11.4.8 Does your university as a body build new buildings to sustainable standards? (if ‘yes’, are you following a national standard or body, e.g. the world green building council, that certifies it? Please indicate.)

The Three-Dimensional Survey of the Nawfal Palace in Tripoli [1]

https://www.bau.edu.lb/Public-Relations/News/The-Three-Dimensional-Survey-of-the-Nawfal-Palace-in-Tripoli

A new collaboration between the Faculty of Architecture - Design and Built Environment and the Municipality of Tripoli

Within the framework of cooperation between the Faculty of Architecture- Design and Built Environment at Beirut Arab University and the Municipality of Tripoli, a team from the Faculty carried out a three-dimensional survey of the Nawfal Municipal Palace, located in Al-Tal district in Tripoli.

The 3D survey process of Nawfal Municipal Palace comprises two main stages:

• The first stage includes the field survey that spanned over a period of five days (from 16/11/2020 to 20/11/2020), during which the team collected digital data for all the internal and external spaces of the Palace.
• The second stage includes the process of extracting the collected data to generate the digital model that simulates the realistic details of the palace.

The three-dimensional survey is based on the use of new equipment and technologies which are available in the Virtual Reality Lab of the Faculty at Debbieh Campus. This lab has been newly equipped to be a pioneer in this field at the national and regional levels.

The Survey was conducted by a specialized team in the field of 3D scanning from the Faculty consists of Dr. Kareem Saad Galal and the students Khoder Bahr Joujou, Hadi Hassan Jalloul, Abdul Karim Rabie Oweidat, and Muhammad Nour Maher Abu Ammo.

This cooperative activity was coordinated between Tripoli Municipality Councillor, Dr. Bassem Bakhash, and the Dean of the Faculty of Architecture- Design and Built Environment Professor Dr. Ibtihal Youssef El-Bastawissi, who provided all the necessary facilities for the team to be able to complete the work successfully. The faculty branch in Tripoli also supported the working team through the vice president of Tripoli Branch Affairs, Professor Khaled Baghdady, and Faculty Director for Tripoli branch, Dr. Nabil Mohareb and Dr. Khaled Al-Daghar. The team also appreciated the generous hospitality and all the facilities provided by Tripoli municipality.

This activity is one of a series of cooperative activities between Beirut Arab University and the civil society in Lebanon as per the instructions and recommendations of the university president, Professor Amr Galal El-Adawi, who is always keen to accomplish the University’s lofty mission and pioneering role dedicated to community service.

Beirut Explosion Structural Assessment of the Explosion Magnitude [2]

https://www.bau.edu.lb/Public-Relations/News/Beirut-Explosion-Structural-Assessment-of-the-Explosion-Magnitude

After completing the two phases of the Research Project related to Beirut Port Blast, the Research Unit Team deduced the below Summary Research Work which was sent to publication at a highly ranked journal.

On August 4th 2020, tremendous explosion occurred in Beirut, Lebanon’s capital, specifically in its port.

The resulting damage was humongous, impacting the city along a radius of about 600m. Series of grains silos adjacent to the center of the explosion, at 85m proximity, had been importantly damaged.

The cause was anticipated to explosion of Ammonium Nitrate that had been stored in the port, of “said” quantity equal to 2750t, whereby different opinions have emerged regarding the amount of the explosive materials and the magnitude of the explosion. The aim of this research work is to define the magnitude of the explosion, using structural engineering approach throughout non-linear finite element modeling of the silos. The magnitude of the explosion is defined as the numerical model magnitude that generated the silos damages. The study is based on silos detailed drawings, data collected from site visits, and the use of the Conventional Weapons Effects Blast Loading (CONWEP) method. In addition, damage assessment for the “standing” silos has been conducted and final recommendations are included. This paper shows that the magnitude of the explosion is smaller than the equivalent TNT of the original declared quantity of stored Ammonium Nitrate.

Research Unit from the Faculty of Engineering completes Phase 2 of Beirut Port Blast [3]

https://www.bau.edu.lb/Public-Relations/News/Research-Unit-from-the-Faculty-of-Engineering-completes-Phase-2-of-Beirut-Port-Blast

The Research Unit Team from the Faculty of Engineering lead by Professor Yehya Temsah and including Dr. Ali Gahami, Colonel Bassam Timani and a group of Lab Technicians moved in their work from Phase 1 to the Phase 2 of the research project related to Beirut Port Explosion the Second Phase consisted of defining the mechanical properties of the Wheat Silos construction materials.

The Team performed a Site visit on September 16, 2020 to the explosion area in order to extract concrete core specimens and reinforcing rebar of different diameters from the Wheat Silos. The collected specimens were transmitted to the material laboratory at Debbieh Campus and were subject to tests in order to define their mechanical properties which is an important constituent part of the third research phase related to the structural analysis.

