Architectural Education | Off the Record – Details, episodes & analysis

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!

Architecture is not always just about buildings - it is a design discipline that has a legacy of inter- and multidisciplinary activity. Design researchers are constantly examining new materials and methods in creating the built environment. Join us as we interview distinguished artist, researcher, and architect Andrea Ling on her award-winning work and collaborations that bridge a range of other disciplines including fashion, biology, and obscure fairy tales. With an education drawn from science through to MIT's Media Lab and currently working at ETH Zurich, Andrea's knowledge and experience reaffirms the convergent mandate of architecture.

Andrea's Website:
http://andreasling.com/

The Girl in the Wood Frock
http://andreasling.com/the-girl-in-the-wood-frock/ 

Aguahoja
https://mediatedmattergroup.com/aguahoja

It's that time of year again when applicants to architecture programs start asking questions... lots of questions. Though official university websites offer glossy imagery and official procedures on how to apply, it is always reassuring to know that everyone gets a bit anxious when going through the various hurdles to get into an architecture program. From grades and portfolios to drawing and writing tests, sometimes getting into an architecture program is best compared to a reality television show. In this episode we are joined by Aanshi and Si Jia as they recount their application experience and offer comfort to all those who are applying to architecture programs.

An accomplished young architect and educator, Pierre-Alexandre Le Lay has an assortment of academic and professional distinctions that epitomize what many students aspire for. While he has established himself as an architect with RAW Design, some might be surprised to discover that he didn't embark on an architectural education when entering university. Join us as we interview Pierre-Alexandre and follow his emergent career including a science degree, questionable research accommodations, and his secret language skills...

RAW Design Profile
https://rawdesign.ca/team/pierre-alexandre-le-lay/ 

It's that time of year again - no, not the holiday season (that's still about a month away),  we're talking about the end of year studio deadlines!  While many students typically find themselves getting less sleep, less food, and generally less hygienic,  they also are getting more anxious, stressed, and fatigued. With the pandemic and isolation only compounding these challenges, it is unsurprising that students this year are more stressed than usual. In this episode we are joined by Dr. Diana Brecher, Clinical Psychologist, faculty member, and Scholar-in-Residence, Positive Psychology for the Thrive RU program in Student Affairs. She shares with us recent findings about the state of mental health in the university, mitigation strategies, and other resources that can prove to be useful to students in the program. From taking her SSH102 Learning and Development Strategies (imagine getting credit for a course on learning minimizing stress while learning!) to her 20-second hack on getting stuff done, Dr. Brecher gives a range of tips for students to survive this term and to succeed in the next.

Diana Brecher Bio:

https://experts.ryerson.ca/diana-brecher#:~:text=Bio%2FResearch,-Dr.&text=Dr.-,Diana%20Brecher%20is%20the%20Scholar%2Din%2DResidence%20for%20Positive%20Psychology,a%20counsellor%2C%20supervisor%20and%20director.

NCHA data on Ryerson Students can be found at:
https://www.ryerson.ca/student-wellbeing/healthpromotion/data/

The Ryerson report on Student Wellbeing:
https://www.ryerson.ca/content/dam/student-wellbeing/health-promotion/documents/NCHA-II-SPRING-2019-RYERSON-UNIVERSITY-EXECUTIVE-SUMMARY.pdf

Thriving in Action can be found here tia.ryerson.ca

The ThriveRU website, which includes resources such as the Cultivate Your Happiness workbook - https://www.ryerson.ca/thriveru/

The TED talk Dr. Brecher mention on sleep:
 https://www.ted.com/talks/matt_walker_sleep_is_your_superpower/up-next?language=en

Dr. Brecher's course, SSH102 Learning and Development Strategies  (the for-credit version of Thriving in action) is an open elective and can be found here:

https://www.ryerson.ca/calendar/2020-2021/courses/social-science-and-humanities/SSH/102/

As a recipient of numerous architecture distinctions for nearly twenty years and a key player in literally building Ryerson University's Department of Architectural Science, Gow Hastings Architects is a well-known architecture firm among the student population.   How did the firm come about? How did it become so successful? We were fortunate to have Gow Hastings co-founder, Philip Hastings, join us as we delve into his past and gain insights on how he succeeded in the industry. We also learn his perspective on "good times", working abroad, dating classmates, and other tips for architecture students.

Gow Hastings Architects
http://gowhastings.com/ 

Paul H. Cocker Architecture Gallery (ArchDaily)
https://www.archdaily.com/487338/paul-h-cocker-architecture-gallery-gow-hastings-architects 

Ryerson University Student ServiceHub (Archello)
https://archello.com/project/ryerson-university-student-servicehub 

Odeyto Indigenous Centre: Honorable Mention (The Architecture Master Prize)
https://architectureprize.com/winners/winner.php?id=852&mode=hm&compID=12789 

Niagara College (Interior Design)
https://www.interiordesign.net/projects/18558-gow-hastings-architects-creates-contemporary-student-hub-for-niagara-college-in-canada/ 

Camille Mitchell has been a prominent voice in the Canadian design industry advocating for greater equity and diversity in architecture through her roles on BAIDA and BEAT. She is also a student from the past who is always willing to share a moment to provide insights to future design professionals. In this episode Camille shares her experiences and memories from the profession and in architectural education. List as she also suggests (occasionally contentious) tips for young architects...

A FEW ARTICLES ON CAMILLE
CBC HERstory
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/herstory-camille-mitchell-1.3987279
Working From Home with Camille Mitchell
https://designto.org/blog/work-from-home-with-camille-mitchell/

Follow her on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/ms_camillemitchell/

BEAT
http://www.beatoronto.com/ 

BAIDA
https://www.baida.ca/ 

Black Lives Matter Episode
https://anchor.fm/vincent--hui/episodes/Black-Perspectives-on-Architectural-Education-ef9v5a

In the spirit of Halloween, this episode is a quick recounting of a few spooky stories in architecture both near and far.

Ryerson Theatre School
https://theeyeopener.com/2018/10/the-haunting-of-ryersons-old-theatre-school/

Winchester Mansion
https://www.winchestermysteryhouse.com/sarahs-story/

Taliesin
https://www.taliesinpreservation.org/

While social media is a ubiquitous component in daily life, it has a special value for architecture students as it is a font of inspirational imagery, headlines on new architectural works, and insights into what is currently on architects' minds. At a more pragmatic level, social media is about connecting people, whether in a localized community like school or on a larger scale for public outreach. In this episode we hear from Noah, Saroash, and Evan about their experience with social media as DAS students during the COVID-19 pandemic.