Beirut Arab University Pedestrian Access on Campus

SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities

THE Impact Rankings indicator 11.4.6 | Beirut Arab University, Lebanon

Question: Does your university as a body prioritise pedestrian access on campus?

Response to the indicator

Yes, with a defined evidential scope. BAU publishes institutional rules that protect entrances and major pathways from parking obstruction, exclude motor vehicles from lawns and planted areas, and require clear circulation routes and illuminated exit pathways. Its accessibility provisions support movement by students with mobility impairments. Together, these measures support an affirmative response at policy level. The new Bekaa masterplan adds explicit pedestrian priority in campus design, although it remains evidence of planned development.

Evidence: BAU Facilities and Equipment Policy (PDF page 2, Public Parking procedures, item 12a)

Evidence: BAU Open Space Policy and Procedures (PDF page 1, item 1)

Evidence: BAU Safety and Security Policy (PDF page 1, Life Safety Code)

Evidence: BAU Disability Policy (Accessibility and Facilities)

Evidence: AKL Architects BAU Beqaa Campus masterplan (sections 1 and 2, proposed development)

Rules protecting movement from parked vehicles

The Facilities and Equipment Policy identifies blocking an entrance or a major pathway as a parking violation that attracts an additional parking charge. This is the clearest existing rule relevant to keeping access routes usable. The policy also places vehicle users under university rules and provides for registration and parking cards. The detailed parking provisions describe Beirut locations; they should be cited within that documented context rather than presented as a verified traffic plan for every campus.

Evidence: BAU Facilities and Equipment Policy (PDF pages 1 and 2; Public Parking item 12a)

Motor vehicles excluded from planted areas

The Open Space Policy and Procedures prohibits motorized vehicles on lawns and planted areas at BAU campuses. This establishes a clear restriction on vehicle use in landscaped spaces. The same policy gives General Affairs authority to restrict use of green areas for maintenance or other conditions. Its scope is lawns and planted areas; it does not designate every campus road as pedestrian only or grant unrestricted use of every lawn.

Evidence: BAU Open Space Policy and Procedures (PDF page 1, Open Spaces procedures, items 1 and 5)

Safety and inclusive pedestrian movement

Clear routes and emergency lighting

BAU’s Safety and Security Policy requires exit doors and hallways to remain unobstructed. Exit doors must be recognizable through signage, and emergency lighting must illuminate exit pathways, remain functional and be tested regularly. Equipment used during events must be positioned so that it does not obstruct hallways, exits or aisle access. These provisions address practical barriers to movement within buildings and during campus events.

Evidence: BAU Safety and Security Policy (PDF page 1, Procedure 2, items 1 to 9)

The policy assigns safety to a university unit, describes continuous security coverage and provides for incident reporting. These provisions establish institutional responsibility. Inspection results and outdoor route audits were not found in the reviewed material. Emergency exit lighting requirements alone do not demonstrate outdoor walkway lighting upgrades.

Evidence: BAU Safety and Security Policy (PDF pages 1 and 2, policy statement and Crime Reporting procedure)

Access for students with mobility impairments

BAU’s published Disability Policy describes campus infrastructure with ramps, elevators and designated areas intended to make access easier for students with mobility impairments across campuses. It also identifies a Diversity and Inclusion Committee within the university’s equality framework. These published provisions support an inclusive interpretation of pedestrian access, covering people who use mobility aids as well as people walking without assistance.

Evidence: BAU Disability Policy (Accessibility and Facilities; Commitment through Policy)

Disability Policy

Beirut Arab University demonstrates a strong and enduring commitment to fostering an inclusive academic environment by providing comprehensive support services for individuals with disabilities. Aligned with its core values of equality, dignity, and access to education for all, BAU ensures that students with physical, sensory, learning, or psychological disabilities are fully supported throughout their academic journey.

Through dedicated infrastructure, accessible learning resources, academic accommodations, and psychological counseling, BAU actively removes barriers to participation and success. The university’s campus is designed with accessibility in mind, while its student services work closely with faculty and administrative units to provide tailored academic and personal support.

Moreover, BAU’s Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) policy, backed by its Diversity and Inclusion Committee, reinforces its institutional responsibility to uphold non-discrimination and empower all students to reach their full potential.

