American University Sharjah

Cundall was appointed by the Campus Development Department at American University of Sharjah (AUS) to develop three new buildings: the 5,274m² Campus Service Centre, the 2,087m² Wellness Centre and the 934m² Youth Centre. The University required the Campus Service Centre to be designed to meet a sustainability standard equivalent to LEED Gold, with successful initiatives from this flagship building considered for integration into the two smaller facilities where appropriate.  

Cundall developed a suite of sustainability-led design strategies, including detailed façade analysis to balance energy performance with daylight access, the use of sun‑pipes to introduce natural light into warehouse areas, and a mixed‑mode cooling approach to enhance efficiency. These measures significantly reduced energy and water consumption while improving Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) for building users. The scope was later expanded to include a micro‑district cooling scheme designed to serve approximately 50% of the campus, further cutting energy use and reducing carbon emissions. 

“Our campus buildings are designed to have a lifespan that exceeds the local current practice and norm. This is primarily a result achieved from the notion that we operate not only as architects but act as master-planners, facility managers and end users studying every proposed intervention and its effect on the campus. This ensures a sustainable integration and harmony within the urban fabric of our domain.” Shwan Alhashimi, Campus Development Director