Students from the Georgia Institute of Technology, RWTH Aachen University and PBSA Düsseldorf design, develop and build civic architecture in collaboration with members of the local communities. Starting from the first design sketches and models, to detailed design plans, students experience all phases of a construction project. Detail design, calculating quantities, scheduling, financing/sponsoring and cost control are part of the task. During the design and construction phase students, as well as local workers learn how to deal with different construction materials and their specific application as well as the entire building process from constructing foundations to the cladding of a building. By integrating design, research and construction students learn to develop a strong awareness for built environment in another culture and the adequateness of applied construction methods. This includes understanding architecture as social practice and realizing it with all consequences.