By embedding these practices into university life, BAU affirms its unwavering dedication to creating a campus where inclusion is not just a principle, but a lived reality.

Disability Policy:

BAU has implemented a Disability Policy aimed at integrating individuals with disabilities into the academic community and broader society. This policy focuses on creating an environment that accommodates their needs and ensures their full participation in university life.

Student Support Services:

The university provides tailored services for students with special needs throughout their academic journey. Efforts are made to deliver professional assistance, ensuring that all students have equitable access to educational resources and opportunities.

Counseling and Interventions:

BAU's dedicated unit offers counseling services and interventions, encompassing psychological, social, and educational support. These services are designed to address the diverse needs of students, including those with disabilities, fostering an inclusive and supportive learning environment.

Digital Accessibility:

In line with its commitment to accessibility, BAU ensures that its digital platforms are user-friendly for individuals with disabilities. The university's digital resources comply with web accessibility standards, facilitating seamless access to online materials.

Academic Programs:

BAU offers courses such as Education for Special Need such as “Specialized Diploma in Special Needs Studies”, which focus on understanding and supporting individuals with disabilities. These programs contribute to raising awareness and equipping students with the knowledge to promote inclusivity.

Through these initiatives, BAU underscores its dedication to providing an accessible and supportive educational environment for all students, ensuring that individuals with disabilities receive the necessary resources and assistance to thrive academically and socially.

The source establishes what BAU reports providing. It does not contain a campus by campus access audit, mapped continuous accessible routes, measurements of gradients or proof that all facilities meet a named physical accessibility standard. Such details should be supported by facilities records before they are added to a ranking submission.

Walking within the climate action framework

The Sustainable Transportation section of BAU’s Climate Action Policy encourages students and staff to use walking, cycling, public transport and carpooling. This gives walking an institutional place in the university’s transport objectives. It complements the access rules above, while remaining a policy commitment rather than a record of completed pedestrian infrastructure or a measured reduction in vehicle traffic.

Evidence: BAU Climate Action Policy (Strategies and Initiatives, Sustainable Transportation)

Climate Action Plan for Beirut Arab University

Beirut Arab University recognizes the urgent need to address climate change and its impacts on Lebanon and the global community. As a responsible institution committed to sustainability and environmental stewardship, BAU is dedicated to implementing a comprehensive Climate Action Plan (CAP) aligned with the university's rules and regulations and in harmony with Lebanon's environmental priorities. This plan outlines the key strategies and initiatives that BAU will undertake to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, adapt to climate change, and promote sustainability across its campuses and operations.

Goals and Objectives:

• Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Implement measures to reduce BAU's carbon footprint and transition towards a low-carbon campus.

• Enhance Climate Resilience: Strengthen BAU's resilience to climate change impacts, including extreme weather events and sea-level rise.

• Promote Sustainable Practices: Encourage sustainable behaviors among students, faculty, and staff members, and integrate sustainability principles into all aspects of university operations.

• Engage the Community: Foster partnerships with local communities, government agencies, and non-profit organizations to address climate change collectively.

• Lead by Example: Serve as a model for sustainable practices and climate action within Lebanon's higher education sector.

The original safety, parking and open space documents remain linked from BAU’s Services and Procedures page. They are standing policy evidence, retained without a date cutoff. The documents reviewed do not display formal approval or revision dates, so their continued publication should not be described as a newly adopted 2026 policy.

Evidence: BAU Services and Procedures policy directory (Safety and Security; Facilities and Equipment; Open Space)

Services & Procedures

Pedestrian priority in the new Bekaa masterplan

Explicit separation of pedestrians and vehicles

AKL Architects’ original BAU Beqaa Campus project description places a main pedestrian pathway at the centre of the masterplan. The route is designed to connect academic buildings, services and outdoor spaces and link the new development with BAU’s existing adjacent campus. The architect describes a controlled crossing of the existing road and a connection to the garden of the existing building.

The project separates a vehicular zone along the Boundary Road, accommodating parking, drop-offs and servicing, from a landscaped academic zone. Its stated design intention is a car-free campus environment that prioritises pedestrians. This is direct evidence that pedestrian access is an organising principle of the proposed campus layout.

