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Sustainability Circles

Overview

Director's Welcome

Goals

Sustainability Policy

Office Structure

Sustainability Circles

Agriculture

Energy and Climate Change

Sustainability Studies

Community Partnership

Continuous Improvement and Sustainability Excellence

Workplace Health, Safety and Wellbeing

Waste Management

Buildings Operation and Maintenance

The Sustainable Garden

Water Technology & Management

Female Students Sustainability Activities

Architecture and Built Environment

Food and Dining

Sustainable Transport

People with Disabilities

Sustainability Curriculum

Animal Welfare

Male Students Sustainability Activities

Awareness

Arabic Editing and Publications

Architecture and Built Environment

Dr. Emad S. Mushtaha

Architectural Engineering Department - College of Engineering.
Leader of Landscape and Building Management.

Manage the grounds sustainably by integrating economic, social, and ecological dimensions to meet users’ needs, protect wildlife habitat, conserve resources, and maintain healthy ecosystems
Design, maintain, and manage all hard and soft services in ways that provide a safe, livable and healthy indoor environment while simultaneously mitigating the impacts of buildings on the outdoor environment
Incorporate environmental features into the design and planning of the campus to reach at producing a sustainable master plan that considers all practices of sustainability

Building Design and Construction:
- Incorporating environmental features in design and construction projects.
- Sustainable decisions in the Design phase for enhanced indoor environmental quality, safe, healthy, and productive spaces for the campus community.
Landscape management:
- Campus Wide Sustainable management of the grounds.
Sustainability planning:
- Campus master plan and physical campus plan for current and new buildings, moving towards sustainability.
Student Life on Campus:
- Integrating Campus culture and building management and its spaces by providing interactive design decisions, to promote the engagement of student by integrating sustainability into their daily live on campus.
STARS Ranking – documentation:
- Preparing the documentation for STARS for 3 components:
- Mandatory component of the Institutional Characteristics consisting of:

Landscape Design of Sustainable Farm for the UOS
Barrier-Free and Sustainable Master plan for UOS campus
Architectural Design of M3 for Institute of Leadership in Higher Education
Sustainable Courtyard at College of Fine Arts and Design
Renovation of the Registration Department, UOS

The following activities contribute to the Sustainability 2019-20 event; A summary of the Projects since May 2019 through the year is captured.

1. Barrier-Free and Sustainable Master plan for UOS campus.
Universal Design has been the solution for a barrier free environment, especially in Educational Institutions. UOS has stepped forward to adapt the existing campus to the Universal Design Guidelines for a barrier free campus. People with Disabilities Sustainability Circle has initiated reconnaissance survey to map the existing barriers and develop solutions. Detailed discussions were held with Ms. Fatima Al Muaini, People with Disabilities Sustainability Circle , UOS, in May, 2019.

Ms. Fatima Ibrahim Darwish Al Muaini, People with Disabilities Sustainability Circle, explaining the surveys.

Ms Usha explained the recently completed Project in Dec 2018, with UNDP Kuwait ‘Achieving Kuwait 2035 vision towards Persons with Disability Project : Conducting Accessibility Audits in the Built Environment’. One of the Pilot Project was the College of Life Sciences, Kuwait University.

Ms.Traudel & Ms.Mariam expressed that a similar exercise carried out by them for the Main Campus.
2. Developing a proposal of the Leadership Institute in M3 building in collaboration with the Physical Plan and Facility Planning Department

Leader of LBM_O addressing the members of the circle for refurbishment of the relocated ILHE facilities.

Description: The offices of VCAA requested for the Design & Planning of the new vision for the ILHE in the relocated premises, Main Campus, UOS. An introductory meeting in May,2019, was coordinated with Prof. Maher, Dir., ILHE , Eng.Louay, Dir., Facilities Management and the members to finalize the Site selection and the Design Brief. The Team members prepared several alternate Design solutions and glimpses of the same given below.

