It was a very exciting experience and opened many doors for me that I did not expect. I appreciate Portman Architects and my peers for recognizing my work and appreciating my passion for the topic presented. 

 

What are the main differences between the Architecture program and the real world?

In my opinion, the main difference would be the amount of collaboration that is needed when working in a firm. Communication becomes a crucial skill to have because projects are spread across teams. These teams are consistently working with others to achieve a common goal. In school, you have your project, and the success of that project only depends on you. In a firm, the success of a project depends on everyone.

 

Do you believe COVID-19 will have a long-term impact on the young architects coming
out of school?

Yes, I do. I feel that Covid has pushed technology to focus on ways that promote productivity. Being in school before and during covid, I saw the shift in how we worked and presented, which has carried over into the work world. Students may be taught how to utilize their digital assets to their fullest extent and make it an essential part of their work ethic. This is something that helped me a lot during my thesis.

 

How did you decide on architecture as a career choice?

I love art and always have since I was a kid. But I was never really the type to be able to come up with cool concepts or create new ideas from my head, so it was discouraging when thinking of myself as an artist. So, I went to architecture with a desire to create but hoping to find purpose. I felt like Architecture would give me direction in a creative sense, which it certainly has. Architecture, design, and creation become a reaction to constant problem solving while allowing expression and beauty.

 

What would you tell yourself to do if you were still in college studying Architecture?

I would tell myself to sleep more!

But honestly, I would tell myself to manage my time better. I struggled a lot during my early years because I was passionate but focused a lot of that passion and time on the wrong things. So, taking time out to organize yourself and understand what is essential, then planning your time around those things can help avoid those late nights and high-stress situations.

 

What are some of the most exciting things you have learned since employment with Portman Architects?

Working on tall buildings has been a learning experience for me. Finally, I understand the systems that go into WHY we build. The efficiency and profitability of development is a side of architecture I am happy that I get to explore. Incorporating this into the design as another problem to solve is exciting.

 

Anything else before we wrap?

Thanks for the interview. Since I am still young, there are many things I am constantly learning about the field, and it makes me happy with my decision to pursue architecture. I hope to continue growing here at Portman Architects as a designer