Evidence: AKL Architects original BAU Beqaa Campus project description (sections 1 and 2)

The architectural concept for the Beirut Arab University Beqaa Campus.

- Arrival and institutional identity: Visitors first encounter the Faculty of Health Sciences, followed by the administration building and a central public plaza. This sequence emphasizes people, accessibility and social interaction.

- Campus connectivity: A principal pedestrian spine links the proposed development with BAU’s existing Beqaa Campus, connecting academic buildings, services, gardens and outdoor areas.

- Pedestrian-first planning: Vehicles, parking, drop-off points and service access are confined to a separate zone. The academic area is designed as a green, walkable and largely car-free environment.

- Sustainable design: Buildings have north–south orientations to control sunlight, reduce summer heat and benefit from winter heating. Courtyards and internal openings encourage natural ventilation and reduce energy demand.

- Student wellbeing: A large central open space accommodates sports facilities, a football field, informal interaction and university events.

- Social message: Positioning Health Sciences prominently communicates that healthcare, public wellbeing and people take priority within the campus plan.

- Future expansion: Faculties can be constructed and expanded in phases without disrupting existing campus operations.

- Materials: Exposed concrete and limited additional finishes are proposed to improve durability, reduce maintenance costs and suit the Beqaa Valley’s agricultural setting.

Contract announcement in April 2026

In a public announcement dated 29 April 2026, AKL Architects states that it signed the new campus masterplan contract and that the BAU Board and President approved it. The announcement identifies the beginning of the design phase. It describes a pedestrian spine, a car-free design and an intended open green landscape covering 86% of the site. Approval is reported by the appointed architect; the signed contract and BAU approval minutes were not available in the reviewed public evidence.

Evidence: AKL Architects masterplan contract announcement (29 April 2026; publication date in the original page metadata)

This material strengthens the case for institutional planning. It should be labelled proposed masterplan or design phase in the submission. Neither source verifies completion, commissioning, current occupancy or implementation of the planned traffic arrangements.

Existing campus context

Evidence: BAU Parking and Transportation (Parking Areas, Beirut, Debbieh and Tripoli)

Parking & Transportation

Beirut Arab University is committed to provide a public transportation system that is safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable. This is part of the university's efforts towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

BAU’s current parking page therefore supports a campus-specific account. A statement that all existing BAU campuses are entirely car-free would exceed the verified evidence. The Bekaa design should also be kept separate from current operating arrangements at the other campuses.

Research evidence and submission wording

Recent travel research provides supporting context

The 2024 study Analysing Travel Patterns at Beirut Arab University Lebanon reports a 2023 to 2024 survey of 400 BAU community members. Figure 7 presents active travel, combining walking and cycling, at 22.2% for Beirut and 5.0% for Debbieh. These figures describe travel to campus. They demonstrate use of active travel among respondents, but do not measure on-campus pedestrian priority, walking alone, pedestrian satisfaction or changes over time. The sample was unweighted and overrepresented Debbieh, limiting extrapolation to the whole university.

Evidence: Original 2024 travel behaviour study in Sustainability (published 23 September 2024; Figure 7 and study limitations)

Suggested response for the submission

Yes. Beirut Arab University supports pedestrian access through published rules governing campus circulation and vehicle use. Its parking policy makes obstruction of entrances or major pathways a chargeable violation, while its Open Space Policy excludes motor vehicles from lawns and planted areas. The Safety and Security Policy requires clear hallways and exits with functional emergency lighting. BAU also publishes provisions for ramps, elevators and designated areas supporting students with mobility impairments.

Evidence: Parking access protection (PDF page 2, item 12a)

Evidence: Protection of planted areas (PDF page 1, item 1)

Evidence: Clear circulation routes (PDF page 1, Life Safety Code)

Evidence: Inclusive campus access (Accessibility and Facilities)

Pedestrian priority also informs the proposed new Bekaa campus: the architect’s masterplan links academic spaces through a pedestrian spine and separates vehicle access from the landscaped academic zone. The architect announced the masterplan contract and the start of design in April 2026. This development is presented as planned infrastructure, alongside BAU’s existing access policies.

Evidence: Bekaa masterplan design principles (sections 1 and 2)

Evidence: Masterplan contract and design phase announcement (29 April 2026)