Client: King Faisal University
Location: Al Ahsa - KSA
Services Provided: Master Planning, Architectural, Engineering & Interior Design, Value Engineering
Plot Size: 113,000 m²
Total Built-up Area: 282,405 m²
Construction Cost: 1,711,357,222 SAR
Start Date: November 2014
Challenge:
King Faisal University’s Medical Colleges Complex faced a dual challenge: to establish a world-class educational environment while adhering to sustainable architecture principles in the harsh desert climate. The project required innovative solutions to manage intense heat, strong northwestern winds, and the need for large, interconnected facilities.
Approach:
The project incorporated cutting-edge sustainable design strategies and an environmentally sensitive master plan. Above-ground parking structures along the northwestern edge were designed not just as practical spaces but also as wind buffers that redirected airflow to naturally cool building facades and outdoor areas. The shared academic facilities, including a central library, dining spaces, and sports areas, featured a distinctive waveform roof that captured rainwater to replenish water features. These water elements, interwoven throughout the pathways, provided both evaporative cooling and aesthetic appeal. Additionally, building layouts were intentionally kept low-rise to promote wind movement, while their clustering encouraged academic collaboration and student interaction.
Impact:
By transforming environmental challenges into integral design elements, the King Faisal University Medical Colleges Complex became a benchmark for sustainable academic architecture in Saudi Arabia. The project not only elevated the campus’s aesthetic and functional standards but also provided a comfortable, collaborative space that supports innovative learning and research, all while significantly reducing the ecological footprint.
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