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Zaha Hadid Foundation and AUB Launch Scholars Program to Support Future Architects

The Zaha Hadid Foundation has announced the launch of the Zaha Hadid Scholars Program in partnership with the American University of Beirut (AUB)—a major new initiative that honors the late architect’s enduring legacy as both a trailblazing designer and a passionate educator.

Beginning in September 2025, the program will fully fund two undergraduate architecture students annually for the full five-year duration of their education at the Maroun Semaan Faculty of Engineering and Architecture at AUB. The initiative will run for three academic years, supporting a total of six scholars based on financial need and academic merit.

Empowering the Next Generation of Architects

“The visionary work of our alumna, Zaha Hadid, continues to inspire current generations of students,” said AUB President Dr. Fadlo Khuri. “We are very proud to partner with the Zaha Hadid Foundation on this initiative benefiting bright and deserving architecture students at our university.”

The scholars program not only reflects Hadid’s dedication to mentorship and access in the field of architecture, but also builds on her personal history with AUB. Hadid studied mathematics at the university in 1968–69 and received an Honorary Doctorate in 2006.

Strengthening a Deep Personal Legacy

The Zaha Hadid Foundation, based in London, was established to preserve and promote Hadid’s cultural, artistic, and educational contributions. In a statement, its Board of Trustees noted:

“We are thrilled to be able to honor Zaha’s commitment to emerging and future architectural talent by supporting these students and AUB, a university that was so close to Zaha’s heart. We hope this will be just the beginning of a deepening relationship.”

In 2014, Hadid designed the Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs at AUB—a striking, cantilevered structure that embodies her signature style and continues to serve as a landmark on the Beirut campus.

A Bold Investment in Design and Education

The Zaha Hadid Scholars Program arrives at a time when access to architectural education—especially in economically strained regions—can be life-changing. By supporting students at AUB, the foundation is not only honoring Hadid’s Lebanese roots but also investing in the future of design leadership across the region.

More than just a scholarship, the initiative represents a vision of education as empowerment, championing the values Zaha Hadid carried throughout her extraordinary career: boldness, innovation, and inclusivity.

With its launch in 2025, the Zaha Hadid Scholars Program promises to shape the next generation of architects, while ensuring that Hadid’s influence continues to resonate—not just in the skyline, but in the classroom.