Spanning a history of 5,000 years, Beirut has often been likened to the Phoenix for its recurring destruction and rebirth, recorded seven times over. This presentation delves into the remarkable resilience of Beirut, with a particular focus on the aftermath of the devastating 2020 explosion. It highlights how the deployment of innovative tools has facilitated a faster-than-expected recovery, especially amid the severe economic crisis Lebanon has faced since 2019.

Speaker Joe Kallas is an architect and cultural heritage specialist with significant experience in disaster response and reconnaissance missions. As an expert member of CIPA Heritage Documentation and a member of ICOMOS Lebanon, he effectively utilizes digital technology to support recovery efforts in post-disaster areas. Also serving as a UNESCO international expert, Kallas contributes to heritage preservation in disaster-affected areas such as Beirut, Ukraine, and Syria. He is currently a PhD candidate at Penn State University, where he focuses on integrating artificial intelligence and machine learning with 3D structural assessments to improve disaster reconnaissance and enhance building resilience.

This lecture is co-sponsored by:

Azrieli School of Architecture & Urbanism
Canadian Institute for Mediterranean Studies
Carleton University College of the Humanities
Carleton Immersive Media Studio (CIMS)
Penn State University Department of Architectural Engineering