Home page
ع
Resources for Current Students, Faculty and Staff
Webmail Directory Catalog Banner Canvas Moodle
Primary Navigation Background
Quick Links / AUC Directory, Faculty Directory
Tahrir palace and courtyard with scaffolding over the facade
  1. NEWS
  2. Historic Palace Facade in AUC Tahrir Square Undergoes Restoration

Historic Palace Facade in AUC Tahrir Square Undergoes Restoration

Dalia Al Nimr November 11, 2024
University News

If you’ve passed by AUC Tahrir Square recently, you may have noticed scaffolding surrounding the University’s historic palace, the oldest building in AUC Tahrir Square that is more than 150 years old. That’s because the palace facade is being restored in collaboration with Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. 

“The palace witnessed AUC's growth and evolution over time and key events since the University opened in 1919,” said Khaled Tarabieh, University architect and associate professor of sustainable design in the Department of Architecture. “As time went by, many areas on the main facade deteriorated and lost their original look and paint colors. The purpose of this project is the restoration of the palace’s facade, windows and paint, as well as fixing any deteriorated areas. Specialized restoration consultants and contractors are involved in cooperation with Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.”

“The Khairy Pasha Palace is recognized not only for its architectural value but also its historic and symbolic significance.”

Built in the mid-to-late 1800s, the palace was named after Khairy Pasha, who served as Egypt’s minister of education during Khedive Ismail’s rule. Ismail was instrumental in reforming and modernizing Egypt’s education system, and his palace came to symbolize the country’s modernization efforts during the Khedival period. Since 2007, the palace has been listed on Egypt’s National Register for Heritage Buildings, which includes important historical monuments from Egypt’s ancient, Greco-Roman, Jewish, Coptic, Islamic and modern eras. 

“The Khairy Pasha Palace is recognized not only for its architectural value but also its historic and symbolic significance,” said Dalila ElKerdany, the project’s consulting architect, Cairo University professor and adjunct faculty in AUC’s Department of Architecture since 2011. “The palace has played a crucial role in Egypt’s educational history and serves as a symbol of the integration of European and local architectural styles in the 19th century. It features intricate facades and grand interiors, typical of the luxurious elite residences during the time.” 

The project involves restoring the exterior elevations visible from the streets, followed by the rest of the elevations. “Through decades of existence, the façade experienced deterioration, such as voids and gaps on the surface that require proper filling; disappearance of the the building’s original colors and materials, such as mosaic frame ornaments that were buried under layers of paint; broken ornaments that are being skillfully restored,” said Tarabieh.

"Through the decades, the façade has experienced deterioration, such as voids and gaps on the surface, disappearance of the the building’s original colors and materials, and breakage of ornaments that are being skillfully restored.” 

An analysis of the paint and facade stone patterns using historical photographs is also underway to restore the palace to its original state, complemented by a first-of-its-kind comprehensive electronic documentation of the building. “AUC is an important and prestigious institution, not only in Egypt but the whole Middle East, so it is important to show the glamor of the original palace the University acquired,” said ElKerdany. 

Initially, the palace served as a government building, housing the Ministry of Education (formerly the Ministry of Public Instruction). It was then briefly used as a cigarette factory before becoming a location for holding classes affiliated to the country’s first university, the Egyptian University (now Cairo University), in its early years. “This way, the Khairy Pasha Palace has always been associated with the early stages of Egypt's higher education movement,” said ElKerdany. “By eventually becoming part of AUC, the palace has preserved its historic legacy as a hub for education and intellectual exchange, continuing AUC’s tradition as a center of academic excellence.”

Find out more about AUC’s historic palace. 

 

3-photo collage with two photos showing scaffolding around the facade with construction workers restoring paint and fixing cracks; the third photo is a picture of the damaged facade before renovation.

