Summary: |
This paper presents the details of a unique real estate course offering that involves multiple universities and students from multiple disciplines. The course, Interdisciplinary Design and Development: Senior Housing, has been offered concurrently to students from DePaul’s MBA program, IIT’s College of Architecture, and Kent State’s School of Visual Communication Design. The challenge was to make the project as realistic as possible, but also a manageable, focused course that could be completed within the confines of the academic schedule. The further challenge was to do it using teleconferencing technology, coupled with two day-long workshops and a final presentation for a senior housing development that included market analysis and demographics, site selection, zoning and other public policy constraints, financial feasibility, capital sources, architectural design, the construction process, and marketing and branding. Students worked in teams, mostly by email and telephone each bringing his or her background and interests to the project. |