Penn State Architectural Engineering

Where will engineering education for the building industry go in the years ahead? Where will the professions related to the building industry be when the students of today reach their professional peak? These are questions that are asked over and over again in numerous meetings, seminars, and simple office discussions. The building industry encompasses a wide range of professionals and nonprofessionals, and the interaction between these many participants is key to the successful completion of any building project. A new look at the educational programs that feed professionals into this industry will provide a glimpse of where we will be going and define how we might improve our chances of having where we end up be where we want to be. Based on its past success, architectural engineering (AE) education has the potential to provide the leaders of the future that all will agree are needed. Architectural engineering graduates participate in the building process in such positions as structural engineers, heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) engineers, lighting designers, construction managers, technical sales representatives, and numerous other positions. Experience has shown that quality programs in architectural engineering have had a significant positive impact on the industry where graduates of these programs have been involved. However, with only 13 Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) accredited architectural engineering programs nationwide, that impact is somewhat limited in its national coverage. Although increasing significantly the number of ABET-accredited programs may not be in our future; the incorporation of traditionally AE approaches to both education and practice throughout the industry has the potential to improve all aspects of this, the nation's largest industry.