Capacity Building on Truth and Justice [4]

https://www.bau.edu.lb/Public-Relations/News/Capacity-Building-on-Truth-and-Justice

The Human Rights Center at BAU organized a capacity building training on “Truth and Justice” at BAU- Tripoli Branch. The training lasted for two consecutive days on 1-2/10/2021 at the Multipurpose Room and was a part of the “Dealing with the Past Memories for Future Rights of Enforced Disappeared Persons” project funded by the United Nations Peace Building Fund and jointly implemented with OHCHR.

This project aims to shed more light on people who experienced the enforced disappearance of others and provide enough information to highlight the root causes of past conflict and present social tensions in addition to opening public debate and facilitating cross-confessional dialogue, which helps engage the Lebanese youth. The participating students from different majors were willing to know more about the core and values of the law that allow the affected Lebanese to achieve justice and seek the truth.

Judge Sara Rammal inaugurated the first day of the training, discussing the enforced disappearance in the light of concepts of justice and truth. After that, the Vice President of Fighters for Peace Mr. Asaad Chaftari held a debate with the students about true reconciliation and its conditions for the individual and groups. The second day of the training opened with Ms. Lara Al-Deeb, one of the board members of the Committee of the Families of Kidnapped and Disappeared in Lebanon. She gave details about the adoption of the law concerning the absence and the enforced disappearance of persons and the implementation of the resolutions of the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance. Afterwards, Mrs. Dala Bazzi, the instructor of physical kinesiology and therapy through dancing, showed a video in which the dancers express their feelings through movement only. This video aimed to emphasize the importance of the theatre as a place for people to express their needs and deliver messages to the audience about the role of art and music in expressing solidarity with the issue of the enforced disappeared persons.

BAU participated in Beirut Urban Declaration Conference after Beirut Port Explosion [5]

https://www.bau.edu.lb/Public-Relations/News/BAU-participated-in-Beirut-Urban-Declaration-Conference-after-Beirut-Port-Explosion

The Faculty of Architecture - Design and Built Environment at Beirut Arab University participated in Beirut Urban Declaration Conference for restoration of afflicted areas after the huge explosion that occurred on August four. The conference was organized by the Order of Engineers and Architects in Beirut in cooperation with the Faculties of Architecture in Lebanon whereby this event came after long preparations and workshops in addition to direct field work which started directly after Beirut Port explosion on August 4, 2020.

Since then, Professor Ibtihal El-Bastawissi, the Dean of the Faculty of Architecture- Design and Built Environment, has worked within the organizing committees of the Deans of Faculties of Architecture for Beirut Urban Declaration which included five sessions. She invited a group of university professors from various faculties to participate in all aspects of conference activities in coordination with the Dean of Faculty of Human Sciences, Professor Mayssah El-Nayal. Professor El-Bastawissi also participated in a workshop organized by the Order of Engineers and Architects in Beirut in cooperation with the French government, UNESCO and the International Union of Architects (UIA) in order to achieve this declaration.

The university had interventions in more than one session in the conference where Professor Hassan Hallak gave a lecture entitled "The Economic and Social Role of the Beirut Port," in which he talked about the history of the development of Beirut Port and its economic and social impacts on the city.

Dr. Khaled Sadek gave a lecture under the title of "The Urban Fabric of Beirut between History and the Present" in which he dealt with the development of Beirut's urban fabric during the historical eras that the city has gone through. He mentioned the human values that the city has acquired, which are based on reverence of freedoms, respect of intellectual pluralism and openness to different civilizations.

In the fourth session, Dr. Hiba Mohsen gave a lecture entitled "Rehabilitation and Restoration of Damaged Heritage Buildings", in which she discussed the importance of preserving the heritage and the risks that threatens it, in addition to several proposals for the rehabilitation and construction of old neighborhoods.

In the second day, Dr. Khaled Sadek gave another lecture under the title of "Legislative Frameworks for Reconstruction Management", during which he presented the reality of legislation and the mechanisms available for reconstruction.

The Participation of the Dean of the Faculty of Architecture in the OEA Workshop [6]

https://www.bau.edu.lb/Public-Relations/News/The-Participation-of-the-Dean-of-the-Faculty-of-Architecture-in-the-OEA-Workshop

The Participation of the Dean of the Faculty of Architecture in the OEA Workshop on the Reconstruction of the Neighbourhoods affected by the 4th of August Blast within a National Vision for Sustainable Development Policies.

The Dean of the Faculty of Architecture, Design and Built Environment, Professor Ibtihal Youssef El-Bastawissi, participated in the workshop organized by the Order of Engineers and Architects in Beirut in cooperation with the French Government, UNESCO, and the International Union of Architects (UIA).

Professor El-Bastawissi participated in the fourth session covering the legal aspects of the reconstruction process. the session was carried out in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture and the General Directorate of Antiquities in Lebanon.

