Work in Progress: Collaborative Environments in Architecture and Civil Engineering Education - Case Study

Developing infrastructure involves complex processes that require the effective integration of interdisciplinary professionals. Consequently, coordination is essential for the development of construction projects at any scale. Probably, the most important cohesion that needs to happen within said projects is between architects and civil engineers, but often they seem to be at opposite ends of the spectrum. Friction between these professionals often translates to delays, higher costs, and lower quality in the end-product. This preliminary exploratory study aims to understand civil engineering and architecture students' perspectives on collaboration through the creation of hands-on groups tasks that host students from both architecture and civil engineering. This pilot study combined three modules of second-year courses from both majors (n=78 students) that required students to work in teams for four weeks. After the courses were finished, the authors administered a survey with open - and closed-ended questions to gather qualitative data on self-reported perspectives on collaboration. The results of the pilot study suggest that students working together from early stages have the opportunity to develop soft skills, expand their networks, and, most importantly, appreciate their counterpart's perspectives. Finally, the authors reflect on future research paths in collaborative learning as well as in soft skills training and development for majors from the construction industry.