What is Architectural Engineering?

Architectural Engineering (AEs) is a unique and specialized field of engineering with 100% devotion/focus/passion to the understanding and design of building engineering systems; the electrical, mechanical, and structural systems. AEs are Professional Engineers P.E.’s defined by NCEESand by State Licensing Boards.

There are other engineering disciplines “Others” that try to wedge their way into doing work in the field of building engineering, i.e. Structural/Civil, Electrical, or Mechanical Engineers but their education is not 100% focused on the design of buildings.

It is important to note that “Other” Engineers are only using maybe 1/3 or their background education in engineering of buildings. For example, if you take a look at the college curriculum (courses) for electrical or mechanical engineers you will see out of possibly 25 or 30 courses you may have only 2-4 courses applicable to buildings and the remainder is for not applicable… However, when you look at the curriculum for AEs 100% of the courses are focused on buildings.

There is an argument within the building engineering circles and State licensing boards that electrical, mechanical, and civil engineers be stripped of their abilities to seal building engineering drawings unless they pursue an advanced degree that focuses on buildings to pick up what they lack. Today most of their building engineering training is done on the job rather than in core engineering training and P.E. testing.

Additional training is needed for “Other” engineers to expand on their limited building engineering backgrounds and think in terms of how buildings are designed. This is because they are not trained nor tested to be building engineering specialists. To give an analogy; if you were having heart problems and on the edge of having a heart attack, would you go to your general physician who has limited knowledge of the heart or would you go to a cardiologist who is a heart specialist. Sure your general physician will have something to say but would you bet your life on it? Architectural Engineers are to building engineering specialists as Cardiologists are to heart specialists.

When architects/contractors/owners work closely with Architectural Engineers (AEs) they acknowledge the whole design process becomes a whole lot more streamlined and simplified. That is because AEs are trained along side architects and contractors. AEs are about building engineering; that is their specialty.

Architects working directly with architectural engineers generally make the more profit because Architectural Engineers speak their language = far less communication issues the project is more enjoyable for the architect/client/contractor and AEs tackle eccentric design styles instead of giving the architect a resounding “NO!“. AEs find ways to make ideas work.

Here are some facts:

Link to P.E. Exam’s for all P.E. disciplines. Feel free to compare AEs with any other engineering discipline and you will clearly see that AEs are building specialists.
https://cdn.ncees.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Arch-Eng-Apr-2010.pdf
Link to ABET Accredited Engineering College degree programs. www.http://main.abet.org/aps/accreditedprogramsearch.asp

Notable architectural engineer(s): Santiago Calatrava (Considered AE Unconventional)

Winner of AIA Gold Metal (Most Distinguished Award Given by American Institute of Architects), click here to learn more.