Transforming Building Design through Integrated Project Delivery in Architectural and Engineering Education

Changes in the interaction of the different disciplines involved in building science during the 20th century have increased the divide between what is taught in the classrooms and what is later expected by the actual professional workplace However, recent advances in computer technology and demands that come from contemporary professional scenarios have begun to address this divide. This new reality has led to the development of an integrated interdisciplinary approach under the umbrella of integrated project delivery (IPD). Through IPD, the traditional consultant-based model has been substituted by an integrated model in which the various professions are required to work together from the beginning of the building project. The purpose of this paper is to describe an initiative aimed to implement an integrated minor degree to provide the substantial knowledge required to address these new professional scenarios. We call it "Transforming Building Design through Integrated Project Delivery in Architectural and Engineering Education." Through this initiative, students from both architecture and civil engineering schools jointly face scenarios that mimic actual professional challenges. This initiative will provide students the opportunity to develop solutions to real building design projects collaboratively using BIM and project-based learning.