Architectural Education | Off the Record

Continuing with our look at the diversity of architectural practices, we are joined by Court Sin, Studio Director- Architecture, at FORREC, a multidisciplinary company with an exciting and eclectic portfolio of entertainment architecture ranging from retail and museums to theme parks. An established architect with teaching experience, Court brings his insights on the intertwined future of architecture, narrative, and media. FORREC Website: www.forrec.com/ FORREC Instagram: @forrecdesigns Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/forrec/mycompany/ Twitter = @forrecdesigns

Just as the academic term draws to an end and students begin recovering from deadlines and exams, another issue continues to simmer in the background – graduate school applications. In this episode we are joined by several students set to embark upon their Master of Architecture degrees at institutions near and far. Discussing everything from the challenges of proper preparation (hint: it’s not just a portfolio) for application through to factors that weigh in on making a decision, this episode covers a range of facets many students face in considering continuing their architectural education. With insights from Sophie, Monika, Shengnan, Lena, Tanya, and Liane, this is an episode loaded with tips that helped them get into their programs. It is never too early to start!

Deadline season is around the corner and rather than brace for the inevitable stress and crunch, why not consider taking a moment to sort out project priorities and more importantly, undertake in some proper time management? While architecture students are smart, for some reason they do not necessarily learn from past mistakes. In this episode we present ways to address time management in architectural education. We are joined by Ann Wilkin, Learning Strategist, from the Student Skills and transition Support, Student Life and Learning Support group at Ryerson University who offers tips for students in anticipation of not only the immediate deadline season but also future academic and professional development. We also expose Ann to the "unique" conditions in architecture with perspectives from Daniel and Cason. Lots of eye-opening information going both ways in this episode! Ryerson Student Life and Learning Site https://www.ryerson.ca/student-life-and-learning/  Holistic Time Management Presentation https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1JRY1GTlDyZsDfnwW5-BiLt6CnDTui2Zu-VZXBGDToFE/edit#slide=id.gb7c24f3d3e_0_75  Urgency Priority Grid https://docs.google.com/document/d/1W2KVCB0Z75uIRlzP9gUZ5LD1WXWBjjxbJcTaLFY8sqQ/edit  If you need to reach out for direct support, please feel free to contact [email protected]

In response to the flurry of inquiries from applicants and high school students about the Department of Architectural Science, we determined that it was about time to bring the voices to the same table. In this episode we are joined by high school students, Connor and Fatima, who pose questions to a panel of current and past DAS students including Tamoy, Tabitha, and Mariah. Applicants are receiving offers and we are delivering answers - hear the various perspectives on getting in and through the program! Ryerson Admissions Twitter handle: https://twitter.com/WhyRyerson Ryerson Admissions Instagram handle: https://www.instagram.com/WhyRyerson/ Ryerson Admissions Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WhyRyerson

Architect, Ryerson DAS alumnus, employer, and all-round good person, Jason Fung joins us in a great conversation about actually making it on his own with his own architecture firm. While many graduates and students work in larger organizations, others enjoy a greater sense of agency and freedom in operating their own design practices. Beyond ambition, there are many facets of the business of architecture that emerging practitioners need to be mindful of ranging from IT and accounting systems through to talent and client acquisition. Even though these types of challenges might not be top of mind for enthusiastic architecture students, Jason provides us with stories that offer a great glimpse into some of the business aspects of architecture often skimmed through in architecture curricula. Website: www.jasonfungarchitect.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jasonfungarchitect/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JasonFungArchitect Email: [email protected]

If we think back to our education, we can all remember the best and worst instructors and how they impacted our perspectives on topics. We also know that they are (for better or worse) unforgettable. The Department of Architectural Science is currently conducting an extremely ambitious hiring search for three new faculty members, each reflecting one of the facets of the program (Architecture, Building Science, and Project Management). In this episode we are joined by Clare, Christopher, and Heba who share their perspectives on what they would want to see in a new faculty members as well as get an insight on the three major duties faculty have to undertake.

Ever thought about taking your architectural education into other industries like visualization, game design, or theme park design? Ever wondered what happens if you take a bit longer to complete your studies? Well, you're in luck with this podcast episode where we have an extensive chat with Peter Marshall, Creative Director at Forrec Ltd. From translating his acumen with visualization in architecture school into a lighting designer role at Rockstar Games Inc. to creating theme parks around the world and bringing properties to life, Peter's career reinforces a core facet for success in many industries, most notably architecture - the role of narrative. Join us in this episode as we chat about everything from shutting down campus' computer mainframes for renderings to translating John Wick into a ride. Peter Marshall's Instagram: @peterabmarshall Peter's perspectives on design innovations: https://www.forrec.com/blog/the-theme-park-of-the-future-how-current-design-innovations-inform-provocative-predictions/ Forrec's Twitter: @forrecdesigns The upcoming John Wick Ride: https://variety.com/2020/film/news/john-wick-now-you-see-me-lionsgate-roller-coasters-1234809174/ 

It's that time of year again where applicants are starting to receive offers of admission into postsecondary programs. Though we don't go explicitly talk about other programs, we take a moment to round out our ongoing series for first year applicants specifically looking at what the Department of Architectural Science curriculum offers its students. All accredited programs are good and provide their students with a solid education in architecture; however they are not all the same. In this episode we are joined by Jayna, from first year, and Eileen, currently finishing her fourth year, as they discuss their perspectives on the curricular differentiators of the program including concentrations, technical knowledge, and professional preparation... as well as random, virtual snowball fights and bad decisions made at 3 AM...

In this episode we are joined by Daniel Hall from The Architect Builders Collective Inc., a progressive architecture firm in Toronto specializing in affordable, healthy green design. With a career marked with hands-on experience, from carpentry through to leading-edge digital fabrication, Daniel has infused TABC with a sensitivity to the diversity of facets that are involved in creating the built environment. Join us in hearing Daniel's perspectives on a range of topics from design education through to emergent design challenges such as sustainability and laneway housing. The Architect Builders Collective Inc. Website: https://www.tabc.ca/ TABC Centre for Social Innovation Entry: https://www.tabc.ca/pages/healthy-green-workspaces/accessibility-ramp-and-stairs-centre-for-social-innovation  Toronto Laneway Suites Website: https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/planning-development/planning-studies-initiatives/changing-lanes-the-city-of-torontos-review-of-laneway-suites/ 

Almost a year into the pandemic there have been various shifts and changes to teaching architecture in an online environment. From students readily jumping into online collaboration tools to faculty learning how to run video lectures, everyone has had ample time to adjust to the new normal in architectural education.  Over the past month we have been inundated with requests on information from prospective students about the nature of online studio and courses so what better way to get an insight than getting the opinions of students. In this episode we are joined by Milo, Khushi, Horia, and Oscar as they share their experiences from their online Fall term.