Related stories

Two students sit and write at the top of a staircase
November 11, 2025

Writing in the Palace on the Square

The sound of pens scribbling on paper fills the wood-latticed windows of AUC Tahrir Square. Nina Ellis, assistant professor of English and comparative literature, gestures to the ceiling: a gold-trimmed mosaic of red, green and blue. “Notice the light in the room,” she tells her class. “What colors do you see? What textures do you feel? If it's gold, does it shine? Does it reflect the light?”  Students from the Creative Writing class observe and draw inspiration from Oriental Hall in AUC's historic palace.AUC Tahrir Square was once a palace overlooking Cairo’s downtown area for almost 150 years. Now it is a historical hub for the arts in Cairo, where a Creative Writing class taught by Ellis conducts a field study on characters and setting. The field trip is structured for students to explore the University’s oldest building through the perspectives of characters developed over the course of the semester."What colors do you see? What textures do you feel? If it's gold, does it shine? Does it reflect the light?” Students explored the history-laden rooms of Oriental Hall and Ewart Memorial Hall and drew inspiration from the campus. AUC psychology sophomore Mazen Massen watched microbuses and motorcycles zip around downtown Cairo through the eyes of his character, a spirit of stasis who believes things change in patterns. “I felt my character would gravitate to that, looking at the big picture of all the people,” Massen says.AUC integrated marketing communications senior Layla Khaleb wrote in Oriental Hall, where her character focused on the room’s smallest details, “like the smell of the wooden chairs, the mosaics and the glass all over the walls,” Khaleb says. The Khairy Pasha Palace was constructed in the 1870s by Khedive Ismail to house his confidant and Minister of Education Ahmed Khiary Pasha.Ellis was inspired and struck by the beauty of the Tahrir Square campus during the new faculty orientation. “Dazzled is the word, which I think must be the intention,” Ellis says. “I thought, ‘I'm teaching creative writing, and I want to sit down and write, and usually I find that to be a good indication of something students will enjoy.”“Dazzled is the word, which I think must be the intention."AUC Tahrir Square was first erected in the 1870s by Khedive Ismail, then sold to Greek businessman Naestor Gianaclis in 1899 and used as a cigarette factory, then bought in 1919 to serve as the University’s first campus. Students and dignitaries alike have graced its halls— 800 people crowded Oriental Hall to hear Helen Keller speak in 1952. Martin Luther King Jr. visited the Tahrir Campus in 1959 to reconvene with his former college friend AUC professor of psychology, Jimmy Beshai.  Edward Said delivered a commencement address in Ewart Memorial Hall in 1999.The American University in Cairo bought the palace in 1919 to house the University's first campus.After the University moved to the New Cairo campus in 2008, the Tahrir campus transformed into the center of the University’s public engagement, hosting community events, performances and guest lectures.“It continues to serve Cairo and to serve the community,” Ellis says of AUC Tahrir Square. “And I think it’s really important that these students return to this campus. I say return because it is part of the history of their identity as AUC students.”While integrated marketing communication senior Marian Elammawy has visited the Tahrir campus many times during her four years at AUC, she looks forward to these field trips as a shake-up from her normal AUC routine. “I was really happy when I was standing with my friends during assembly hour. I was excited and told them, ‘I have to go to Tahrir today!’”The Creative Writing class walks outside of AUC's historic palace.
Civic Engagement
A group of international students from the CASA@AUC program are walking and smiling together in the historic palace at AUC Tahrir Square.
October 7, 2024

