On February 17, 2026, the LAU School of Architecture and Design opened On Point, a multi-disciplinary exhibition at the Beirut campus showcasing student work in studio arts, as well as graphic, interior and fashion design, across the curriculum, timed to coincide with a reaccreditation visit by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).

Conceived as a curated narrative of student learning, the exhibition functions simultaneously as a learning archive and a strategic accreditation component, foregrounding the school’s pedagogical approach while tracing the students’ progress through their respective Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) curriculum aligned with international best practices.

In his opening remarks, LAU President Chaouki T. Abdallah described it as more than a collection of student projects; it was, he said, a demonstration of the university’s commitment to art and design. Emphasizing creativity and critical thinking as core competencies, he noted that the work on display reflects both alignment with NASAD standards and “the distinct voices and aspirations of our students.”

Following the president’s remarks, Dean Elie Haddad positioned the NASAD accreditation as a cornerstone of the school’s academic credentials. He acknowledged the NASAD accreditation process as “a check and balance on our educational mission,” calling it “a standard that we aim toward, and that we look forward to renewing.”

The first exhibit opened at the Art Gallery, where four graduating students, one from each BFA program, presented focused portfolio exhibitions. Each portfolio traced an individual trajectory from foundation coursework to capstone projects.

A second, larger exhibition in the multipurpose room of the Gezairi Building extended this narrative across programs. Organized in clusters, it grouped foundation-level work before progressing through intermediate and advanced studios drawn from the different programs.

“The whole goal,” explained Associate Professor and LAU NASAD Accreditation Coordinator Melissa Plourde Khoury, “is to allow visitors to see the way our students move through their programs.” The works displayed represent two years of student production and were selected through a multi-stage process—including faculty nominations, review by a cross-program exhibition committee and final curatorial decisions—to ensure both academic excellence and visual coherence.

Addressing students and faculty at the exhibit, NASAD Visiting Team Chair Paige Williams underscored the student-centered nature of the accreditation process. “You are the reason why the faculty and administration are working really hard to maintain NASAD accreditation,” she said, noting that evaluators are present “to help you move your mission forward” and to ensure that students receive “the best possible experience and education.”

The school first received NASAD accreditation in fall 2020, following an initial visit in 2019, and holds five-year membership status. The current commission will finalize its report in the coming weeks, with review scheduled for April and a decision expected by late summer.

The exhibition will be open to the public until February 26, running daily from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., except on Sundays.