Architectural engineering is the only discipline of engineering with a focused emphasis on the planning, design, construction and maintenance of buildings. Architectural engineers design the structural systems, the mechanical systems, and the lighting and electrical systems of buildings, while managing the construction process and long-term building sustainability. While architects focus on building form and function (space, feel, materials, aesthetics, and outdoor experience), architectural engineers focus on how the building works (stability, safety, serviceability, comfort, health, efficiency, visibility, power consumption, and cost).

Architectural engineering students are interested in how buildings are designed, how they stand up against the forces of nature, and how they are built and maintained. They are also concerned with how buildings function as a coordinated set of structural, electrical, communication, and mechanical systems. Architectural Engineers are also very interested in how these systems support the building’s mission and its occupants’ needs in a sustainable manner. They are creative problem solvers addressing national and international challenges of energy needs, sustainable new and reconditioned building systems, urban development, and community planning.