CASA@AUC in the Palace

Students in the Center for Arabic Student Abroad (CASA@AUC) program are back to taking classes in AUC’s oldest building, the historic palace, which has been overlooking downtown Cairo for more than 150 years. “This move serves as a symbolic homecoming, highlighting the program’s growth and reaffirming its success and commitment to offering students a dynamic environment for Arabic language learning and cultural immersion.”CASA@AUC students had been studying at the historic palace before relocating to New Cairo in 2008 with the rest of the University. They didn’t remain there for long and returned to AUC Tahrir Square with a dedicated space in Hill House, allowing students to experience the vibrance of downtown and engage in cultural events that enrich their learning. This year, they are back to studying in the historic palace, where AUC originally conceived the program. “The return to the palace is highly significant, as CASA@AUC continues to fulfill its mission of immersive Arabic language and cultural education,” said Iman Soliman, senior instructor and chair of the Department of Arabic Language Instruction. “This move serves as a symbolic homecoming, highlighting the program’s growth and reaffirming its success and commitment to offering students a dynamic environment for Arabic language learning and cultural immersion.”“[This] revives a longstanding tradition of teaching the liberal arts, which include the study of language, in a setting defined by beauty and heritage."Hear what CASA@AUC students feel about studying in the historic palace:“Studying Arabic in the heart of Cairo at the historic AUC Tahrir campus is such a privilege. The campus's beautiful grounds and architecture, coupled with its modern facilities, are like an oasis for study and reflection. And all at arm’s reach from the energy and excitement we love about downtown Cairo.”Jaron Sutton  “The return of the CASA@AUC program to the historic palace at AUC’s Tahrir Square campus revives a longstanding tradition of teaching the liberal arts, which include the study of language, in a setting defined by beauty and heritage. With its stunning architecture, lush greenery and walls adorned with the names of renowned scholars from the Islamic and Arab tradition, there is simply no better place for CASA@AUC to thrive. The campus serves as a reminder of Egypt’s rich intellectual heritage and an inspiration to carry this legacy forward.”Dani Bin Abdul Rahim  “I spent some time doing research at AUC's archives last year and came across several photos of Umm Kulthum and her takht performing at Ewart Hall. When I found out that CASA@AUC would be held at the old campus, these images immediately surfaced in my mind. I was beyond excited to study in a historic place where these monumental musicians once performed. I still pinch myself every morning as I walk past Ewart Hall on the way to class, thinking of Kawkab al-Sharq, Muhammad al-Qasabji and all the other greats who have walked these halls, filling the place with music.”Kira Weiss  
Female dancers from AUC Folklore smile mid-dance on stage with dresses in red, yellow, and orange.
April 16, 2025

Tahrir CultureFest: Day in the Life of Student Performers

“Port Said, Siwa, Upper Egypt — we learn about the cultures and dance traditions from Egypt’s different regions,” said Amira ElKouny ’18. “This event in Tahrir also has diversity in all the activities and even the audience.”ElKouny trains and performs with the student group AUC Folklore, a dance troupe that performed on campus on Saturday, April 12, at the Tahrir CultureFest.“We’ve been training very hard for this event every single day, usually from 10 am to 4 pm, to correct any mistakes and perform perfectly,” said electronics freshman Omar Mohsen, who performed in three out of four male dances at the fest.AUC Folklore: ‘Like a Family’Film senior Mohamed El Khatib participated in the majority of dances in addition to his tanoura routine, a traditional Sufi dance style that consists of rotating around oneself while wearing a colorful weighted skirt. “I love tanoura because it’s related to Turkish and Sufi culture, which I wanted to learn more about,” he said. El Khatib officially rehearses tanoura twice a week, revolving around himself for anywhere from one to eight minutes at a time. At home, he continues practicing spinning without the costumes to perfect his technique. “Outdoor tanoura is more difficult than indoor because of the sun,” he said. “We’ve been training very hard for this event, every single day, usually from 10 am to 4 pm, to correct any mistakes and perform perfectly.”The troupe practices 2-3 times per week, depending on whether they have a performance coming up. “It’s more than just an undergrad activity; it’s a safe and comfort zone away from stress at work,” Nadine Ezzeldine ’21, who occasionally practices and performs with the troupe. Ezzeldine fondly remembers staying past the end of rehearsal with her troupemates to improvise and have fun: “It’s like a family.”Like many members, Ezzeldine had no previous dance experience when she first joined the troupe. El Khatib, who first began dancing tanoura four years ago when he became a member of the troupe, said, “I had never practiced any dances before joining AUC.”   Dancing for EgyptThe troupe spent two weeks at a festival in France last summer, performing nearly daily during the trip. This summer, the troupe will spend 10 days in Greece. “We have two or three new dances we’re preparing for Greece,” said Hana Abdelsalam, biology and theater sophomore. Abroad, the troupe represents Egypt in all its diversity of culture, including the Eskandaroni dance, performed in blue-and-white sailor costumes, a nod to the country’s coastal cities. “Luxor’s style is diverse, unique and uplifting as well,” said Ezzeldine.Abdelsalam was first inspired to join the team because she was interested in folklore’s unique songs, costumes and dance styles. The fully funded trips attracted her too. “The audience here definitely had more people and they were super engaged and fun to perform for.”At Tahrir, the troupe got to show off Egypt’s rich culture right at home. “It’s my first time performing in Tahrir, and this event was so well organized,” said El Khatib, who was excited to perform an exclusive, new version of his tanoura routine at the CultureFest.The venue presented new challenges that the team had to work around: “The costume changes were super fast, and that was difficult,” Abdelsalam shared. The outdoor stage was a lot smaller than what the troupe is used to and featured a makeshift tent as backstage. “We had to adapt for this performance. We had to squeeze in on the stage and be careful not to fall.”Despite the challenges, the team found a supportive and enthusiastic audience in the heart of Cairo. “The audience here definitely had more people. They were super engaged and fun to perform for,” Abdelsalam said. With big smiles on their faces, the student performers just seemed happy to dance for their country that they love. 
Arts and Culture
Dancers from Indian Embassy perform in colorful orange and pink saris on stage, arms spread
April 16, 2025

