This paper explores post occupancy evaluation (POE) strategies with regard to performance of university buildings in Algeria. Essential methods of post-occupancy evaluations are reviewed. Implementation of broad principles of POE in the specific context of university facilities was applied. It endeavours to underline how post occupancy evaluation strategies can assist central government and local authorities in the higher education sector to respond to the challenge of developing a better built environment. Finally, key findings through a field work are presented.
Last but not least, it aspires to hand over the capacity to provide consistent 'evidence based' information to be incorporated into design guidelines, and inform future higher education facility decisions makers. Arguably tough, the potential as well as the limitations of the scope will require further exploration in use.

Le propos que tentons de développer s'apparente à un véritable plaidoyer pour le recouvrement de la démarche programmatique en tant qu'étape impérative et incontournable dans le processus global de conceptualisation et de mise en œuvre des projets d'architecture.

Within the Algerian context the urban historical centers are mainly composed by the old city of Ottoman era and the European city of the French era. These urban centers have experienced and continue to experience significant changes in their units, homogeneity and urban image. This phenomenon is accentuated with the natural growth of cities and the rural exodus. Therefore, urban development has complied with the economic imperatives alone, ignoring any historical urban structure reflecting the richness of different civilizations and cultures in the country. During the French period (1830 - 1962), the city was mainly inhabited by the Algerian population concentrated in the neighborhoods of the traditional city "Medina", and a European population concentrated in the colonial-type of houses. The city of Constantine which is considered the capital of eastern part of Algeria, by its size, its history and geographical position has seen many changes related to its structure and urban image. Also the city continues to undergo major transformations disregarding the context of historical urban city. Several scientific studies and research have allowed us to express the magnitude and importance of evaluation studies in the field of preservation of architectural heritage. Therefore, it is urgent to undertake scientific search in order to highlight the interest of this historical memory.