While moderating the public discussion panel at the end of the axis, Professor El-Bastawissi stressed on the importance of this axis, as well as all the other axes of the workshop which complement each other and enriched the studies carried out by the Architectural Faculties in Lebanese universities in collaboration with Order of Engineers and Architects in Beirut. Professor El-Bastawissi thanked the President of the OEA, Jad Tabet, for organizing this workshop and for all the efforts he is doing to keep up with the reconstruction of the districts devastated by the explosion of August 4, 2020.

The Dean of the Faculty of Architecture, Design and Built Environment, Professor Ibtihal Youssef El-Bastawissi, participated in the workshop organized by the Order of Engineers and Architects in Beirut in cooperation with the French Government, UNESCO, and the International Union of Architects (UIA).

Professor El-Bastawissi participated in the fourth session covering the legal aspects of the reconstruction process. the session was carried out in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture and the General Directorate of Antiquities in Lebanon.

While moderating the public discussion panel at the end of the axis, Professor El-Bastawissi stressed on the importance of this axis, as well as all the other axes of the workshop which complement each other and enriched the studies carried out by the Architectural Faculties in Lebanese universities in collaboration with Order of Engineers and Architects in Beirut. Professor El-Bastawissi thanked the President of the OEA, Jad Tabet, for organizing this workshop and for all the efforts he is doing to keep up with the reconstruction of the districts devastated by the explosion of August 4, 2020.

A Research Study Project for Port Beirut Explosion conducted by BAU- Faculty of Engineering [7]

https://www.bau.edu.lb/Public-Relations/News/A-Research-Study-Project-for-Port-Beirut-Explosion-conducted-by-BAU-Faculty-of-Engineering

A research team from Beirut Arab University - Faculty of Engineering led by prof. Yehya Temsah - Assistant dean, professor of structural engineering - conducted a Study Project for the Beirut Port Explosion in collaboration with the Lebanese Army. The project aimed, through structural analysis approach, to define the magnitude of the explosive material weight, the structural response of the Wheat Silos and their protective role.

The preliminary study results were of great importance and the research team was invited to present their study in several local and international scientific discussions.

On one hand, the Research Team Head Prof. Temsah also participated in an international online conference organized by Balamand University- Lebanon Map, entitled “Beirut Blast: A Paradigm Shift in Open Geospatial Data “which was held on November 6 and 7, 2020.

On another hand, Prof. Yehya Temsah and Dr. Ali Jahami - Assistant professor, lecture at the faculty of engineering - participated in a webinar organized by Beirut Order of Engineers and Architects entitled “Beirut Blast: Nature, Magnitude, Observation, Damages and Assessment” which was held on November 13, 2020.

The Role of Geothermal Energy in Efficient Building Performance [8]

https://www.bau.edu.lb/Architecture-Design-and-Built-Environment/Event/The-Role-of-GeothermalEnergy-in-Efficient-Building-Performance

Targeting building energy use is a key to decrease energy consumption by incorporating energy-efficient strategies into the design. Geothermal system helps us to achieve Zero Carbon design. The lecture revealed a link between geothermal system, human comfort, indoor environmental quality, and aesthetics. Geothermal energy is an underused resource that emits no greenhouse gas emissions, highly reliable, and is produced locally. 

BAU CoF Constructing the Future Design. Experiment. Fab. Build [9]

https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bau.edu.lb%2FArchitecture-Design-and-Built-Environment%2FEvent%2FBAU-CoF_Constructing-the-Future-DesignExperiment-Fab-Build.&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNFu7bRLpAzo81efRWEa_lxvtiIdcg

Beiut Arab University, Faculty of Architectural Engineering is hosting one of the most important series of lectures for the year 2016-2017. Four pioneering architects and artists from Spain and Portugal are discussing their work explaining the intersection between digital technologies and art with the current architecture pedagogies.

In accordance with the new demand in design education, the introduction of design workshops in architectural curricula shall assist the investigation of the form, building components, and material attributes. In that matter, BAU Constructing the Future (CoF) Lecture Series is a symposium that seeks to promote not only art and architecture, but also discourse between different advanced and current modelling, construction and fabrication strategies.

BAU CoF was hosted on Monday, September the 5th in BAU Debbieh Campus,Faculty of Architectural Engineering, Omar Houri Aurditorium.

Beiut Arab University, Faculty of Architectural Engineering is hosting one of the most important series of lectures for the year 2016-2017. Four pioneering architects and artists from Spain and Portugal are discussing their work explaining the intersection between digital technologies and art with the current architecture pedagogies.

In accordance with the new demand in design education, the introduction of design workshops in architectural curricula shall assist the investigation of the form, building components, and material attributes. In that matter, BAU Constructing the Future (CoF) Lecture Series is a symposium that seeks to promote not only art and architecture, but also discourse between different advanced and current modelling, construction and fabrication strategies.

BAU CoF was hosted on Monday, September the 5th in BAU Debbieh Campus,Faculty of Architectural Engineering, Omar Houri Aurditorium.

References