Beyond STEM: What Architecture and Engineering Education Teaches About Humanity
- Kari Luise
- Jul 2, 2025
- 3 min read
LinkedIn Article: July 3, 2025
An excerpt from one of my high school student project submissions:
"We study Architectural History because it is important to learn how our past has influenced the present. Without this, we will have no idea why we do things the way that we do them. Baroque Architecture can be applied to any building today that emphasizes architectural details- buildings such as the U.S. Capitol and The White House are examples of this. We need to identify characters in architectural practice in order to know how a building will work. Designing a structure without knowing how the people who use it will benefit is pointless- the building will just be a mass without a functional purpose. Details are important to study so that we can know all aspects of a building- when you look at the whole, then certain parts become overlooked because you cannot see them or appreciate them." - Joseph B.
When we think of STEM—science, technology, engineering, and math—we often picture logic, innovation, and problem-solving. But in the world of architecture and engineering, there’s another, deeper dimension. One that’s not only about calculations or materials, but about people.
We don’t just teach students to build bridges and buildings.
We teach them to build empathy, culture, and legacy.
More Than Technical Skills
Our students master structural systems, digital modeling, and mechanical precision. But they also learn to ask:
Who will use this space?
What memories or traditions are embedded in this place?
How will this design shape someone’s daily life—or preserve someone’s dignity?
From crafting accessible home designs to reimagining gathering places for underserved communities, students begin to realize that design has a soul—and that soul is rooted in the people it serves.
Architectural History: A Window into Humanity
One of the most powerful ways to teach empathy in architecture is through history.
Architectural history is not just a timeline of styles—it’s a record of how civilizations lived, believed, and cared for one another.
When students study the design of Roman forums, Gothic cathedrals, Japanese tea houses, or African vernacular housing, they aren’t just learning form. They’re learning:
How cultures express values like community, privacy, spirituality, and resilience
How architecture preserves memory, mourns tragedy, and celebrates joy
How design adapts to geography, climate, and social structure
Understanding historical architecture invites students to walk in others’ shoes—across time, geography, and tradition.
It reminds them that every space is shaped by the people it’s meant to hold.
Design as a Human Act
Architecture and engineering are often described as applied sciences—but they are also applied humanities.
They require students to:
Respect the land and its people
Interpret behavior to improve design
Balance budget, beauty, and ethics
Recognize that even a roofline can carry cultural meaning
In my classroom, students don’t just design projects—they design with a purpose. We explore questions like:
What can a building say about the people who use it?
How does a structure reflect resilience or belonging?
What lessons from past structures can inform inclusive design today?
Legacy-Minded Learning
The models our students produce—though often conceptual—teach them to care deeply about the world they’re shaping.
Because one day, their designs may become places where someone feels seen, safe, or inspired. That understanding is transformational.
When students connect their technical work to human stories—through architectural history, cultural awareness, and design intent—they don’t just graduate with skillsets.
They graduate with vision and responsibility.
A Call to Educators
As educators, of course we continue to teach our students how to calculate and construct.
But let’s also teach them how to connect—to the past, to the people, and to the purpose behind every wall they draw.
Because ultimately, architecture and engineering are not just careers.
They’re acts of stewardship. And our students?
They’re the next generation of storytellers, guardians, and bridge-builders—in every sense of the word.
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