Arada executive named Emerging Young Leader by American University of Sharjah
News: 28 November 2018
One of Arada’s senior executives has been awarded the Emerging Young Leader Impact prize by the American University of Sharjah (AUS) at a ceremony held recently in Dubai.
Melissa Bayik, Arada’s Head of Brand and an AUS alumna, was honoured by the university for “exceptional institutional engagement and service in supporting the educational mission of AUS”.
The university highlighted Bayik’s instrumental role in providing students at the College of Architecture, Art and Design (CAAD) with the opportunity to design a pavilion in Aljada, the record-breaking project that is being built in Sharjah by Arada.
“Your commitment to architectural excellence, as an alumna, and your support to fellow CAAD alumni encouraged students to address the challenges and constraints of an actual project through creativity and critical thinking,” the citation for the award read.
Bayik was presented with the award by Dr Wei Zhao, Chief Research Officer, AUS, and Charles A Diab, Executive Director of Advancement and Alumni Affairs, AUS, during a Corporate Appreciation Dinner held by the university at the Jumeirah Creekside Hotel on 27 November.
The Aljada Pavilion, which is scheduled to open in September 2019 following the year-long course at AUS’ College of Architecture, Art and Design (CAAD), will constitute a space for the public to gather in and around and will be architecturally innovative in its design.
It will form part of the first phase of the 1.9 million square foot Central Hub, a new leisure and entertainment destination for the UAE, which has been designed by Zaha Hadid Architects.
During the ceremony, Arada was also recognised as a Corporate Partner by AUS for its support to the university over the last academic year. Arada acted as one of the sponsors for AUS’ 20th Anniversary Alumni Reunion Dinner in January, which was held in the presence of HH Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, and attended by 2,500 guests.
