Department of Architecture-LCWU

The Department of Architecture, LCWU wishes you a joyous Eid ul Adha filled with peace, gratitude, and togetherness.

Eid Mubarak!

Meet the Faculty (Permanent) - Ar. Rifza Zahid

A dedicated academic, licensed architect and a registered member of the Pakistan Council of Architects and Town Planners , she holds a Master of Science in City and Regional Planning and a degree in Architecture from the University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore. She was Executive member of UET Science Society. She completed her F.sc. from Kinnaird College for Women and was awarded the Punjab Educational Endowment Fund merit-based scholarship throughout her undergraduate studies. Her additional education includes International Graphic Design Course from University of Colorado (2020) and participation in an international winter school on planning organized by TU Dortmund University, UET Lahore, NUST, and LCWU in 2023. In 2024, she graduated under Cohort-I of K-BIC, LCWU. Currently serving as Lecturer since almost four years, she has contributed to multiple research publications with focus on sustainability. She holds key administrative roles being the MOU Focal person and Exam Coordinator of Department of Architecture, Convocation Nominee and records minutes of every meeting in Department since 2023. She has undertaken diverse responsibilities till now such as K-BIC and Alumni Focal Person, Annual Report compiler, Admission and IAPEX Faculty Coordinator, Secretary for hiring visiting faculty etc. She has supervised many design studios and eight undergraduate theses till now. She also possesses professional experience in Allied Engineering Consultants Private Limited and remote practice. She actively engages in academic and professional platforms, organizing workshops, attending national and international trainings, and representing her department in conferences and forums. She has served as a jury reviewer at leading institutions like UET, UMT, and PU etc. She was nominated as an academic expert for the QS Global Academic Survey 2025.

Meet the Faculty (Permanent) - Ar. Farina Shahid

With nearly a decade of professional practice and over six years in academia, Ar. Farina Shahid is an architect, computational designer, and educator whose work bridges Architecture, Artificial Intelligence, and Digital Design Narratives. Her portfolio spans from institutional public design and ex*****on to internationally recognized computational explorations. Within a year into her Academic career Ar. Farina Shahid along with her students team was the winning architect behind the 100 Years Centenary Monument at LCWU, executed & inaugurated in 2021. In parallel, her project Sverchok Compartments received 3rd place internationally in the Parametric Furniture Design Competition in Spain in 2022.

Committed to evolving architectural education, Ar. Farina Shahid has pioneered introducing advanced electives, wearable architecture studies, digital design thesis and research-to-design approaches. Her role extends beyond curriculum development into institutional collaboration, where she has been instrumental in enabling cross-departmental partnerships—beginning with the Interior Department at LCWU that facilitated further collaborations; extending to international platforms such as Tamayouz Excellence Award—helping students overcome conceptual and application-based barriers in competition work.

Bridging professional practice, academia and her internationally published research she positions AI at the centre of contemporary architectural discourse. As a Lead Trainer in AI for Architecture and Design across multiple institutions, she has been actively engaged in building capacity among emerging architects and has led AI-driven academic initiatives i.e. AI-driven Design and Innovation in Architecture; IAP-LC launched its first chapter in July 2025. As the sole female academic contributor at the ARCASIA AI-Driven Architectural Education Forum, she engaged with global experts in shaping emerging pedagogical directions for architecture. Her wider professional service spans academic advisory positions and her current role as Head of Communications at Women in Architecture Pakistan.

Meet the Faculty (Permanent) - Ar. Maryam Jamil

Maryam Jamil serves as a Lecturer in the Department of Architecture at Lahore College for Women University (LCWU) and is an accomplished practicing architect with more than a decade of combined academic and professional experience. Currently pursuing her PhD at the University of Engineering and Technology (UET), Lahore, she continues to expand her scholarly and practical expertise, with a strong focus on advancing sustainable design practices.

She holds both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Architecture from UET Lahore, where she cultivated a robust foundation in architectural design, construction systems, and research methodologies. As a registered member of the Pakistan Council of Architects and Town Planners (PCATP) and the Institute of Architects Pakistan (IAP), she actively engages with the professional community and contributes to the evolving discourse of architecture in Pakistan.

Maryam’s academic role is complemented by a growing body of research publications, reflecting her dedication to knowledge creation and dissemination. Her research interests are centered on sustainable architectural design, with particular emphasis on the exploration of environmentally responsive materials, innovative construction techniques, and simulation-based analysis of building performance. Through her work, she seeks to integrate research and practice to develop energy-efficient, contextually responsive, and environmentally responsible built environments.

