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Profile

  • Built-environment professional with over six years’ international experience across housing, heritage, commercial, and government schemes, including a 60,000 sq ft Government HQ. Alongside project delivery, I contribute to practice culture through line management and mentoring, leading structured training and supporting early-career development.

  • Experienced in residential refurbishment and property management through delivering two South West London projects, with responsibility for budgets, contractors, utilities, and dispute resolution. Strong coordination skills developed across design delivery and multidisciplinary teams.

  • Actively engaged in youth outreach as a mentor for Westminster’s City Lions, and in the wider profession through interviewing and academic critique. Currently pursuing ARB/NCARB licensure through the Mutual Recognition Agreement, while continuing to deepen my capabilities in project delivery, stakeholder coordination, and client-facing leadership.

Selected Career Highlights

  • Awards & Recognition, Child Graddon Lewis (2024–2025) – Recipient of the Rookie Rockstar Award (2024) and Graddon Award for Best Drawing (2025), recognising firm-wide contributions across leadership, major bids and projects (including the South London masterplan and 60,000 sf Government HQ), mentoring and knowledge-sharing initiatives, and excellence in architectural drawing and illustration.

  • Build The Way Line Manager & Mentor, Child Graddon Lewis (2025) - Selected as a line manager and promoted to mentor for Build The Way, a nine-month entry-level traineeship offering an accessible route into architecture. Led structured weekly coaching, developed director-praised training resources, coordinated development plans with directors, and strengthened the programme’s long-term framework.

  • Residential Refurbishments & Property Management, South West London (2023–24) - Led two ~£100k residential refurbishments from sourcing and planning through design and construction. Continue to manage both assets, overseeing utility investigations (500%+ water usage spike), a 367-day boundary dispute, and ongoing maintenance.

  • Kasawoo Studio / LOOM, Islington (2024) - Interior design and FF&E coordination for a co-working and members’ club, featured in Vogue, Wallpaper, Frame, OnOffice, and The Spaces.

Education

  • Royal College of Art, London – MA Interior Design • Head of Programme Prize recipient

  • Cornell University, New York – B.Arch (5-Year Program, RIBA Part I & II Equivalent)

  • The Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL, London – Part 3 (Lecture Series only)

  • Chinese International School, Hong Kong – International Baccalaureate (IB)

Professional Memberships & Affiliations

  • NCARB (National Council of Architectural Registration Boards) – Member since 2018 • Completed required AXP hours in 2020

  • New London Architecture – NextGen Member (2024–Present)

  • Trinity College London – Associate (ATCL Diploma, Cello Performance, 2012)

Technical skills

  • Advanced: Revit, Rhino, Adobe Creative Suite, Procreate, Enscape, VuCity

  • Intermediate: NBS, COBie, AutoCAD, SketchUp, V-Ray, Twinmotion, MicroStation

  • Beginner: 3ds Max, Grasshopper, Vectorworks

Professional Experience

Child Graddon Lewis • Architectural Assistant • London • March 2024 - Present

  • Pedro Street – Affordable Housing Scheme, Hackney, East London (Stage 2 – May 2025 to June 2025, Nov 2025 - Present)

    • Supported with fully consented Section 73 application and led compliance reviews against ERs, Hackney New Build Design Specifications, Part M, and GLA standards. Produced Stage 3+ elevations, sections, bay studies, and GA plans with structural, MEP, and fire consultants, and contributed to core redesign for M4(2)/M4(3) compliance.

    • Took on expanded technical scope across multiple packages: coordinated External Doors (PAS 24/SBD, FD30S, glazing, ironmongery), authored project NBS specifications (doors, kitchens, lifts, stairs), developed kitchen layouts, flat types, and produced vertical circulation documentation covering Part K/M, finishes, clearances, and accessibility. Strengthened technical detailing, specification writing, and multi-disciplinary coordination.

    • Supporting the core redesign and associated vertical circulation updates arising from revised fire strategy and Building Control advice, including coordinated drawing updates across plans, sections, and elevations for corridor ventilation and evacuation lift interfaces.

  • Government HQ Building in Portsmouth (Stage 2 - Stage 4) • July 2024 - August 2025

    • Produced ~70% of planning drawings (elevations, bay studies, sections, plans) and authored Inclusive Design Guidelines comparison benchmark influencing compliance strategies. Delivered research-led due diligence (e.g. bird deterrence) that shaped façade design.

