DI-LAB (Design Impact Laboratory) is a transdisciplinary platform that brings architecture and engineering students and faculty at the American University of Beirut to research, design, and implement community-based projects across Lebanon and the region. In response to the compounded crises affecting the country—from political instability and economic collapse to the aftermath of the Beirut port explosion and ongoing displacement—the lab focuses on developing design strategies that are not only technically sound but socially responsive and urgently needed.
At the heart of DI-LAB's mission is the belief that design can be a tool for social equity, healing, and resilience. The lab addresses critical issues facing marginalized communities, including inadequate housing, damaged public infrastructure, and the erosion of cultural heritage. Its emergency projects often operate in post-conflict and disaster-stricken areas, working to rehabilitate vital urban and architectural heritage while advancing inclusive and dignified living environments. DI-LAB also tackles pressing environmental concerns such as marine ecosystem degradation, renewable energy integration, and climate-adaptive design, always with an eye toward sustainability and justice.
DI-LAB adopts an action-oriented research model, embedded in a professional framework that merges academic inquiry with real-world application. Through immersive, hands-on learning, students and faculty co-create projects with local communities, gaining firsthand experience translating research and design into meaningful impact. This participatory process ensures that community members' needs, knowledge, and agency are central to the design outcomes, fostering long-term ownership and sustainable development.
The lab's strength lies in its experimental and adaptive approach, which embraces complexity and constraints—limited resources, tight timelines, and material scarcity—as opportunities for innovation. Projects developed within DI-LAB emphasize innovative structural systems and climate-responsive strategies, bridging the gap between theory and practice while nurturing a responsible design culture.
DI-LAB catalyzes collaborative transformation by curating project briefs, sourcing funding, and managing implementation. It builds a resilient platform for design innovation, social engagement, and environmental stewardship, enhancing AUB's role as a regional leader in higher education and public service.
Contact:
Karim Najjar