Bridging the Gap Between Education & Practice

After completing two weeks of work experience with us here at Cornish Architects, the big question is; does Dillon, a third year student of Westminster University, still aspire to become a fully qualified architect? Has stepping out of the study room and into a working practice affirmed his expectations or cast doubt?

This is what he had to say:

“As a part 1 student it’s easy, when you think of architecture, to think of someone in a room all day with nothing but a computer and mouse or in some cases a pencil, protractor and drawing board, creating endless plans and sections. However, the past 2 weeks have taught me that it’s much more than that, and my time at Cornish Architects confirmed that in ways one simple paragraph won’t do justice.

The main thing that was highlighted was that the skill and dedication involved is second to none. Intricate details that otherwise wouldn’t be noticed when looking at a building would need to be refined and redrawn until they were of the standard being demanded from this practice. However, more than that, the teamwork and feeling of community in the office environment for example, make being an architect that much more rewarding. Collective tasks such as working to send off a tender package in time, whilst also ensuring the high standards are kept, were all experiences that taught me what it was actually like to be in this industry.

It was clear to me that the reality of being a practising architect is much more challenging then I had imagined, from the directors to the architects everyone is always occupied, leaving no dull moment in this career. These past two weeks have allowed me to see the more technical aspects of architecture, moving away from the more creative and unhinged approach to architecture in part 1.

Being able to see the different stages of a building, from a concept to a fully built structure, have allowed me to see how rewarding being an architect can be, despite the workload and responsibility that comes with it. Having said that, this makes my ambition to continue to pursue architecture even more apparent. The feeling of seeing your work go through these different stages and finally seeing something you worked on come to fruition is something I aspire to achieve in the future.

So, to everyone I met at Cornish Architects, thank you for the great experience. I have learnt so much regarding what is involved in being a practising architect and will take this new found knowledge onwards as I continue to develop in this industry.”