Director, ILHE, Prof.Maher presented the requirements for a newly envisioned ILHE.

Glimpses of the Design options:

Option 1:

Spacious friendly lounges and well-articulated Office spaces.

Overall furniture theme of interactive multi use space for continuous occupancy and different types of users at all times. Spread all over the corridors lounge areas and with semi-custom design and fitting for all kind of spaces and shapes, creating a dynamic & attractive work, learning and rest spaces.

Option 2:

Option 3:

Overall furniture theme of interactive multi use space for segregated occupancy and different types of users at all times. Use of glass for partitions enhances visibility and yet providing privacy.
3.UNHABITAT surveys for public spaces:
In collaboration with UNICEF and UN Habitat, the Sharjah Urban Planning Council conducted a Citywide Public Spaces Assessment, as a mutually beneficial chance for SUPC and the University of Sharjah to collaborate. The assessment took place during the month of June (3rd week and/or 4th week of June), and a maximum number of 20 students were involved in the process remunerated by UNHABITAT. Surveys were completed in 3 days. Partnering on this project was a great opportunity to engage students in planning and decision making, and the results of the assessment were be presented in the World Urban Forum 2020 – Abu Dhabi.

Students at the World Urban Forum 2020, Abu Dhabi, hosted by UNICEF, UNHABITAT & SUPC.
4. Integration of Ecology Course Content with AE Design courses:
An initiative of the LBMO Leader and Associate Leader to integrate the Ecology Course content with AE Design courses, especially Landscape Design finds success in the meeting with Prof. Dr Ali El-Keblawy (Dept. AB) in November,2019. Coordinate contents of Introduction to Ecology and Landscape Design to complete each other where Introduction to Ecology can be suggested as a pre-requisite for Landscape Design was put into consideration.
5. STARS ranking:
UOS has taken up the initiative to apply for the STARS ranking . The Team ( Emad, Usha & Osama ) working on the Mandatory component of the Institutional Characteristics consisting of A) IC1 Institutional Boundary, B) IC2 Operational Characteristics, C) IC3 Academics and Demographics. Initial documentation was carried out based on the Green metrics database. Further inputs from FMPD and associated personnel incorporated. Mr.Osama is working on the Buildings component, OP3 Building Design and Construction , which has little to none to claim points. Ms Usha is working on the Grounds component of OP 9 Landscape Management, which needs liaising with FMPD and external agencies for data.
6. Renovating the Registration Department Offices, UOS

A. Design Brief:
Dr. Hussein El Mehdi, Dean, Registration Department and Team initiated a proposal with a new vision of enhanced spatial experience and working environment. The presentation by the Registration Department in November, 2019, illustrated the requirements as well as the envisioned spatial experiences.

(Left) Dr.Iman presenting the proposal & (right) Ms Nadia presenting an alternate proposal, Renovation of Registration offices.

Two Teams are engaged for the Design solution:
1) Dr.Iman, Nadia & Rand with a student,
2) Mariam, Traudel, Lamees, and Farah with a student.
Both teams developed alternate Design solutions and presented to the LBMO members present in February 2020.

B. Presentation to Client:
An online meeting, for a Virtual Presentation to the Registration Department on 20th April,2020 was held.
Dr.Hussein El Mehdi, Ms.Reem and Team from Registration Department participated in the Virtual Presentation by the Design Teams led by Ms. Nadia, Dr.Iman and Ms.Mariam.

Three Design Solutions were presented.

Presentation 1 - Ms. Nadia Al Badri, CFAD

Presentation 2 - Dr. Iman Ibrahim, CFAD

Presentation 3 - Ms. Mariam Hassan, DAE

Waste Management and Segregation Campaign, Total cost of AED 33.000
Sustainable Courtyards for UOS campus, Total cost of AED 6000 for (15*5) sq. m
Project of access and comprehensive design for persons with disabilities, Total cost of AED 200.000