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Architectural, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) project team networks frequently increase the density of information sharing ties to improve team performance. However, increased density might not result in team members receiving adequate in-formation to collaborate towards common goals. There is a need to examine how net-work ties should be set up to manage information flows. Thus, the research goal is to explore the features of information sharing networks and their relationship with team performance in AEC projects. To achieve this goal, we collected communication data from an AEC project team with 179 members involved in total during the schematic design phase. Then, we performed social network analysis using Gephi and UCINET software. Results suggest that AEC project team networks are dynamic and adopt a core-periphery structure to share information early in project delivery. Including civil and mechanical subcontractors into the core subnetwork to collaborate with owners, designers, and general contractors can improve team performance. The study’s contribution to the body of knowledge is expanding our understanding of the characteristics and evolution of information sharing networks in AEC projects for optimized team performance. 

Architectural, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) project teams adopt different methods to facilitate collaboration to achieve sustainability goals, which requires a high level of expertise integration. Tracking expertise flows in interdisciplinary and inter-organizational project networks is challenging because of the unique project nature, fluid expertise boundaries, and varying project requirements. It can be even more difficult considering sustainability outcomes, due to the need for high-level expertise integration. Social network approach addresses the integration and information flow dynamics. However, there is a knowledge gap regarding what network characteristics are favorable for improved sustainability outcomes in AEC projects, how they evolve during delivery, and how relevant expertise flows through project networks. To respond to the need in the literature, this study aims to develop a holistic understanding of AEC project team networks and associated characteristics that allow experts to exchange knowledge to optimize sustainability outcomes for built environment projects. We longitudinally collected e-mail exchange, observational, and archival data during the design phase of an AEC case study project and performed Social Network Analysis (SNA) bolstered by mixed methods. Results suggest that network topology matters for AEC project teams. In other words, understanding the interactions between components of a network (e.g., expertise areas represented and distributed in the network and the number of boundary spanners) is as important as the network parameters for better sustainability outcomes.