History of IC - Episode 5: 1988 - 2013
The International College is one of the oldest and most prestigious schools in Lebanan and the Middle East and has shaped the history nd the lives of many of the peoples and communities of the region in profound and lasting ways. In this series we will expose the detailed history of IC from its earliest beginnings in 1872. We Hope you will enjoy reading it as we did.
Episode 5: 1985 - 2013 - One Great School - Two Campuses
Beirut '1985: Alton Reynolds Hall.city. Somehow, the Ras Beirut campus which normally takes 1200 was now accommodating 2600 students – requiring still more rental space from ACS. And that was proving to be too expensive. With both Meshref and Bchamoun gone, Reynolds was distinctly feeling the desolation of his job. How was he to keep IC going? But as things usually do, the solution suddenly materialized.” IC purchased the former British embassy on the Corniche - named a year later: the Alton Reynolds Hall.
Beirut '1988: Ain Aar Campus:It wasn’t until two developers approached Acting Presidenjjjt Edmond Tohme that he found himself intrigued with a land a few kilometers away from Bikfaya, in a picturesque village called Ain Aar. He drove up to see it. The land had breathtaking views. This was it, he thought. This would be perfect for IC. He contacted the Chairman of the Board, Bill Turner. Since the American Board members couldn’t come to Lebanon, the Board had to take his word that it was indeed a good location.”
Beirut ' 2013: The inauguration of the new Elementary School (consisting of two buildings) at the Ras Beirut Campus: The Hisham Ezzat Jaroudi Building and the Talal and Maha Shair Building. “Finally in 2009 - 10 years after the arduous negotiations began and after a last hectic week working around the clock as Board members Imad Taher and Walid Daouk in Beirut and Chairman Bill Turner and Trustee Dick Ward in New York - AUB and IC came to an agreement. Imad Taher signed the agreement on behalf of IC. AUB President Peter Doorman signed on behalf of the university. The Ras Beirut campus was now the full and legal property of IC. Seventy-three years after moving from Turkey, International College finally had a home of its own.”
The International College will continue to stand as a shining beacon of excellence, hope, and tolerance in Lebanon with two glorious and state of the art campuses in Lebanon . Generations of students coupled with the institution's commitment to community service and social responsibility further reinforces its role in Lebanon and the region to bridge divisions and to foster a harmonious and inclusive society through quality education, empathy, and open-mindedness. With every graduate it produces, the International College in Beirut continues to illuminate the path toward a brighter, more tolerant, and compassionate future.
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I Am IC
This article appears in the Book "I Am IC" authored by Reem Haddad and published in 2019 by Librairie Antoine. This book tells the story of IC from its humble beginnngs in 1872 up to recent times. If you wish to obtain a copy of this book please contact the development office or through Antoine Online