In order to promote scientific and cultural relationships with international universities, the Faculty of Engineering at Al-Nahrain University has partnered with their counterparts at the School of Architecture at the University of Maryland in metropolitan Washington D.C in the United States to form a unique international design studio sponsored by global architectural firm, Gensler. The architecture students at Al-Nahrain University will design a project in Washington D.C. while University of Maryland architecture students will design a project in a similar site in Baghdad. The studio will begin in the academic calendar year 2016 and at the conclusion, two winners from each school will win a paid internship at Gensler’s Washington, D.C office to advance their experience and training. Additionally not only will each students work be published in a Gensler-sponsored publication, their work will also be featured in the National Building Museum in Washington D.C