Meet the Faculty (Permanent) - Ar. Dr. Nida Qanber Abbasi

Architect, academic, and researcher with over a decade of experience in architectural education, research, and professional practice. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Architecture at the University of Portsmouth, where her research explores cultural memory, historic urban spaces and artefacts, public space, and questions of spatial justice in contemporary cities. Her scholarly work critically examines the relationship between people, place, and heritage, with a particular focus on how historic environments shape collective identity and urban experience.

Her academic and research interests include heritage studies, adaptive reuse, urban regeneration, urban morphology, and the socio-spatial dimensions of historic environments. She has extensive teaching experience in architectural design, history, theory, and visual communication across higher education institutions and international pre-university programmes.

Committed to research-led and contextually responsive pedagogy, she actively promotes critical inquiry, creativity, and inclusive learning environments. Her academic contributions include curriculum development, academic mentoring, interdisciplinary collaboration, and scholarly publications focusing on heritage conservation, public space, and adaptive reuse.

A day of pride, achievement, and new beginnings.
Convocation 2025 marked the celebration of years of dedication, resilience, and creative pursuit as degrees were conferred upon the graduating students of the Architecture Department.

Special recognition to our distinguished medalists:
🥇 Gold Medalist — Rameen Shoaib
🥈 Silver Medalist — Maryam Asim
🥉 Bronze Medalist — Aroofa

May this milestone be the foundation of meaningful journeys ahead.

Meet the Faculty (Permanent): Ar. Beenish Hasan

Beenish Hasan is an accomplished academic and practicing architect, currently serving as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Architecture at Lahore College for Women University. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture from the University of Engineering and Technology (UET), Lahore, and a Master’s degree in Environmental Design from Allama Iqbal Open University, Islamabad.

With a strong blend of academic expertise and professional practice, she has developed a well-rounded perspective on architectural design and environmental sustainability. Alongside her teaching career, she actively engages in professional architectural practice and has served as Architect on numerous projects, demonstrating her leadership and design capabilities.

Beenish Hasan brings extensive field experience to her work, enriching both her academic contributions and professional projects. She is also a registered member of the Pakistan Council of Architects & Town Planners and Institute of Architects, reflecting her commitment to maintaining professional standards and contributing to the development of the architectural profession.

Meet the Faculty (Permanent) - Ar. Maliha Khalid

Ar. Maliha Khalid is an accomplished architect, academic, and researcher with extensive professional and teaching experience in architecture, interior design, conservation, and heritage studies. She is currently serving as Assistant Professor (BS-19) in the Department of Architecture at Lahore College for Women University. She is also a PhD Scholar at University of Engineering and Technology Lahore, specializing in architectural heritage and conservation research.

Over the course of her professional career, she has worked with renowned firms including Pervez Iqbal and Associates, Kamran Sheikh Interior Design, and City Spaces, contributing to architectural and interior design projects. She also served as S.D.O at the Documentation Centre, Department of Archaeology, Government of Punjab, where she supervised conservation documentation and heritage recording projects across Punjab.

Her research focuses on preservation, adaptive reuse, conservation of Mughal heritage, and post-pandemic spatial futures. She has published numerous research papers in HEC-recognized journals on Lahore’s historic architecture and urban heritage. Alongside her academic responsibilities, she actively contributes to curriculum development, accreditation activities, exhibitions, workshops, and departmental coordination.

Meet the Faculty (Permanent)
Dr. Asia Jabeen an accomplished architect, researcher, and academic leader serving as Head of the Department of Architecture at LCWU.

With over three decades of professional and academic excellence, her contributions span architectural practice, digital heritage, curriculum development, and built environment research. Her work reflects a strong commitment towards preserving historic urban landscapes while advancing contemporary architectural education and professional practice.

From leading major national and international projects to contributing towards educational reforms and heritage conservation, Dr. Asia Jabeen continues to inspire through her vision, leadership, and dedication to academia.

"Planning on Slopes: Techniques for Contour-Based Design,” conducted by Ar. Pervez Iqbal, offered a detailed examination of planning approaches for sloped designs. The lecture covered contour reading, zoning on gradients, circulation networks, and environmental responsiveness. By addressing both conceptual and practical dimensions, the session reinforced the importance of aligning architectural interventions with the natural terrain to achieve efficient, sustainable, and contextually grounded outcomes.