Friday marked the end of the 4th PlanBEE rotation period, meaning
we said our goodbyes to Emma. Before leaving we asked her do our obligatory
Q&A!
Emma, this is your first placement but can you tell us a bit about your understanding
and experience of PlanBEE so far?
I was first made aware of the programme almost
a year before starting in September (2017) and just loved the opportunity it presents
– to be actively involved in real, live projects from day one. The alternative
of attending university would mean for a lengthy wait before getting to this
and would be without real experience of working in the industry.
What projects have you worked on at xsite?
During my time with the practice, I have been
involved in far more than I would have expected;
- Teviot Cottage, Corbridge - responsible for developing a scheme for the living area and preparing various documents and drawings for tender
- Minstrel’s House, West Marlish – developing various drawings for a new staircase
- Unit 15, Benton Square – Colour scheme for new cladding and extension
- Site visits to UTC – demonstrated importance of coordination and regular reviewing of progress to enable its success
- Lower Steensberg’s Yard, Ouseburn
- Former Rocket House, Blyth - developing a scheme for its conversion into 2bed residential property
The Former Rocket House project has been the project I have found most enjoyable because of the heritage and conservation aspects. Having an element of ownership of this project has been a privilege and I feel lucky to have had so much influence on a project. I have really enjoyed seeing the proposal change and progress with feedback from the client and learning of the restrictions of a listed building. I look forward to seeing how this develops and turns out in the end!
What have you learned in your time at xsite?
Having done Product Design at A Level based on
architecture I was aware of the design process however it quickly became clear
that projects follow a more structured approach - in line with the RIBA Plan of
Work- which is something I had not previously heard of.
Some skills learned include AutoCAD and Revit
and how they vastly differ from one another. Both have become more familiar through
use on projects throughout my time at xsite.
Do you have any tips or advice for anyone thinking about enrolling on
the PlanBEE course?
To show plenty of interest in the ongoing
projects and many tasks will come your way where you can demonstrate interests
and skills.
Has your understanding of Architecture or working in practice changed
over the last few months?
I now have a clearer understanding of the role
an architect plays in the delivery of a project and the factors which influence
design proposals and their development.
Also! A quick hello to
Ryan who joins us at xsite for the next 3 months!