Dr. Sid Ahmed Ouldja is a Lecturer in Digital Built Environment and Course Leader for BSc (Hons) Architectural Technology at Birmingham City University. He holds a PhD in Architecture, Civil and Building Engineering from Loughborough University, an MSc in Sustainable Building Engineering from the University of Greenwich, and a MArch in Architecture from Université Saad Dahlab Blida, Algeria, alongside a Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education from Birmingham City University and Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA).
His academic career includes posts at Loughborough University, De Montfort University and the University of Northampton, teaching across construction management, Building Information Management (BIM) and building performance engineering. Since joining Birmingham City University in 2022, he has led the delivery of the BNV4104 and BNV5113 Integrated Digital Design modules, embedding BIM Execution Plans, Employer's Information Requirements and Master Information Delivery Plans into student projects in line with BS EN ISO 19650. His research explores the intersection of architects' tacit knowledge, generative design and parametric BIM workflows for energy-efficient buildings, and he currently supervises a Knowledge Transfer Partnership with Davicon Mezzanine Floors Ltd, embedding generative design and automated, parametric BIM workflows that combine CAD, 3D scan data and carbon cost logic.
Before moving into academia, he worked in industry as Chief Technology Officer of ASP Algerian Smart Precast Ltd, developing a pre-stressed reinforced concrete offsite factory in partnership with the EBAWE Progress Group, and contributed to BIM Execution Plan and clash detection strategy for the NEOM Masterplan project in Saudi Arabia. Sid is fluent in Arabic, English and French, and is a Professional Member of ASHARE.
- Building Information Modelling (BIM) and BIM Execution Plans (BEP) in line with BS EN ISO 19650
- Parametric and generative digital design
- Federated BIM and Common Data Environments (CDE)
- Construction and BIM project management
- Sustainable design and climate change mitigation
- Post occupancy evaluation and building performance
- Offsite/precast manufacturing and construction technology
- PhD, Architecture, Civil & Building Engineering – Loughborough University (2016–2021)
- PGCert, Learning and Teaching in Higher Education – Birmingham City University (2024–2025)
- MSc, Sustainable Building Engineering – University of Greenwich (2014–2015)
- MArch, Architecture – Université Saad Dahlab Blida, Algeria (2007–2012)
- Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA), AdvanceHE (2025)
- Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA), AdvanceHE
- AASHARE
- BSc (Hons) Architectural Technology (former Course Leader)
- BSc (Hons) Building Surveying
- BSc (Hons) Quantity Surveying
- BSc (Hons) Real Estate
- BSc (Hons) Planning Development
- Embedding generative design, automated proposals and integrated parametric BIM workflows (KTP with Davicon Mezzanine Floors Ltd), combining CAD, 3D scan data and carbon cost logic.
- The impact of architects' tacit reasoning on early design decision-making for energy-efficient buildings.
MSc Construction Project Management course supervision
Human versus Computer: The Impact of Architects’ Tacit Reasoning on Early Design Decision-Making for Energy Efficient Buildings. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16188220
Ouldja, S.A.; Demian, P.; Eftekhari, M. The Impact of Architects’ Reasoning on Early Design Decision-Making for Energy-Efficient Buildings. Sustainability 2024, 16, 8220. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16188220
- Academic Supervisor, Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) with Davicon Mezzanine Floors Ltd, focused on generative design and parametric BIM workflows
- Consultancy on the NEOM Masterplan (KSA), covering BIM Execution Plan and clash detection strategy during the construction documentation phase
- Chief Technology Officer, ASP Algerian Smart Precast Ltd – developed a pre-stressed reinforced concrete offsite factory in collaboration with the EBAWE Progress Group
