Ain Shams University

Faculty Member, Architecture, Faculty of Engineering

Assistant Professor

Engineering

Thesis Title: An Ethnographically Informed Analysis of Design Intent Communication in BIM-Enabled Architectural Practice

About

I am currently Assistant Professor of Architecture at Ain Shams University, Egypt. I got my PhD (2011) in architecture from Georgia Institute of Technology, USA, and my MSc (2004) and BSc (2000) in architectural engineering from Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.

I taught architectural undergraduate courses for 5 years at Ain Shams University, and 2 years at the Arab Academy for Science and Technology (AAST). I also taught at the British University in Egypt (BUE) and Future University in Egypt (FUE) as a part time lecturer.

I am a licensed architect in Egypt, where I worked as senior architect in an architectural firm, and as freelance architect otherwise. I participated in architectural projects including residential buildings and villas, commercial complexes, museums, and exhibitions in Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Germany.

My PhD thesis topic involved studying the communication of design intent in BIM-enabled architectural practice through an ethnographic study of architectural and AEC firms. My research interests include building information modeling (BIM), cognitive processes in concept design, patterns of distributed cognition in design, models of design expertise, collaborative design, tangible interfaces, and ambient intelligence. I have publications and posters in international conferences and journals related to design computing and cognition such as Advanced Engineering Informatics, Automation in Construction, CAADFutures, DCC, ACADIA, CAADRIA, IASDR, ASCAAD, SID and CDC.

I worked with Professor Charles Eastman and the AEC Integration Laboratory team (2007-2010) on a research project titled "BIM-enabled design guide automation" with the General Services Administration (GSA) for the automated rule checking and review of early concept designs for US courthouse buildings.

In April 2009, I received the ARCC / KING Student Medal for Excellence in Architectural + Environmental Design Research, as the Georgia Tech recipient for the academic year 2008/2009. This award is given to one student per ARCC member college, school, institute, or unit, and based upon criteria that acknowledge innovation, integrity, and scholarship in architectural and/or environmental design research.

In December 2009, I received an invitation of membership to the Golden Key International Honor Society, given exclusively to the top 15% of college / university sophomores, juniors and seniors, 2nd and 3rd year students and top performing U.S. graduate students in all fields of study, based solely on the objective criteria of their academic achievements.

In April 2012, I received the Faculty Award of Merit for Best Doctoral Presentation at the School of Architecture, Georgia Institute of Technology.

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