H H Sheikha Moza bint Nasser and H E Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani at the inauguration of the new campus building of Northwestern University in Qatar (NU-Q). Pics: Aisha Alsada & Aisha Al Musallam
The new campus building of Northwestern University in Qatar (NU-Q), situated at the Education City, was officially inaugurated in the presence of H H Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, yesterday.
H E Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani, Vice-Chairperson and CEO of Qatar Foundation, and H E Dr Mohammed bin Abdul Wahid Al Hammadi, Minister of Education and Higher Education, were also present at the ‘NU-Q building dedication’ ceremony held to mark the official inauguration of the facility.
Morton Schapiro, President of Northwestern University, Dana Shell Smith, US Ambassador to Qatar and other several dignitaries were also present at the event.
The new campus building of NU-Q is arguably the largest and the most technologically advanced media school in the world. Following the official ceremony, Sheikha Moza, Sheikha Hind and other officials toured the building which combines contemporary design with cutting-edge technology in an environmentally-friendly facility. The building, which has been awarded a LEED Gold certification, was designed by the architect Antoine Predock.
Everette E Dennis, Dean and CEO, NU-Q, said, “The occupancy of this building marks the end of our first leg of our journey.... As we enter a new phase of our institutional life, we promise to make NU-Q more than a platform for our students, but as a destination for the community, region and the world.”
NU-Q is one of Qatar Foundation’s six US partner campuses situated in the Education City.
“It’s truly amazing to see how all of Qatar Foundation’s American universities have continued to grow and flourish in each passing year by offering world class education right here in Doha. Northwestern University in Qatar is in the front of this group. Its graduating students go into great careers in Qatar and abroad as journalists, communication experts and global citizens,” said Dana Smith.
Also a symposium on ‘Shaping Our Future’ was held earlier yesterday with a series of conversations, discussion panels and a showcase of the students research, short films and documentaries.
NU-Q is designed to facilitate the functions and purposes of a modern school of media and communication, global and digital in all of its concerns.
Main features of the building include three video production studios, two 150-person lecture halls, a world-class multimedia newsroom, a two-story research library, an in-house museum, the Media Majlis at Northwestern University in Qatar, a black box theatre, a newsroom, multiple control rooms, multiple editing rooms and an auditorium.
