Master Course in Integrated Building Design and Construction: A Project-Based Learning Approach

Construction projects are increasingly complex endeavours. New building systems, components and materials are available, while market and legal requirements have evolved, requiring interdisciplinary teams throughout the construction lifecycle. In the design process, Architects and Engineers must work together from the beginning of the process to sustain each other decisions, responding to various project assets, the Integrated Project Design (IPD). Post-graduate education in both areas must give students tools to capacitate them to work in interdisciplinary teams. Adequate methods, tools, and languages must be learned at the Higher Education level to capacitate them in professional life to support the inevitable interactions between the two complementary disciplines and to answer to the real needs of the Construction Industry (CI) stakeholders. This paper presents an example of implementing Integrated Project Design methodology in a project-based learning approach to a three-year Master's in Integrated Building Design and Construction (MPRINCE) in the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto. An overall description of the degree and case studies are presented, where students with different academic backgrounds worked collaboratively on real projects with the participation of companies and other stakeholders. The best proposals are implemented within the thesis research at the end of each academic year.