Dr. Ayman Ashour - Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and Dr. Abdel Aziz Konswa - President of Alexandria University, inaugurated the first phase of the restoration and upgrade works of the buildings of the Faculty of Engineering at Alexandria University, implemented by the Arab Contractors Company. The event was attended by Dr. Moustafa Refaat - Secretary of the Supreme Council of Universities, Dr. Walid Abdel Azim - Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, the Faculty's vice deans, a number of staff members, and Eng. Hany Maher - Manager of Palaces and Monuments Restoration Department at the company.
Dr. Ayman Ashour inspected the restoration and upgrade works of the facades of the Faculty of Engineering buildings, which included the facades and roofs of the main administration building at the faculty. This project is part of the state's efforts to preserve the architectural heritage of Egyptian universities and develop their historical facilities.
Dr. Ayman Ashour stressed the importance of implementing projects to develop and upgrade university buildings to support efforts to advance the educational system and provide a distinguished educational environment that encourages students to innovate and excel.
The Minister pointed out that the Faculty of Engineering is included on the list of Alexandria's architectural heritage, due to its artistic and historical value. It was built in the "Neo-Pharaonic" style characterized government buildings in the mid-20th century, making it a prominent architectural icon.
The Minister praised the participation of the of students from the Department of Architecture in monitoring the project's phases on site, through visits and practical training, which provided them with a unique opportunity to gain practical experience in the field of heritage building restoration.
For his part, Dr. Abdel Aziz Konswa emphasized that the Faculty of Engineering is one of the oldest faculties at Alexandria University, having been established in 1942 when the university was a branch of Cairo University (then known as Fouad I University). It occupies an area of approximately 27 feddans in the heart of Alexandria, within an educational area of distinguished architectural value, according to the classification of the National Organization for Urban Harmony (NOUH). He pointed out that over time and the buildings' exposure to the harsh weather conditions of Alexandria, the condition of the facades and roofs deteriorated, necessitating the launch of a comprehensive restoration plan in 2022, under the supervision of the Engineering Center at Alexandria University, with the participation of a group of professors specializing in architecture, restoration, and construction.
The President of Alexandria University added that the project aims to completely enhance the efficiency of the facades and roofs, and to implement the necessary structural reinforcement work, while preserving the original elements of the building, according to the latest approved restoration methods. The work also included documentation 3D documentation and scanning of the architectural and decorative elements to ensure the accuracy of the rehabilitation.
Eng. Taher El Sherif - Project Manager, and Sherif Abu El Maati - Project Manager, pointed out that the renovation project for the Faculty of Engineering building at Alexandria University is of great importance and was implemented with great care by the company's leadership.
Dr. Adel Abdel Ghaffar - Media Advisor and Official Spokesperson of the Ministry, stated that the project's phases are being completed in other department buildings, such as the preparatory building and the production engineering workshops, according to an implementation plan that ensures the continuity of the educational process. He stressed the importance of implementing this project to preserve the historical and architectural identity of the faculty buildings, which are among the most prominent landmarks of Alexandria University, having graduated generations of engineers who contributed to the building of modern Egypt and held leading positions in various fields.