Architectural engineering, also known as 

building engineering or architecture engineering, is

an engineering discipline that deals with the technological aspects and multi-disciplinary approach
to planning, design, construction and operation of buildings, such as analysis and integrated
design of environmental systems (energy conservation, HVAC, plumbing, lighting, fire
protection, acoustics, vertical and horizontal transportation, electrical power systems), structural
systems, behavior and properties of building components and materials, and construction
management.[1][2]
From reduction of greenhouse gas emissions to the construction of resilient buildings, architectural
engineers are at the forefront of addressing several major challenges of the 21st century. They apply
the latest scientific knowledge and technologies to the design of buildings. Architectural engineering
as a relatively new licensed profession emerged in the 20th century as a result of the rapid
technological developments. Architectural engineers are at the forefront of two major historical
opportunities that today's world is immersed in: (1) that of rapidly advancing computer-technology,
and (2) the parallel revolution arising from the need to create a sustainable planet. [3][4]
Distinguished from architecture as an art of design, architectural engineering is
the art and science of engineering and construction as practiced in respect of buildings.[5]

Contents

 1Related engineering and design fields

o 1.1Structural Engineering

o 1.2Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP)

 2The architectural engineer (PE) in the United States

 3The architect as architectural engineer

 4Education

o 4.1Architectural engineering as a single integrated field of study

 5See also

 6References

Related engineering and design fields[edit]

Structural Engineering[edit]
Main article: Structural engineering

Structural engineering involves the analysis and design of the built environment (buildings, bridges,
equipment supports, towers and walls). Those concentrating on buildings are sometimes informally
referred to as "building engineers". Structural engineers require expertise in strength of
materials, structural analysis, and in predicting structural load such as from weight of the building,
occupants and contents, and extreme events such as wind, rain, ice, and seismic design of
structures which is referred to as earthquake engineering. Architectural Engineers sometimes
incorporate structural as one aspect of their designs; the structural discipline when practiced as a
specialty works closely with architects and other engineering specialists.

Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP)[edit]

MEP room in a building

Mechanical engineering and electrical engineering engineers are specialists when engaged in the

building design fields. This is known as mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) throughout the
United States, or building services engineering in the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia.
[6]
 Mechanical engineers often design and oversee the heating, ventilation and air
conditioning (HVAC), plumbing, and rainwater systems. Plumbing designers often include design
specifications for simple active fire protection systems, but for more complicated projects, fire
protection engineers are often separately retained. Electrical engineers are responsible for the
building's power distribution, telecommunication, fire alarm, signalization, lightning
protection and control systems, as well as lighting systems.

The architectural engineer (PE) in the United States[edit]

Main article: Architectural engineer (PE)

In many jurisdictions of the United States, the architectural engineer is a licensed engineering

professional.[7] Usually a graduate of an EAC/ABET-accredited architectural engineering university
program preparing students to perform whole-building design in competition with architect-engineer
teams; or for practice in one of structural, mechanical or electrical fields of building design, but with
an appreciation of integrated architectural requirements. Although some states require a BS degree
from an EAC/ABET-accredited engineering program, with no exceptions, about two thirds of the
states accept BS degrees from ETAC/ABET-accredited architectural engineering technology
programs to become licensed engineering professionals. Architectural engineering technology
graduates, with applied engineering skills, often gain further learning with an MS degree in
engineering and/or NAAB-accredited Masters of Architecture to become licensed as both an
engineer and architect. This path requires the individual to pass state licensing exams in both
disciplines. States handle this situation differently on experienced gained working under a licensed
engineer and/or registered architect prior to taking the examinations. This education model is more
in line with the educational system in the United Kingdom where an accredited MEng or MS degree
in engineering for further learning is required by the Engineering Council to be registered as
a Chartered Engineer. The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) facilitate
the licensure and credentialing of architects but requirements for registration often vary between
states. In the state of New Jersey, a registered architect is allowed to sit for the PE exam and a
professional engineer is allowed to take the design portions of the Architectural Registration Exam
(ARE), to become a registered architect. It is becoming more common for highly educated
architectural engineers in the United States to become licensed as both engineer and architect.
Formal architectural engineering education, following the engineering model of earlier disciplines,
developed in the late 19th century, and became widespread in the United States by the mid-20th
century. With the establishment of a specific "architectural engineering" NCEES Professional
Engineering registration examination in the 1990s, and first offering in April 2003, architectural
engineering became recognized as a distinct engineering discipline in the United States. Up to date
NCEES account allows engineers to apply to other states PE license "by comity".
In most license-regulated jurisdictions, architectural engineers are not entitled to practice
architecture unless they are also licensed as architects. Practice of structural engineering in high-risk
locations, e.g., due to strong earthquakes, or on specific types of higher importance buildings such
as hospitals, may require separate licensing as well. Regulations and customary practice vary widely
by state or city.

