announced a major expansion through the property adjacent to the Koraytem residence and its campus.

The site, which LAU had formally acquired under an agreement initiated by Mrs. Nazek Rafic Hariri, will become a fully integrated academic facility supporting the university’s educational and research mission. By so doing, the university honors the late Prime Minister Rafic Hariri’s legacy and cements his memory in the heart of the Lebanese capital, while also reaffirming the strong ties and enduring relationship that have long connected him with the university, and his enduring educational vision.

This step marks a defining milestone in LAU’s growth, reinforcing its presence in the capital as a leading nonprofit institution of higher learning. With the addition of nearly 17,000 square meters to its Beirut campus, LAU will be able to expand its research infrastructure, as well as industrial, entrepreneurial and innovation hubs, and bolster its startup incubators and technology accelerators.

For LAU, which celebrated over a century of service last year, this expansion represents a deepened connection with the city of Beirut, a city that has long stood witness to its history and its pivotal role within Lebanese society. The project affirms LAU’s commitment to broadening its local, regional, and global impact, while attracting top students and faculty and solidifying its position as a forward-looking institution dedicated to knowledge and human development.

This initiative also builds on LAU’s longstanding relationship with the late Prime Minister Rafic Hariri, whose educational vision always held a special place for the university. Over the years, he participated in various academic events on its campus, and he entrusted LAU with his daughter’s education. The mutual respect between him and the university remains firmly rooted in LAU’s academic community to this day, ensuring that this bond and mission continue across generations.

In her speech, Mrs. Nazek Rafic Hariri stated that “there are no daunting challenges, as the path of giving charted by the late prime minister will endure, God willing, with faith, sincerity, and the support of all those who share the belief that education is the path to salvation, development and stability.”

Commenting on this milestone, LAU President Chaouki T. Abdallah expressed the university’s deep appreciation for this collaboration, noting: “This building is not simply additional space; it is a responsibility, and a living continuation of an educational and human legacy that we are proud to uphold.”

The complex will also house the Rafic Hariri Memorial Library, which will increase the understanding and appreciation of the late prime minister’s rich legacy that shaped the face of Lebanon before, during and after his premiership, and introduce them to the noble values he fought for.

This initiative holds particular meaning for the city of Beirut, which has always been at the core of Prime Minister Rafic Hariri’s national and educational project. With this step, the mission returns to the heart of the capital, granting LAU a new opportunity to grow in a setting that preserves the symbolic value of this historic institution and strengthens the organic bond between the university and its environment.

Accordingly, this educational space will forever be known as the “Rafic Hariri Complex for the Advancement of Human Knowledge,” a name that embodies the shared vision of consecrating the site as a national center for learning, research, and innovation, while immortalizing the legacy of the late Prime Minister Rafic Hariri and reaffirming Mrs. Nazek Rafic Hariri’s profound commitment to carrying forward his educational mission in the heart of Beirut as a cornerstone of national renewal and an investment in future generations.