Tahrir CultureFest 2025: Voices of Cairo

Performances, panels, bazaars and more: This year’s AUC Tahrir CultureFest, which took place from April 10 to 12 at the Tahrir Square campus, had offerings for everyone. But beyond fun programming, the CultureFest, now in its second year, was a chance to build meaningful human connections and community for residents and visitors of Cairo, right in the heart of the city.“I love the work that AUC does; it’s really great,” said Jude, an expat from New Zealand who now lives in Cairo and attended with her visiting friend Ros.The Gaza Salute Choir was one event that seemed to deeply move the audience and particularly touch Palestinian residents in Cairo. Ghada Ziada, a 45-year-old woman from Gaza who came to Cairo two months after October 7, 2023, has found a sense of belonging and resilience through the Tahrir CultureFest. “Coming from Gaza, we missed these cultural events,” she said. “So we enjoyed this performance, and we feel resilient.”“My mother, who is 75 years old and can barely move, insisted on coming today.”This is Ziada’s second year at the nascent CultureFest, and she now takes it upon herself to share the link with her family members through Facebook: “We came together both this year and last year for this event,” she said. Ziada first learned about AUC through last year’s CultureFest and got the idea for her daughter Jana to apply. Now, she told us Jana is an architecture student at AUC.The choir performance had a powerful meaning for Palestinian-Egyptians as well. “My mother, who is 75 years old and can barely move, insisted on coming today,” said Mahmoud Sameh, a 37-year-old Egyptian with Palestinian and Sudanese ancestry. “Since I’m half Palestinian, this event means a lot to me. It’s so nostalgic to see the choir with little kids from Gaza since I had my own experience singing in a Palestinian choir as a child.”Sameh was able to enjoy the diverse offerings at AUC with many family members, including his sister, an architect who attended the panel on Cairo’s Architecture: A Cosmopolitan Canvas. “Everyone in the family is running all over here to attend different parts of the fest,” he said.Ahmed Omar, also an architect who attended the architecture panel and Gaza Salute Choir performance, really appreciated the offerings at the festival. “The events were affirmative and entertaining, and I collected some gifts for my wife and mother from the bazaar,” he said. “I also just reserved the Cairo Steps concert for later tonight.” This was Omar’s second year attending the CultureFest, and he said he had previously enrolled in a project management program at AUC several years ago.“Everyone in the family is running all over here to attend different parts of the fest.”Though some talks and panels were academic and professional, the festival was also family-friendly. “My kid Farida did all the activities like coloring, painting, face painting and T-shirt printing,” said Ahmed Youssef, a 39-year-old from Sheikh Zayed who attended with his wife and child all three days after coming to last year’s CultureFest. “The event is good for the kids, and I love the live music,” he said. Youssef is hoping to complete a business course at AUC next month.The events attracted Cairo locals from all age groups and fields, including the city’s youth. Habiba Younes, 19, and her group of friends are studying Japanese at Cairo University, and they attended the CultureFest for the Japanese calligraphy event. “The vibes are really good,” the girls said.For people who live near AUC Tahrir Square and want to integrate in Cairo’s community, the CultureFest — and other University events — always leave a positive mark. Outside of the festival, Jude from New Zealand is a regular at AUC. “There are lots of interesting book events from the bookstore and cultural events on campus. They’re very easy to access,” she said.
Share