A method and system provide the ability to manage objects across multiple independent projects. A graphically descriptive design representation of a master project for an engineering system architecture model is generated and displayed. The model consists of the multiple independent projects with each project owning a set of data that is arranged as a hierarchy of nodes that each represents an object of the set of data. Links between nodes define a dependency relationship between the objects represented. A request to reference data is received. A determination is made regarding whether the request is consistent with the master project representation. The request is allowed or rejected depending on the determination.