In 1985 I received my Diploma in Architectural Technology from Dublin Institute of Technology. Ireland in the 1980s was in economic recession, so I moved to London to seek employment. Between 1985-96, I worked for various architectural practices in London, most notably from 1986-88, I worked on the redevelopment of Alexandra Palace in Wood Green and from 1989-96 with Terry Farrell & Partners.

During my time with TFP I gained a great understanding of architectural design, working on numerous competitions, project presentations (pre computer days) where technical pen and ink drawing and pencil work were still the norm. In my early years at TFP I worked on two of the largest London based developments of the 1980s – Alban Gate office development, a 60,000sqm, 16 storey building and Vauxhall Cross (Phase 2) a 40,000sq.m fit out project for a government department. Projects this size gave me huge confidence to work in a large team environment, where I regularly liaised with other design team and specialist consultants. I gained my first experience of chairing design team and site meetings. As economic recession hit the UK the project focus changed from UK based to international/overseas work. I was involved in a couple of successful competitions for buildings in Hong Kong. The Peak, a 11,000sq.m building located on the main peak in Hong Kong and the British Consulate, a 17,000sq.m government building, which needed to be completed prior to the hand over of Hong Kong back to China.

I moved to Dublin in 1996 and took up a position as Senior Architectural Technologist with RKD Architects. In the 1990s, Ireland was entering a period of economic prosperity, which is continuing apace. In 1999, I was involved in a successful competition project in University College Dublin, Ireland for a new Business School. My involvement was from inception to project completion. I was responsible for chairing client, user group and design team site meetings. The building became the Quinn School of Business and has since won national acclaim as a model 21st century university building. The building project was designed, tendered, procured and constructed in a relatively short time, within programme and on budget. As research into business schools I travelled to England, Scotland and USA to visit newly completed business schools. The client wanted to create a learning environment based on the American model for business schools. There were numerous challenges facing RKD Architects from designing a building of distinction, employing innovation and meeting the universities goals of low energy use/sustainability and to create a new educational ‘learning’ environment. The building set new standards for University College Dublin, which is Ireland’s largest university. The project was entered for the CIAT Open Award for Technical Excellence in Architectural Technology in 2003 and achieved a third place ‘Highly Commended’ award.

This was the start of my interest in educational projects, an area of work I now specialise in. With RKD Architects I am the Associate Director responsible for all third level educational projects. I have built up a team over the last seven years of Architectural Technologists, Architectural Technicians and architects committed to working on the educational projects, bringing our collective experience to the schemes we develop and construct.

I am now entering my 25th year of employment in the architectural/construction industry. Over the last few years I’ve assisted in the development of an Architectural Technologists Graduates Network for Ireland with an aim to raising the profile of the Architectural Technologist and Architectural Technician in the architectural/construction industry. I believe the future for Architectural Technologists is bright. No longer are we perceived as ‘draftsmen’ but an integral part of the design team, with our own specialist and varied skills to add to the architectural/construction industry.