Insights A day in the life of an architect

Above - Zhuhai, China – International Design Competition

After taking two years out to work, Kirsty returned to UWE to complete her Part two Diploma in Architecture. She felt more confident with her studies because of the experience Atkins afforded her and completed her course with Distinction, alongside a University nomination for the prestigious RIBA Presidents Medal. After further work experience and completing her Part three interview, Kirsty finally became the chartered architect she’d worked so hard to become.

“I chartered as an architect at the end of a two-and-half-a-year secondment to Hampshire County Council Architects. I quickly came back to Bristol and was almost immediately given my very first job to run – a three-storey extension to a primary school in South Wales - otherwise known as The Sugar Cube.”

Above - Greenwood Education Centre - Hampshire County Council.

Above - The Sugar Cube’ – Primary school extension, Wales.

“I chartered as an architect at the end of a two-and-half-a-year secondment to Hampshire County Council Architects. I quickly came back to Bristol and was almost immediately given my very first project to run – a three-storey extension to a primary school in South Wales - otherwise known as The Sugar Cube.” 

Finding your specialism 

Her increasing specialism in education was unintentional but she found it extremely rewarding and satisfying building relationships with the people who were going to use the building as opposed to leasing it. 

She appreciates the flexibility Atkins provides its architects to explore different niches and practice all kinds of architectural work. 

At Atkins, you’ll be given the freedom to explore a huge variety of projects and understand how different departments, teams, and regions work together. 

This gives you the space to understand where you would like to specialise and what parts of your job you would like to explore more. 

Kirsty has not only worked within the education sector, but she has also turned her hand to the design of care homes, office buildings and even a private VIP aeroplane terminal for a client in Sharjah, UAE.

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF AN ARCHITECT

What do you enjoy most about your role as a Senior Architect? 

When asked what the best parts of her job are, Kirsty cited the feeling of seeing a concept design come alive.

"Being able to build something and make your mark — that’s an architect’s dream. It’s even sweeter after all the hard work, perseverance and the years it takes to undertake the process of inception to completion.” 

Kirsty also says that nothing can prepare you for the wonderful feeling you get when you receive positive reviews - like the feedback from athletes and coaches benefiting from the Atkins' design of the USW Sport Park. She says that this is what keeps her motivated to do her best work. 

How does your role go beyond traditional architecture?

Kirsty appreciates the aspects of her role that aren’t exclusive to being an architect, such as business development and mentoring. 

This year alone she has mentored final-year UWE architecture students and aligned herself with a small national team with ambitions to shape a learning and development programme for architectural graduates at Atkins. She is also developing a national social media strategy and taking on a regional role within the National Design and Research team. 

“It’s not all ‘colouring in’, sketching with tracing paper, being picky about pens and building models, like people envisage. 

Sometimes it’s about the seemingly mundane. An essential part of our role is to problem-solve the real challenges that our clients face. If we don’t do this, then we don’t have a project!”

How would you describe your involvement as an architect throughout a project's lifecycle?

Kirsty expresses that being an architect can at times be all-consuming because you can’t help but become personally invested in the outcome of projects and the impact they will have on people. 

Furthermore, the responsibility of orchestrating the process from inception to completion can be onerous, involving the coordination of multi-disciplinary design teams, the client and all the project stakeholders. 

She does stress however that this can be the most thrilling bit because the project is gaining momentum and coming to life.

How has AtkinsRéalis supported you throughout your career? 

“I’m lucky to be surrounded by talented, experienced and influential people who are generous with their time and help me to navigate my career.”

In what can be a very busy job, it is important to set clear boundaries to protect your work-life balance. 

Kirsty commends her mentor, for always being there for support and direction. Kirsty places great value in seeking out support networks, of which there are many within Atkins.

When Kirsty gets to work, she explains how important it is to do so with a positive mindset. She explains that each day can have challenges and successes and advocates a positive attitude to ensure the best possible mindset to tackle a day. 

The balance of pressure, workload and expectation can vary day to day, and Kirsty’s tonic is to make sure you have time to have a bit of fun – there is always time for fun she says.

What does a typical day as an architect entail? 

“My days are so varied. I could have a day or week where I’m working solely on one thing at a micro level, such as a timber panelling detail or I could be working on a variety of tasks such as a large-scale vision or concept.

It’s incredibly eclectic — you’re never doing the same thing. You’re part of a community that is shaping the world we live in. You’re undertaking an important role which affords you the responsibility to thoughtfully design buildings, communities and cities that ultimately impact our lives, and most importantly, our health and wellbeing.”

Everyone at AtkinsRéalis is committed to shaping our world in a sustainable way. We are fuelled by our mission - to engineer a better future for our planet and its people. So no matter what role you are in, you’ll be working to change the world. 

Kirsty's architect role is diverse, ranging from intricate details like timber panelling to broad visions. Central to her day are projects for Bournemouth University. 

This involves site work, academic planning, and design processes. She also engages in job bids, RIBA duties, recruitment strategy, and project promotion for Atkins. 

In addition to this, alongside having won awards for projects and for her own leadership skills, Kirsty’s role now reaches beyond the bounds of the office. 

This year she is now a judge for Constructing Excellence and the inaugural Bristol Property Awards where she was featured in Bristol Life. 

She even finds the time to write articles, attend evening talks at the local Architecture Centre and network in search of future collaborative ventures and professional friendships.

Kirsty says that you can follow much of her weekly goings on through her LinkedIn and Twitter social media pages.

Do you have any advice for those considering architecture?

Kirsty recommends completing internships in architecture even before beginning an undergraduate course. She says this is not essential, but it would certainly open your eyes to the profession before choosing that all-important University course. 

You will also be able to experience and get a feel for the work and how architects interact with their surroundings and their output. She recommends you seek out an RIBA Chartered Practice, through the RIBA Find An Architect page. In turn, you can also directly contact a local RIBA branch such as Bristol & Bath. 

Furthermore, she also recommends you use social media platforms such as Instagram to follow architectural practices, as a means to get a real flavour of the kind of work they do and what matters to them as a practice.

She advises you to research your architectural course options carefully as they can vary quite significantly between Universities. Utilise University open days and talk to other students to give you an idea of the work you’ll be doing, because undergraduate courses can vary somewhat in their focus on the conceptual to the technical. 

In addition, Kirsty emphasises that taking on an architecture degree doesn’t mean you have to become an architect – the degree sets you up for many different job types and careers and can be a great foundation for different creative industries. 

Would you recommend AtkinsRéalis to fellow architects?

Kirsty finds great satisfaction in her role at Atkins and highly recommends it as an employer, praising their global reach and unparalleled expertise. 

She highlights the opportunities for international travel and work, as well as Atkins' focus on innovation to enhance designs and the design process. 

Despite being a sizable company, Kirsty appreciates the early project involvement and diverse career paths available, including project management, business operations, and design research.

“The doors are there, you just need to open them.”

Jobs in architecture with AtkinsRéalis

Are you an architect seeking a stimulating and diverse career where you’ll be shaping the world through thoughtful and impactful design? 

We’re looking for talented professionals in all niches to work in our offices worldwide. Take the next step in your career and explore our variety of jobs in architecture with us today.