2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

The purpose of this research is to analyze the perception of sustainability-related issues, specifically in the area of sustainable design and construction (SDC), among Architecture and Construction Management students. The study focuses on what students think about sustainability and how education affects their thought relative to SDC. The perceived importance of sustainable design and construction is analyzed based on students’ source of knowledge, university education, and future aspirations toward sustainability goals. A survey designed to collect both quantitative and qualitative data is distributed among Architecture and Construction Management students at different levels and investigates their perception of the following eight approaches: environmental sustainability, societal sustainability, economic sustainability, energy sustainability, water sustainability, material choice sustainability, zero-emission sustainability, and lean zero-waste sustainability.

In addition to providing insight into students’ perception of the relative importance of these sustainability approaches, analysis of the survey responses offers key findings on the source of students’ sustainability knowledge (work, social media, or higher education), the degree to which students have made decisions about their career paths, and the potential relationship between knowledge gained and students’ perception of the impact of sustainable design and construction options. Findings also indicate how perceptions compare between population groups, such as students of architecture and students of construction. In general, students seem to be best equipped in explaining their understanding of the listed options based on their individual experiences. Such research outcomes can help educators to better implement SDC into respective curricula in the future. In addition, analysis of these perceptions is a crucial tool for educators in improving students’ understanding of sustainability goals.

Keywords: Sustainable Design and Construction; SDC teaching; curriculum development; Architecture; Construction Management, Sustainability, Student Learning