The library plaza and the Serenity Room are being reimagined to become a hub equipped with accessible technology, collaborative learning spaces and modern, dynamic furniture. Construction began April 1 on the garden level and will be completed by September 1 in time for the start of the fall semester.

“Learning isn’t confined to the classroom, students develop just as much beyond its walls as they do within them,” shared Lamia Eid ’88, ’92, dean of libraries and learning technologies. “We want to enhance how students can learn from each other in the collaborative library spaces and add to the student experience.”

The transformation of campus spaces has been a seven-year mission under the AUC Learning Spaces Strategic Plan Initiative. Renovations will include new furniture, flooring, lighting, and technology, as well as upgraded networks, modernized study spaces and a state-of-the-art Accessibility Hub. 

Accessibility has been considered in all aspects of the renovations, which target learning spaces. “Collaborative work requires flexible, adaptable furniture supported by appropriate technology to help students enhance their learning,” stated Eid, sharing that interactive screens will be added to the space. “We want to enable users with diverse learning needs to be able to work independently within the space.” 

“We want to enable users with diverse learning needs to be able to work independently within the space.” 

The updates will introduce a new permanent exhibition space for the Rare Books and Special Collections library, opening these collections to a wider audience of students and visitors alike. New furnishings designed to reduce noise will also help maintain an acoustically comfortable environment for study and learning.

So what can students expect? For now, the garden level is closed as of April 1st. Currently and until the final exams, construction is taking place on weekends so as to not disturb students with the noise. The rest of the library is still open, but will close to start the construction and remodeling phase of the Plaza Level on May 25, after the spring exam schedule has finished. During the summer, librarian services will still be available virtually, and students can contact librarians for book and research requests. Additionally, alternative learning spaces have been identified for students looking for places  to study  during the summer. As students return to school in the fall, they’ll be met with an updated, state-of-the-art library, ready to guide them on their learning journey. 

“We are creating a space where students can maximize the outcomes of informal learning,” shared Eid. “We’re excited to integrate these technologies and develop solutions that strengthen and enhance the learning experience.”

Lights, camera, action! AUC’s Falaki Mainstage Theater at the Tahrir Square campus will be hosting the acclaimed theatrical production Bakathir Museum, as a part of a new partnership between AUC and the Hadhramout Culture Foundation. The play will run on May 1 and 2, 2026, marking 115 years of the visionary writer Ali Ahmad Bakathir (1910–1969) and reviving his creative legacy through a contemporary theatrical vision. To register, click here.

Bakathir Museum is part of an ongoing series of cultural events launched at the Cairo Opera House in December 2025 under the theme “115 Years of Influence.” The initiative celebrates Bakathir’s literary legacy by reinterpreting it through contemporary tools to reach new audiences across the Arab world. 

Poet, novelist and playwright Ali Ahmad Bakathir is widely regarded as one of the most prominent figures in 20th-century Arabic literature. He shared Egypt’s State Appreciation Award with Nobel laureate Naguib Mahfouz and produced memorable works, including the novel Wa Islamah and the epic Omar ibn al-Khattab. He was also the first to present a poetic Arabic translation of William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.

Directed by Ahmed Fouad, Bakathir Museum blends drama, music and modern visual media, sharing the work of Bakathir through a contemporary lens. Performed three times over the coming weekend, the production serves as a theatrical journey inside a “living museum,” where characters come alive and Bakathir’s ideas return to life on stage The play moves beyond conventional documentary approaches to engage today’s audiences through a vivid and intellectually resonant artistic language. 

“Partnerships like this one with the Hadhramout Culture Foundation are central to AUC’s mission,” said AUC President Ahmad Dallal. “One of the University’s enduring commitments is connecting knowledge across generations. By hosting Bakathir Museum, we bring a rich literary legacy into conversation with today’s students, intellectuals and scholars, bridging the past and the present,” Dallal added.

"One of the University’s enduring commitments is connecting knowledge across generations. By hosting Bakathir Museum, we bring a rich literary legacy into conversation with today’s students, intellectuals and scholars, bridging the past and the present."

Along with the theatrical performances, the Hadhramout Culture Foundation has launched the Bakathir Annual Award in Literature, dedicated this year to Arabic poetry for youth. The award aims to discover emerging poetic talent, connect younger generations with Bakathir’s blend of authenticity and innovation, and provide a competitive platform befitting the stature of Arabic literature.

The Hadhramout Culture Foundation is a nonprofit cultural organization dedicated to promoting cultural awareness and supporting sustainable creative projects that connect Arab heritage with a global audience. Through grant programs, literary initiatives and performing arts events, the foundation works to support writers, theatre practitioners and musicians while enhancing their presence locally, nationally and internationally. Their partnership with AUC marks the start of a collaboration that shares values of celebrating Arab tradition through literature, theatre and art. 

“We are not merely commemorating a figure from the past; we are investing in the future of Arab culture,” shared Abdullah Ahmed Bugshan, chairman of the Founders Board of Hadhramout Culture Foundation. “Focusing on younger generations through theatre and the annual literary award is the true guarantee of sustaining Bakathir’s renewed influence.”