Join us in congratulating Olivia Paine and Isheeta Sachdeva for each completing their Post Graduate Diploma in Architectural Practice at the University of Westminster.
Passing the course provides both Olivia and Isheeta with RIBA Part III exemption and they can now register with the Architects Registration Board (ARB) as qualified architects.
Olivia began her architectural studies at the University of Manchester, where she was part of a team that built a pavilion in the gardens of Dubham Massey, a national property trust.
She studied for her RIBA II at the University of East London, where she was nominated for the RIBA Silver Medal for her graduate project on the UEL website home page, looking at the challenges of integrating physical, social architecture and the digital world.
Projects Olivia had been working on in her final year which helped her achieve her qualification included Quarrhurst, a private residential project in the Isle of Wight, and Crowthorne Fire Station, which “helped me to further understand the later stages of construction and handover. I was also lucky to be introduced to the more practical side of resourcing and fee proposals through my involvement with the asset and workplace sector”.
Olivia added: “I have been with HLM throughout my architectural training and cannot thank them enough for pushing me to achieve more than I ever thought I would be able to at this stage in my career.
“There have been so many people who have helped me on the way and given me the drive and support to keep going to achieve this important qualification. But there are also a couple of really stand out people. Richard O’Neil has supported me since my Part I, helping give me the confidence to take on new challenges and trust my instinct. The support of the other Part III students has been equally vital during this last push. I would also like to thank Steven Lennon who read through my whole case study and helped keep me on the straight and narrow. But in general the support from all HLM studios has been overwhelming.”
Isheeta studied at the University of Bath for her Part I where she was awarded the Hayes Exhibition Prize for her final year thesis project based in Stroud, before moving to the University of Westminster for her Part II and III, where she found she was able to thrive with more creativity.
Projects that helped her in her final year included Harlow Town Centre and the Frimley Neonatal Maternity Ward refurbishment.
Isheeta said: “For me what’s been interesting is the different aspects of design that I have managed to experience through choosing to study at different universities and working at a variety of firms both in the UK and in India.
“I couldn’t have done it without the support of my mentor Anna Kiho and David Cafferty; being part of L+C, they provided great learning opportunities in the sector as well as the particular guidance needed towards my Part III. As well as Mohammed-Ul-Haq who has helped me navigate my way around the Healthcare Sector.”
