Seismic Vulnerability of Masonry School Buildings: The Case of Algiers and Blida, Algeria

Abstract

School architecture, which emerged in the early 19th century, developed to structure education within environments specifically suited to learning, becoming one of the most widespread public building types worldwide. In northern Algeria, particularly in Algiers and Blida—high seismicity regions—numerous schools were constructed in unreinforced masonry between the 19th and early 20th centuries, prior to the introduction of seismic design codes, making them highly vulnerable. This study identifies and geolocates these buildings, classifies them according to geometric and morphological configurations, and assesses their seismic vulnerability using nonlinear static (pushover) analysis with TREMURI software. Results highlight seismic response across diverse typologies, identify critical structural zones, and demonstrate the influence of architectural form on seismic performance. The study provides an evaluation framework to guide retrofit interventions and inform conservation and seismic risk mitigation strategies for masonry school heritage in earthquake-prone regions.