Becoming an Architect is no simple feat, which is why we would like to recognise eight of our team members, Abbie, Aleksander, Cameron, Damon, Daniel, Joe, Tom, and Tyler who have put in a lot of time and effort to complete their Part III exams successfully.
Here are their thoughts about the experience and how they celebrated this accomplishment.
Abbie March, Architect
“It was interesting attending a relatively new Part 3 course and returning to MMU which provided an opportunity to reflect on my experience and growth over the past few years. I enjoyed the lecture days, which were hosted at the university one day a week. I found this helped develop my understanding as it allowed a week to ask questions at work and translate my knowledge to the project.
“Due to the structure of the condensed course, it involved several intense months which required a lot of dedication to studying in my free time. I'm looking forward to having my evenings and weekends back – I’m particularly looking forward to getting back into cooking and reading. I have also planned a trip to New York later this year as a celebration for passing!”
Aleksander Waga, Architect
“It was a tough year, having to balance work with study, and a lot of sacrifices had to be made – but it paid off in the end! Advice I would give to others would be to not waste time and to sit the exams as soon as possible, and to get support from others in the studio – use all the available resources and ask as many questions as possible (there will always be someone who knows the answer!).
“To celebrate, I finally took some time to relax with a trip to Madeira. I’m now looking forward to enjoying life without the constant worry of exams. I’ll hopefully get to do some more travelling this summer and enjoy some sun.”
Cameron Scott, Architect
“While it was difficult to find a healthy work-study-life balance, I had a very helpful support bubble around me. Needless to say, the final few months were quite challenging to stay motivated. The advice I would give to others is to start revision as early as possible – it will make the process smoother and less stressful!
“Just after qualifying, I went on a road trip around Western Canada with my partner, enjoying amazing hiking and beautiful scenery and wildlife. For me this was the perfect way to celebrate the end of my Part III journey. I’m looking forward to spending more time outside this summer, enjoying time with friends and family – and not feeling guilty for not studying!”
Damon Lee, Architect
“The course was difficult, and I’m relieved it’s over, but I enjoyed being able to spend time on campus for studying – I found it refreshing and a nice change of scenery.
“A well-deserved break was needed once I qualified, so I’m now looking forward to being able to use my annual leave for holidays rather than revision!”
Daniel Mead, Architect
“Whilst it was certainly a challenge juggling Part III work and lecture days with a full-time job, I enjoyed the process of holistically appraising my career and piecing together a case study on Victoria House based on the kinds of topics (Contracts/Liability/Indemnity etc) that were being taught during lectures. It helped cast Victoria House in a new light whereby I better understood the decisions taken by the Client and Main Contractor in retrospect. I also enjoyed having something to work towards outside of work.
“Some advice I would give someone studying for their Part III would be to thoroughly plan the contents for the Self Appraisal and Case Study before going straight into writing them. It’s impossible to write about everything and if you’re not careful you’ll end up 10,000 words over the word limit.”
Joe Kelleher, Architect
“Part III was an intense period of learning and growth. While it was demanding, coming out the other side I feel like I've gained a much more holistic understanding of the construction process. It wasn't just about the creative aspects of architecture, but also the legal and ethical considerations that go into responsible building design.
“Qualifying as an architect was a huge accomplishment, and I definitely had to celebrate! There's no better way for a Manchester United fan like myself than to mark the occasion by watching them play live at Old Trafford.”
Tom Keen, Architect
“Completing my Part III was incredibly tough. It’s a big commitment to undertake, but it’s also been incredibly useful to learn about topics that put the role of ‘architect’ into context. Although the seminar weekends involved long days and being bombarded with lots of information, they were also enjoyable and a good networking opportunity. Undertaking the course alongside Joe, Cameron, Olek and Damon was extremely useful, as we were able to collate and share resources to assist with both the case study and exam.
“Now I’m qualified, I’m looking forward to having time spare to relax and hopefully enjoy a sunny English summer. I’m also planning a few trips abroad, which I’ve had to sacrifice whilst writing my case study and studying for the exam. Hopefully, I can tick a few more things off the architectural bucket list!”
Tyler Gordon, Architect
“I completed my Part III over 3 years at Birmingham City University which worked well for me and my circumstances. This meant that I was able to break up the intense work periods, focusing on one area of the course at a time. It required a lot of hard work, time management and discipline throughout my time on the course, but I was able to study and still give myself time to relax a little bit to keep my stress levels at a minimum. The course itself was interesting and I learnt a lot about the areas of architectural practice that I lacked experience in such as building contracts, appointments and practice management.
“Now I’ve qualified as an architect, I’m looking forward to getting back into making pottery, podcasting and exploring more of the UK with my son.”