Internationally renowned architect Rem Koolhaas delivered an engaging lecture at American University of Sharjah (AUS) today, March 17, 2015. The event, which drew a large crowd comprising students, faculty members, senior university officials and members of the public, took place in the Main Auditorium on campus.

Known for his distinct architectural style, Koolhaas briefed the audience about his background and the times he grew up and which came to influence and define his work. He spoke about how architecture and design is impacted by social, cultural and political changes. The Dutch architect also discussed some of his famous projects, including the Central China Television (CCTV) Headquarters, the iconic 44-storey skyscraper in Beijing, as well as exciting projects spread throughout the Gulf as well as Europe.

As one of the world's leading architects, and the head of OMA (Office for Metropolitan Architecture) and its research branch, AMO, Koolhaas is the designer of numerous groundbreaking projects, such as Prada Store (New York, USA), Casa da Música (Porto, Portugal), Maison à Bordeaux (Bordeaux, France), Embassy of the Netherlands (Berlin, Germany), Seattle Central Library (Seattle, USA), Shenzhen Stock Exchange (Shenzhen, China), and De Rotterdam (Rotterdam, Netherlands), among others.

He was appointed the director of Fundamentals, the 14th International Architecture Exhibition of the Venice Biennale. Some of his seminal publications include Delirious New York: A Retroactive Manifesto for Manhattan, and S,M,L,XL. Currently, he is a professor at the Graduate School of Design at Harvard University.

"The work of Rem Koolhaas is breathtaking and he is such an inspiration," said Jemicah Dela, a senior majoring in design management. "The lecture taught me a lot of things about the world of architecture and his personal views behind his work," she added.