ABSTRACT
The Consortium for Research Practices and Master of Science in Architecture, Research Practices programme were developed in tandem with the goal of closing the knowledge loop between academia and practice, and supporting culture change within the industry. Initially based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, this model of student-driven shared research is beginning to expand into a national network of schools and consortia. The Consortium fundamentally addresses major issues within the AEC industry. Global building industry investment in R&D is one of the lowest as a percentage of net sales compared to other industries. This underinvestment leads to waste and low productivity, and hinders innovation. At the University of Minnesota, have developed the only programme in the United States that provides leadership opportunities for students through research projects that connect faculty and firm leaders; along the way architecture students earn their architecture license before graduating, shortening the time to license from a US average of 6.6 years to 1.
