We are pleased to announce the next lecture in the 2024 Fazlur Rahman Khan Distinguished Lecture Series.
Title: Architectural Engineering: Does it Have an Identity Crisis?
Speaker: Allen C. Estes
Position: Professor and Head, Department of Architectural Engineering, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA
Webinar Details:
The lecture will be held exclusively via Zoom and requires registration. Register here.
About the Webinar:
There are currently 26 ABET-accredited Architectural Engineering (AE) programs in the United States, along with 7 additional international programs, each with distinct curricular emphases. Since 2008, the number of accredited AE programs has risen from 18 to 26, representing a 44% increase that reflects the growing recognition of these programs. However, the American public and many industry professionals remain unclear about the roles of architectural engineers and how they differ from civil engineers and architects.
In contrast, the 271 accredited civil engineering (CE) programs in the U.S. outnumber AE programs by nearly 10 to 1, yet they do not face similar identity challenges despite substantial overlaps in the subdisciplines of structures and construction. The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) serves as the lead society for both disciplines, while the ASCE Architectural Engineering Institute (AEI) oversees architectural engineering.
This lecture will explore the history of AE in the U.S., analyze the curricular content of various programs, and contrast the CE and AE disciplines. Evidence and rationale for the AE identity challenge will be presented, along with recommendations for improving the situation.