The Faculty of Architecture and Civil Engineering at the Technical University of Dortmund combines the two teaching units of Architecture and Urban Design and Civil Engineering. The close integration of the two subjects is a unique feature of the faculty, which is particularly noticeable in the interdisciplinary educational approach of the Dortmunder Modell. In the Dortmunder Modell, architects and engineers are trained together. The Dortmunder Modell thus unites the two large professional groups of architects and engineers, which have been separated since the 19th century, in one faculty. The aim is to teach the subject-specific, economic, technical-scientific, practical and artistic-conceptual foundations for architecture and civil engineering, as well as to offer an interdisciplinary education with cooperation between architecture and civil engineering. The holistic approach to construction is pursued through practical projects. In both professions, job profiles, requirements and specialist profiles are constantly changing, yet the construction industry remains a central field of economic activity. The interlinked specialist cultures of architecture and engineering in the Dortmunder Modell promote further development in overarching teaching and research between the traditional professional and specialist boundaries. All degree programs in the Faculty of Architecture and Civil Engineering include the joint projects (P1, P2 and P3) in the form of interdisciplinary design seminars. The teaching elements of the architecture and civil engineering degree courses combined in the model are geared towards project work in terms of time and content. Prospective architects and civil engineers are familiarized with the basics of their subjects in joint lectures during their first bachelor's semester. Students are required to complete two projects in the Bachelor's program and one project in the Master's program. As a rule, two to three students from each discipline work together on a project task. Subject-specific individual performance is required, the level of performance is assessed in colloquia, students are regularly supervised in small correction groups by representatives of several subject areas, and accompanying courses are offered.

The second project is arranged in the 6th semester of the Bachelor's degree courses. Supervision is provided by the chairs of Building Construction, Concrete and Steel Construction, Building Physics and Building Services. The students again work in interdisciplinary teams to practise designing and constructing a more complex construction task in line with the progress of their studies. Important aspects include getting to know and articulating the respective problems of the project partners resulting from the interaction, the joint attempt to find solutions arising from this awareness and thus the experience of the design process as a goal-oriented and success-oriented professional collaboration. The following skills are also learned during the project work: methodology and organization of the design process (from urban planning to work planning), adherence to deadlines with intermediate deadlines for the completion of preliminary design, design and work planning as well as the presentation of one's own work at public colloquia in front of a larger audience (plans, models, lecture).

The second project is arranged in the 6th semester of the Bachelor's degree courses. Supervision is provided by the chairs of Building Construction, Concrete and Steel Construction, Building Physics and Technical Building Services. The students again work in interdisciplinary teams to practise designing and constructing a more complex construction task in line with the progress of their studies. Important aspects include getting to know and articulating the respective problems of the project partners resulting from the interaction, the joint attempt to find solutions arising from this awareness and thus the experience of the design process as a goal-oriented and success-oriented professional collaboration. The following are also learned during project work: methodology and organization of the design process (from urban planning to work planning), adherence to deadlines with intermediate deadlines for the completion of preliminary design, design and work planning as well as the presentation of one's own work at public colloquia in front of a larger audience (plans, models, lecture).

Project 3 is offered to all students in the 3rd Master's semester. The planning task deals with engineering constructions. The aim is for students on the three Master's degree courses (Architecture and Urban Design, Civil Engineering and Real Estate and Construction Management with a specialization in Integral Building Technology) to work together to find a holistic solution to the construction task set, which is satisfactory in functional, technical, design and economic terms. P3 is supervised by the Chairs of Concrete and Steel Construction, each in cooperation with the Chairs of Solid Building Construction and Architectural Construction and the Chairs of Construction Management and Real Estate Management and Construction Management and the Chair of Building Physics and Building Services.