On January 27, 2026, the LAU Beirut campus hosted the third edition of the Vick Vanlian Interior Design Awards Exhibition, an annual event organized by the School of Architecture and Design (SArD). Showcasing the final-year projects of the 2026 graduating Interior Design cohort, the exhibition celebrated design excellence, social responsibility, and the enduring legacy of the late designer and LAU alumnus Vick Vanlian (BS ’00).

Welcoming attendees, Dean Elie Haddad underscored the significance of the event as both a celebration of student achievement and a tribute to Vanlian’s lasting influence. “This has become really a tradition that we look up to, that students look up to—not only to present their work and compete in a friendly manner, but also to celebrate the memory of Vick,” he said, thanking the Vanlian family for their continued support.

In her remarks, Assistant Dean Sophie Khayat reflected on the deeper values that anchor the awards. “Each year, this moment allows us to celebrate not only excellence in design, but also the values that Vick Vanlian stood for—empathy, curiosity, generosity, and a deep belief in design as a tool for improving people’s lives,” she said.

This year’s projects intentionally focused on smaller-scale, community-based interventions, she noted, enabling students to engage rigorously with context, materiality, ergonomics, and making. The result was a body of work marked by critical thinking, precision and responsible design.

The jury process, Khayat added, was particularly challenging. Pre-selected projects demonstrated strong creativity, contextual awareness, and sustainable thinking, making the selection of winners far from easy.

Representing the Vanlian family, Kaline Vanlian shared an emotional message, celebrating creativity, love, and resilience. “If Vick were here today, he would be very proud of each one of you,” she said, encouraging students to remain bold, design with purpose, and celebrate life.

The exhibition culminated in the announcement of the award recipients. Three honorable mentions were awarded to Hala Zoghbi, Nicole Aouad, and Carl Sleiman, whose projects stood out for their thoughtful engagement with contemporary interior design challenges.

Recognized for its educational and social relevance, third place was awarded to Jad Yafawi for his design that explored the adaptive reuse of an abandoned site into an underprivileged school, using interior interventions to create inclusive and supportive learning environments. Second place went to Layla Dakroub, whose project transformed an existing structure into a community house for the elderly. Rather than erasing what was incomplete, her design carefully built upon a remaining wall, introducing new elements in a controlled and reversible manner that respected memory and place.

Jana Wehbe clinched first place for Al Hiraf, a community-based initiative in Bourj Hammoud that highlights elderly craftsmen whose skills risk being lost. Set in the historic Abroyan Factory, the project uses leatherwork as a medium for intergenerational knowledge transfer, providing active employment opportunities for elders while engaging younger generations through hands-on making and learning. A carefully designed retail façade that would serve as both a buffer and an invitation, welcoming visitors into the space.

The Vick Vanlian Interior Design Exhibition will stay open until February 6 at the Gezairi Art Gallery on the LAU Beirut campus.