In this paper, we propose a framework of Virtual Architectural Engineering (VAE) as a pilot service of the SHINE (SHared INternet Environment) system, which is a middleware for implementing distributed network virtual environments. In the proposed service, three-dimensional (3-D) building models drawn in CAD are exported to the XML database (DB), which stores geometry and shared properties of each building component. The SHINE browser parses XML documents from the XML DB and renders 3D models using Java 3D APIs and JavaBeans virtual component library. Users participating in VAE can view and design 3D models with a sense of sharing space, presence and time.