On June 10, 2025, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Lebanon Section, in collaboration with the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering and the Office of Student Affairs at Notre Dame University-Louaize (NDU), organized a seminar on Post-War Reconstruction featuring engineer Rabih Kammourieh, expert in the Structural Assessment and Rehabilitation of Post-Conflict Buildings at Khatib and Alami.
The seminar opened with a welcome address by Professor Jacques Harb, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at NDU, who greeted attendees and emphasized the University’s commitment to fostering dialogue around real-world engineering challenges and sustainable development.
This was followed by remarks from Dr. Talal Salem, President of ASCE Lebanon Section and Associate Professor at NDU, who underscored the importance of organizing such a timely initiative. He emphasized the need to bring together experts to explore sustainable reconstruction solutions in the wake of recent conflicts. Dr. Salem noted that this seminar was part of an ongoing series, which began with a session at the American University of Beirut on the reuse of demolition waste in reconstruction, followed by another at Rafic Hariri University focusing on innovative solutions for slab reconstruction.
The event featured several distinguished speakers, including:
- Dr. Rabih Khalifeh, Deputy Head of the Civil Engineers Branch within the Order of Engineers and Architects (OEA-Beirut), who discussed the OEA’s role in post-conflict structural assessments and related regulations.
- Dr. Layla Jabbour, Senior Lecturer at the Ramez G. Chagoury Faculty of Architecture, Arts, and Design, who emphasized the social and cultural impact of reconstruction, highlighting the importance of preserving community identity and heritage in the rebuilding process.
- Engineers Rabih Kammourieh and Ali Hajj from the renowned engineering firm Khatib and Alami (K&A), who delivered the keynote session. They presented real-life examples of damaged buildings and the technical retrofitting solutions being implemented. Their presentation detailed the methodologies used to determine whether a building should be rehabilitated or demolished and reconstructed.
The seminar attracted over 60 participants, including engineers and architects from various firms, members of the ASCE Lebanon Section, and representatives from ASCE student chapters at Lebanese universities. The event concluded with a meet-and-greet session, allowing attendees to network and continue the discussion in a collaborative and informal setting.
The seminar was moderated by students from the ASCE Student Chapter at NDU, contributing to the event’s professional and engaging atmosphere. Their participation made the event a truly collaborative effort, bridging academia and industry.
Through this insightful seminar, NDU aimed to both find answers and raise critical new questions around this nationally significant topic — one that reflects on the country’s past while planning for its future. By drawing on the extensive knowledge of its faculty and the expertise of leading engineers, NDU continues to foster meaningful conversations and real-world solutions.