VIRTUAL INSPIRATION FOR TOMORROW’S ARCHITECTS, TODAY

Leading architecture practice GT3 Architects has launched an innovative virtual work experience for students interested in design and the built environment but unable to undertake studio placements due to Covid-19.

The work experience, which is aimed at students aged 14-18, will last for five working days (typically Monday to Friday), and will be conducted via Microsoft Teams. Students will be asked to deliver their own design project, specialising in one of three potential career paths: architecture, interior design and graphic design. 

Guided by specialist professionals within the multi-disciplinary practice, GT3 Architects hopes it will highlight the different routes into a creative career within the built environment.

Judith Atkinson, Project Architect “When I was 15 I did a week’s work experience in an architects’ office”

Judith Atkinson, project architect at GT3 said: “We’re delighted to launch our virtual work experience and hopefully inspire the next generation of architects. We know this has been an extremely difficult academic year for students undertaking their GCSEs and A-Levels and we hope that this experience will help them make informed choices about their career.

“When I was 15 I did a week’s work experience in an architects’ office, which confirmed my suspicions that architecture was the career for me. I really enjoyed being part of the office, even just for the week; I loved the work they did and the atmosphere of the place.

“17 years later I am now a project architect at GT3 working on exciting projects with a brilliant and supportive group of people.”

The first half of the work experience will concentrate on the content of an exhibition, centred around their own interests, and students will meet the team and learn more about the design process. The latter half of the week allows the student to develop this project using their chosen design stream, developing an architectural project (designing the building), an interiors project (designing the space), or a graphics project (designing the collateral).

Students will be introduced to relevant members of GT3, who will share their own experience and best tips. The week will also be filled with ‘practice tasks’, designed to introduce students to office culture, such as attending meetings, and will include an hour-long career talk with a GT3 professional from a discipline of their choice.

Liz Clarke, people champion at GT3 Architects, added: “By inviting students to share a week with us we hope to encourage, inform and inspire the next generation of design professionals. As a practice we care about developing the next generation of designers and we’ve always endeavoured to foster an engaging environment for our work experience students.

“Inviting students in has big benefits for us too, as we hear fresh ideas and unique inputs into the design projects so we can’t wait to virtually host our first students!”

GT3 Architects is an award-winning architecture practice with studios in Nottingham and Newcastle. The people focused firm champions an inclusive, sustainable, and engaging way of doing business that positions people at the heart of every project.

For further information visit www.gt3architects.com or join the conversation over on Twitter @_GT3Architects