Edinburgh Napier University

BSc (Hons) Architectural Technology graduate, Lisa Playfair, speaks of her experience at Edinburgh Napier University and life after graduation.

“At Edinburgh Napier you could see a point and purpose to the work you were doing.”

In school I didn’t know about Architecture Technology, I didn’t know it was a thing. I started not really knowing what Architecture Technology was but as soon as I came here I really, really enjoyed it. I find the subject really interesting and that was down to the way the course is run and how practical it was. At Edinburgh Napier you could see a point and purpose to the work you were doing.

“It’s taking architecture but applying it to real life with more emphasis on technology, details and also understanding the basics.”

The problem from a school leavers view if you’re interested in Art, Physics or the Built Environment you default into Engineering or Architecture because you don’t know what else is involved in Construction. Architecture Technology is more about Buildability and buildings that work. It’s combining designs that work with details and practicality and how you construct things. It’s taking architecture but applying it to real life with more emphasis on technology, details and also understanding the basics.

Currently I’m working as an Assistant Site Manager. I graduated from university and went on to a do a Graduate Construction Management discipline on-site. It’s benefited me coming from an architecture technology background working on a construction site as it allows me to have a different perspective which is good. At that level if you have a basic knowledge which the Architecture Technology course gives you, it means you can go into anything in construction.

 “The good thing about the Architecture Technology course is you can apply it to a whole range of different industries.“

The good thing about the Architecture Technology course is you don’t have to become an architectural technologist with that degree. I have a friend who’s working as an Architecture Technologist and another who works as a planner working with land development. Another popular career choice is game design, a lot of it involves using CAD and 3D modelling on computers, doing architectural models online and you can design games and movie sets. You can apply it to a whole range of different industries.  Just because you don’t do architecture doesn’t mean you can’t design buildings. By doing architecture technology and you can still design buildings and do everything an architect can. You can even have your own practice. 

“Interacting with people who work in that industry and hearing them use real-life examples was incredibly beneficial to myself and the other students. It’s not all about textbooks and reading but this allowed us to visualise what they’re saying. ”

What I really enjoyed about the course is that each year we had a person come in from industry who works as an Architecture Technician. They would talk about what projects they were working on and they would give feedback on your designs. You would really take on board what they’re saying and that was from day one where you would be taught by people with experience. Interacting with people who work in that industry and hearing them use real-life examples was incredibly beneficial to myself and the other students. It’s not all about textbooks and reading but this allowed us to visualise what they’re saying. There was a good balance between practical and academic learning. The theory I was taught was incredibly relevant in the work that I’m doing now and I apply it in my position now. 

“The theory I was taught was incredibly relevant in the work that I’m doing now and I apply it in my position now.”

At Napier, in my 3rd year I signed up for the Employer Mentoring Scheme and I got paired with a Project Manager who worked for Balfour Beatty and he got me a two week experience during the Summer which led on to a three month placement. I also had a year-long part-time internship with the university. It was the university giving me the opportunity to work for them while also supporting me being a student. It was an internal job posting for architectural technology students – which was paid as well. So overall, I’ve had over a year’s experience and all that has been a result of Edinburgh Napier supporting their students. I doubt I would have got my graduate job without this because the experience makes such a big difference.  

“The course sets you up well for the real world, working on big projects and working with other disciplines all adds to the professionalism of the course.”

The challenges of the course, you have to be committed fully, your designs are never finished and it can be incredibly time-consuming. With design projects, you can never fully be satisfied and you always think of changes to be made after it’s been submitted. As a plus-side you do improve your mindset and you acquire a very good work ethic. It’s also incredibly rewarding, being able to look back at your models and all your work it is such a great feeling. The course sets you up well for the real world, working on big projects and working with other disciplines all adds to the professionalism of the course. 
 

“I recommend studying Architecture Technology because it offers really good life skills, it’s really interesting and also incredibly rewarding.”

I recommend studying Architecture Technology because it offers really good life skills, it’s really interesting and also incredibly rewarding. The biggest thing is work, but don’t work too hard, just make sure you stay on top of it. Learn to be able to step back a little bit because you can get worked up over your own design. Have a little break and go back to it when you’re in a better head space. I would say it’s worth the challenges and after 4 years you’ll look back and be proud of the work you’ve done.