PartOfThePicture
2012 Following on from 2011's part of the picture campaign below, we would now like to build on the success and publicise the experiences of the latest year out students. This will be a great way of promoting practices that are providing good experience to year out students and highlight the different possibilities available. We would therefore also be keen to hear from students who are not necessarily working within a traditional architectural practice but are gaining architectural experience within other businesses.
If you would like to include your own experience
click here and we will add the best
below.
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Matthew Sanders
I graduated from The University of Lincoln in 2011. During the summer of my
second academic year, I undertook a work experience placement with Pringle Brandon an interior architecture practice in
London. During this time I worked with Jack Pringle PPRIBA on the internal fit
out of the Stirling Prize nominated NM Rothschild UK Headquarters, New Court.
Following this successful experience I was fortunate to secure a placement for
my year out 2011/12.
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Louise Priestman
I graduated from The University of Lincoln in 2011. Whilst writing my thesis I was in touch with
The Prince's Foundation who then suggested I applied for their Graduate Fellowship (a 2 year Master's programme in Sustainable Architecture and Urbanism accredited by The University of Wales). The Prince's Foundation has worked on masterplanning in areas from Lincoln City Centre to engaging with communities under the new National Planning Policy Framework. As someone who has a great interest in understanding more than just the fabric and space of a building, I was quite excited by the prospect. To my delight I was one of six people accepted onto the programme which was fully sponsored and provided a bursary.
More
2011
These case studies show a sample of architectural assistants working in practice
today. They highlight the contribution young professionals make to the successful
delivery of architectural projects, large and small. Please click the thumbnails
below to read the individual stories.
The seven featured graduates are employed in a range of offices across the
UK, performing various roles in practice and on-site. As post Part 1 or Part
2 graduates, all have studied for a career in architecture and hope
to qualify as architects. Some are currently working towards their Part 3 qualification,
and are in a better position than many of their peer group – they are
in paid employment in the profession they trained to work in.
The ‘Part of the Picture’ project was conceived by RIBA as a prompt
to architectural practices to reflect on their current policies on the employment
of students and graduates. All sectors of the architecture profession
have suffered in recent years, but the younger generation of architects is often
the first to feel the impact. This project therefore seeks to highlight the value of this group
in delivering high quality architectural services.
As you read the individual case studies you will discover why. Thanks to a
partnership with RIBA Appointments, we have commissioned portraits by photographer
James Whitaker. Various employment situations are brought to life, each contributor
explaining their perspective on work in practice and the skills they
bring to the table.
Some practices will say our architecture students are unprepared for a commercial
office environment. And inevitably there will always be an element of support
and training needed - but surely that applies to all industries and generations,
and is a cycle to nurture and cherish? By doing so we create diverse and dynamic
work environments where design ideas can be shared and all staff are working
at levels appropriate to their experience.
All parts of our profession need to act to improve the current employment situation.
Architectural students, whose debt continues to mount, have to be open to a
range of options in which to practise architecture. Schools of architecture
need to adapt and forge links with industry, and the RIBA should continue to shape professional experience policies. To find out about changes the RIBA has recently implemented in this area,
please visit: www.pedr.co.uk
Hopefully this project emphasises the importance of community in our unique profession as we work to promote the value of architecture
and architects to a wider audience.
Laura Broderick,
Special Projects Co-ordinator, RIBA
