YU - Riyadh

Dr. Fernando Sarce

Assistant Professor of Architecture

Biography:

I am an Architect with a PhD and a MSc degree and more than 10 years’ experience within the field of building physics and energy building performance.

In the last 8 years I have been dedicated to the investigation of the coupled phenomenon between heat and moisture that occurs within porous materials, as well as building pathologies; e.g mould growth & condensation.

I specialized in dynamic hygrothermal modelling analysis and psychrometric interpretation for building energy efficiency applications and disseminated publishable findings within the scientific and research community.

I have conducted self-motivated theoretical research within the field of characterization of porous materials for fundamental understanding between the hygrothermal properties (e.g. porosity, moisture storage function) and the structure of the pore morphology with respect to flow properties of gases.

Additionally, Dr. Fernando Sarce is a Co-Founder of the startup, now established as BIOAERA AUSTRAL SpA, where he has taken on the role of Chief Technology Officer (CTO). His responsibility is to coordinate, manage, and actively participate in the development of scientific and technological solutions alongside interdisciplinary teams within the company.

Dr. Fernando Sarce has taken two times the role of Head of Department (HOD) for the Architectural program, where he was responsible for achieving the strategic objectives of the Faculty/Dean's office. He overseed the implementation, development, and revision of plans in collaboration with the Faculty Dean/Dean of Support Studies. I lead the designing, producing and implementation of the new Architectural Curriculum Programme, and the structured and planned educational courses and activities designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary for a career in architecture.

In my previous years in KSA, I assumed the position of VICE DEAN at the College of Architecture and Design, in AL-Asala Colleges. My role involved informing and supporting the new transitions in curriculum plans and developing action plans for the University's strategic priorities. I assisted in the transition plans for student advising and implement methodologies for data collection and analysis, collaborating with the academic advisory committee to ensure the activation of advising roles for student academic procedures. Additionally, I was providing support to the Dean of Admissions, Registrar, and Student Affairs in the implementation of transition plans, actively collaborating with the Vice-President, Provost, Deans and Department Heads.

Publications:

THOMANN, F. S., HALL, M. R., MOKAYA, R. & STEVENS, L. A. 2015. Hygrothermal simulation-informed design of mesoporous desiccants for optimised energy efficiency of mixed mode air conditioning systems. Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 3, 17290-17303.

THOMANN, F. S., HALL, M. R., SANGCHOOM, W. & MOKAYA, R. 2015. A hygrothermal modelling approach to water vapour sorption isotherm design for mesoporous humidity buffers. Microporous and Mesoporous Materials, 211, 113-123.

PAULA LOPEZ, HECTOR ALTAMIRANO, JAMES BERRY, DIMITRIOS ROVAS, FERNANDO SARCE, STEVE HODGSON, 2020. Building moisture diagnosis: Processing, assessing and representation of environmental data for root cause analysis of mould growth. Building Simulations, 13, 999-1008.

ANDREW PARSONS, ALEKSANDRA GONCIARUK; XUESEN ZENG; FERNANDO SARCE THOMANN; PETER SCHUBEL; JULIEN LORRILLARD; MIKE S. JOHNSON, 2022. Controlling mass loss from RTM6 epoxy resin under simulated vacuum infusion conditions. Polymer Testing. 107, 107473.

Conferences:

Sarce F, Hall MR, Casey SP. Multi-layered hygroscopic wall assemblies for humidity buffering and improved energy efficiency in a Passivhaus standard building. CMM2013 20th International Conference on Computer Methods in Mechanics, 27th – 31st August, Poznań, Poland (2013).

Casey SP, Hall MR, Sarce F, Tsang SCE, Khan AM. Physical and numerical predicted results for the hygric properties of desiccant materials. CMM2013 20th International Conference on Computer Methods in Mechanics, 27th – 31st August, Poznań, Poland (2013).

Paula Lopez, Hector Altamirano, James Berry, Dimitrios Rovas, Fernando Sarce, Steve Hodgson. Novel methodology for diagnosis of causes associated with mould growth in dwellings. IAQVEC International Conference. IOP Conf. Series: Materials Science and Engineering, 609 (2019) 0425025. doi:10.1088/1757-899X/609/4/042025

Fernando Sarce, Camilo Lanata, Annesi Giacaman, Héctor Altamirano-Medina. Defining design parameters and criteria for the avoidance of moisture-related problems within current Chilean buildings. 1st International Conference on Moisture in Buildings (ICMB21), UCL London 28-29 June 2021.

Fernando Sarce, Héctor Altamirano-Medina, Valentina Marincioni, Jalal Ahmed, Steve Hodgson. Investigations on the definition of indoor air moisture levels based on building construction typology. International Conference on Moisture in Buildings (ICMB25), Universidade do Minho, Guimarães, Portugal. 23-24 October 2025. (in-process).

Teaching:

  1. Architecture Design Studios
  2. Building Physics
  3. Building Construction
  4. Simultaneous heat and mass transfer - Hygrothermics
  5. Energy Efficiency on buildings
  6. Condensation and mould growth within dwellings.

Services:

  • Assistant professor, Engineering & Architecture, Al-Yamamah University, Saudi Arabia, 2024 – Present.
  • Head of Department, Facultad de Arquitectura, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, 2023 – 2024.
  • CTO, Bioaera Austral SpA, 2021 – Present.
  • Vice Dean, Architecture, Al-Asala Colleges, Saudi Arabia, 2022 – 2023.
  • Head of Department, Architecture, Al-Asala Colleges, Saudi Arabia, 2020 – 2022.
  • Assistant professor, Facultad de Arquitectura, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, 2019 – 2020.
  • Assistant professor, Facultad de Arquitectura, Universidad Mayor, Chile, 2018 – 2019.
  • Research Associate, University College London, UK, 2017 – 2018.
  • Research Fellow, University of Nottingham, UK, 2016 – 2017.
  • Project Coordinator, EEChile, Chile, 2011 – 2012.
  • Lecturer, Facultad de Arquitectura, Universidad Austral de Chile, 2008 – 2010.

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