9th Edition of the mpiBIM Project Completed

The aim of the project is to foster interdisciplinary collaboration among students and to combine their domain-specific competencies in the joint development of a building concept. Each edition presents a different challenge – for example, last year’s participants designed a high-rise building. In this edition, students were tasked with designing the Interdisciplinary Research Centre to be located on WUT Campus B.

“This time, four Faculties participated in the project: the Faculty of Architecture, the Faculty of Civil Engineering, the Faculty of Environmental Engineering, and the Faculty of Management. In previous editions, the Faculty of Electrical Engineering also took part – we all greatly regret that they did not join us this year, as this important component of the project was truly missed. As for recruitment, it is conducted independently within each Faculty,” explains Olga Sobolewska, PhD,  from the Faculty of Management at WUT.

The project was coordinated by:

• Dariusz Hyc, MSc (Arch), and Paweł Przybyłowicz, PhD (Arch) (Faculty of Architecture),
• Ireneusz Czmoch, PhD (Faculty of Civil Engineering),
• Associate Professor Piotr Bartkiewicz, PhD, Chludzińska, PhD, and Associate Professor Jarosław Chudzicki, PhD (Faculty of Environmental Engineering),
• Olga Sobolewska, PhD (Faculty of Management).

The project lasted an entire semester, from October to the end of January. Students met every Thursday at 4:00 p.m. in the Civil Engineering building. They worked in interdisciplinary teams and received guidance and consultancy support from representatives of partner companies: Arup, Buro Happold, Sekocenbud, and APA Wojciechowski.

As a result, six independent building concepts were developed. Each team prepared comprehensive designs including architectural, structural (with calculations), installation, and investment management components, along with cost estimation.

Fragment of the project within the mpiBIM programme

Unlike traditional design processes – where each discipline works separately and builds upon solutions prepared by others – in mpiBIM all students are involved in the project from the very beginning. Inter-faculty collaboration enables the exchange of experience and fosters long-term, multi-disciplinary professional relationships.

“Like my colleagues from other Faculties, I acted as a coordinator and mentor, supporting students in the implementation of their projects. Each participating Faculty delegated its coordinators, so students had constant support from our entire team – and, most importantly, expert guidance within their respective disciplines. This project clearly shows students that in their professional lives they will work in interdisciplinary teams. The ability to cooperate across different fields, experiences and constraints will be part of their everyday reality. It is important to collaborate harmoniously, manage conflicts, and build mutual trust. For me personally, the ‘cherry on top’ is seeing a group of strangers transform over several months into a well-coordinated and highly motivated team,” emphasises Sobolewska, PhD.

Fragment of the project within the mpiBIM programme

The final presentations took place on 29 January at the Faculty of Environmental Engineering. Each team presented its original BIM-based concept, using tools such as Revit, Archicad and Dalux, with a strong emphasis on parallel, interdisciplinary collaboration.

The event was attended by representatives of the University and Faculty authorities, including: Prof. Jan Słyk, Vice-Rector for Studies, Prof. Andrzej Garbacz, Dean of the Faculty of Civil Engineering, Prof. Krzysztof Koszewski, Dean of the Faculty of Architecture, Prof. Janusz Walo, Dean of the Faculty of Geodesy and Cartography. Representatives of partner companies and industry media were also present.

Olga Sobolewska, PhD, highlighted the project’s uniqueness: “I have often spoken with colleagues from other universities, including technical universities. It turns out that we are pioneers of this team-based approach. I also believe we should continue developing this model of teaching, as it aligns most closely with the expectations of today’s labour market. Combining our students’ unique competencies is a key driver of innovation. And that is certainly the direction we should be heading.”