New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD)

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

NYUAD is a comprehensive liberal arts campus in Abu Dhabi.

Sites International prepared the landscape master plan and design guidelines with the intent of creating an oasis-like haven for students and staff. The highly urbanized campus and extensive land coverage by buildings posed a real landscape design challenge. Almost all landscaping is built on roofs, including parking garages, academic buildings and student / staff housing. Extensive studies were conducted to respond to the extremely hot-humid climate of Abu Dhabi. Native and adaptive plant species were selected. Hardscape materials with minimum heat gain were specified. The design provides sheltered and shaded areas for students’ outdoor use. Roof gardens play both an aesthetic role and minimize heat gain through the roofs of buildings.