The architect as architectural engineer[edit]

See also: Architect §  Professional requirements

In some countries, the practice of architecture includes planning, designing and overseeing the
building's construction, and architecture, as a profession providing architectural services, is referred
to as "architectural engineering". In Japan, a "first-class architect" plays the dual role of architect and
building engineer, although the services of a licensed "structural design first-class architect"(構造設
計一級建築士) are required for buildings over a certain scale.[8]
In some languages, such as Korean and Arabic, "architect" is literally translated as "architectural
engineer". In some countries, an "architectural engineer" (such as the ingegnere edile in Italy) is
entitled to practice architecture and is often referred to as an architect.[citation needed] These individuals are
often also structural engineers. In other countries, such as Germany, Austria, Iran, and most of the
Arab countries, architecture graduates receive an engineering degree (Dipl.-Ing. – Diplom-
Ingenieur).[9]
In Spain, an "architect" has a technical university education and legal powers to carry out building
structure and facility projects.[10]
In Brazil, architects and engineers used to share the same accreditation process (Conselho Federal
de Engenheiros, Arquitetos e Agrônomos (CONFEA) – Federal Council of Engineering, Architecture
and Agronomy). Now the Brazilian architects and urbanists have their own accreditation process
(CAU – Architecture and Urbanism Council). Besides traditional architecture design training,
Brazilian architecture courses also offer complementary training in engineering disciplines such as
structural, electrical, hydraulic and mechanical engineering. After graduation, architects focus in
architectural planning, yet they can be responsible to the whole building, when it concerns to small
buildings (except in electric wiring, where the architect autonomy is limited to systems up to 30kVA,
and it has to be done by an Electrical Engineer), applied to buildings, urban environment, built
cultural heritage, landscape planning, interiorscape planning and regional planning. [11][12]
In Greece licensed architectural engineers are graduates from architecture faculties that belong to
the Polytechnic University,[13] obtaining an "Engineering Diploma". They graduate after 5 years of
studies and are fully entitled architects once they become members of the Technical Chamber of
Greece (TEE – Τεχνικό Επιμελητήριο Ελλάδος).[14][15] The Technical Chamber of Greece has more
than 100,000 members encompassing all the engineering disciplines as well as architecture. A
prerequisite for being a member is to be licensed as a qualified engineer or architect and to be a
graduate of an engineering and architecture schools of a Greek university, or of an equivalent school
from abroad. The Technical Chamber of Greece is the authorized body to provide work licenses to
engineers of all disciplines as well as architects, graduated in Greece or abroad. The license is
awarded after examinations. The examinations take place three to four times a year. The
Engineering Diploma equals a master's degree in ECTS units (300) according to the Bologna
Accords.[16]
Education[edit]
Further information: Engineer's degree

The architectural, structural, mechanical and electrical engineering branches each have well
established educational requirements that are usually fulfilled by completion of a university program.

An air handling unit is used for the heating and cooling of air in a central location (click on image for legend).
Bringing together knowledge of acoustic engineering and HVAC is one example of the multi-disciplined nature
of architectural engineering

Architectural engineering as a single integrated field of study[edit]

Main article: Building engineering education

Its multi-disciplinary engineering approach is what differentiates architectural engineering from

architecture (the field of the architect): which is an integrated, separate and single, field of study
when compared to other engineering disciplines.
Through training in and appreciation of architecture, the field seeks integration of building systems
within its overall building design. Architectural engineering includes the design of building systems
including heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), plumbing, fire
protection, electrical, lighting, architectural acoustics, and structural systems. In some university
programs, students are required to concentrate on one of the systems; in others, they can receive a
generalist architectural or building engineering degree.

See also[edit]

 Architecture portal

 Engineering portal

 Architectural drawing
 Architectural technologist
 Architectural technology
 Building engineer
 Building officials
 Civil engineering