Ramla Benaissa

Ramla Benaissa is a practicing architect and academic, serving as Founder and Principal of Ramla Benaissa Architects, LLC since 2009. She holds a PhD in Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania’s Weitzman School of Design and a Master’s degree from McGill University. Her academic roles include Lecturer at the University of Pennsylvania (2000–2016), Adjunct Associate Professor at Drexel University (2004–2006), and teaching positions at the University of Tennessee and University of the Arts. Her research focuses on 18th-century French architectural theorists like Jacques-François Blondel and Claude-Nicolas Ledoux, emphasizing historical pedagogy and design theory.

Her built works include rehabilitation projects such as the Spring City Readiness Center and renovations for veterans’ facilities in Pennsylvania. Her PhD dissertation, *From history to posterity: The œuvres complètes of Jacques-François Blondel and Claude-Nicolas Ledoux*, underscores her scholarly contribution to architectural historiography. She has presented at venues like Virginia Tech and the Bibliothek Werner Oechslin, discussing topics ranging from Blondel’s teaching methods to satirical critiques of architectural discourse.

Ramla’s teaching spans undergraduate and graduate design studios, architectural history, and theory courses. Her academic contributions blend historical scholarship with contemporary design pedagogy, reflecting her dual role as a practicing architect and educator.