Over the last couple of years JCA Ltd have had the pleasure of working with a range of students promoting architecture and design. These ranged from primary school students to university students.
JCA hosted Crosthwaite school year 5’s in a visit to the office to see how an architects practice works followed by Managing Director Rebecca Gibson visiting the school to talk through what the role of an architect is and what they do on a day to day basis. She then worked with the year 5 pupils on an imaginary design project for the school. It was fabulous to see the pupils design ideas for improvements to their school including swimming pools, stables, joinery workshops and reading rooms.
The practice also works closely with local secondary schools providing a week of work experience for a year 11 student each year. The student experiences working in an office learning about project briefing, concept designs and the preparation of drawings both by hand and CAD and often accompanies the architects to see projects on site.
Director Dearbhail Keating has been a guest tutor at the University of Liverpool Architecture Department over the last two years working with students on project briefings and then attending final project crits to provide feedback on the project designs.
Director Mike Darwell has recently been working with to Lancaster University on a third year project, firstly introducing the project on site and then attending the final review where all the schemes are presented by the students. He has also worked with Liverpool University students helping them understand the role of photogrammetry and detailed surveying of buildings, particularly in relation to listed buildings.
As an ex student of Leeds Beckett University, Architect Sarah Gerrish was asked to attend a year three final project critique at the university. The students presented a huge variety of projects using the same site. Their site analysis determined their personal briefs for the projects.
Finally, Rebecca worked with two students from Lancaster University’s School of Architecture through the RIBA Future Architects Student Mentoring scheme. This scheme is to introduce year 2 students to the real life of working in an architect’s office and covers a range of subjects such as CV writing, the business of architecture, discussions of live project work, case studies, planning and an introduction to office life.
JCA are delighted to have been able to support all the students they have worked with over the last couple of years and wish them bright futures.