    • At Stages 3–4, coordinated and delivered full drawing packages (plans, sections, elevations, RCPs, schedules, fire strategy, signage, façade/windows/roof). Led 95% of VE drawing updates, maintaining ER and BREEAM Outstanding compliance.

    • Independently resolved complex technical issues (stair balustrades, façade panel scheduling errors, omitted glass balustrade package).

    • Advanced Revit workflows—resolved NIA/GIA discrepancies, introduced colour-coded elevation filters, and supported delivery across packages.

    • Coordinated with consultants and contractors—fielded 15+ queries (ironmongery, access flooring, louvre free area), supported with BREEAM compliance reviews (U-values), and secured client sign-off. Introduced issuance trackers and change-annotation systems adopted team-wide.

    • The project achieved unanimous planning consent in Nov 2024 but was curtailed in 2025 due to government austerity measures. I supported the practice in adapting swiftly—maintaining developer continuity, pivoting resources to other sites, and ensuring our work remained at a professional standard amidst uncertainty.

  • Pre-Application & Feasibility Study (Stage 0-1) – Office to Residential Building Conversion, East Croydon (February 2025 - November 2025)

    Independently delivered two pre-application studies for office-to-residential and co-living conversions, undertaking planning policy research, site and context analysis, VuCity view testing, and feasibility studies to inform massing, layouts, and early client decisions.

  • Station Road, Mixed Use Development in Harrow (Stage 2) • March 2025 - April 2025 - Independently produced 67 planning drawings, a sixfold increase on the previous year, delivering elevations, bay studies, sections, and plans for submission, and resolving NIA/GIA discrepancies while addressing client queries.

  • Mixed-Use Masterplan – Purfleet on Thames • January 2025 - February 2025 - Supported Stage 0 feasibility for a proposed town centre masterplan, producing rapid visualisations, massing studies, and diagrams for early client engagement, and contributing to high-level assessments of density, phasing, and tenure mix.

  • Confidential Masterplan Bid in South London (Stage 0) • March 2024 - August 2024 - Contributed to a mixed-use masterplan bid through illustrative visuals, diagrams, and sections using SketchUp, Procreate, and Photoshop. Supported directors and the developer with tenure-based costing exercises, due diligence, and scheduling for a 650-unit scheme, calculating GIA, GEA, and NIA to inform feasibility and viability decisions.

  • Minor Alterations & Refurbishments - Vision Express Stores (Stage 4, Sept 2025–Present) • September 2025 - Delivered tender packages across 18+ UK sites, coordinating drawings, consultants, and construction support for patch-and-match alterations.

Chris Dyson Architects • Architectural Assistant & Interior Designer • London • Jul 2022 – Mar 2023

(Summer Contract Jul–Sep 2022; Returned Nov 2023–Mar 2024)

  • Devonshire Square – Grade II Listed Georgian Townhouse (Office & Residential Refurbishment, 5,100 sf) • Stages 4–5 - Joined during Stage 5, supporting drawing and schedule updates, including fire strategy plans, electrical setting-out drawings, and coordinated sanitaryware, lighting, decoration, and door schedules.

  • Flitcroft Street – Music & Arts Venue (8,700 sf) • Stages 2–6 - Produced survey-based drawings and licensing submissions for Camden Council, coordinating with the building surveyor to ensure drawing accuracy throughout design and construction.

  • Belsize Lane – Grade II Listed Victorian House Extension (Stages 2–3) - Led planning-stage design documentation, consultant coordination, and pre-application support for a two-storey extension.

Kasawoo • Interior Designer (Part Time) • London • April 2023 - September 2023

  • LOOM Club – Collaborated on interiors and FF&E for LOOM, a startup neighbourhood club combining fitness, co-working, and social spaces. Attended weekly site meetings and supported construction administration to ensure design intent through delivery. Project is featured in Vogue, Wallpaper, Frame and The Spaces.

Project Management, Client Representation & Freelance Architectural Services • Part Time • London/New York • September 2019 - Present

  • Property Management - Resolved a 367-day boundary fence dispute across 9 flats, securing full replacement and creating an audit trail later used by the managing agent. Investigated a 500%+ water-usage spike, commissioning leak detection and coordinating Thames Water, contractors and residents. Led pest-control escalation and contractor coordination for a building-wide issue. Oversaw internal entrance-door replacement and compliance checks. Manage ongoing maintenance and act as lead resident–contractor liaison.

  • Planning Application • September - October 2024 - Completed drawings package and planning submission for AC installation on a flat’s rear elevation. Achieved full planning permission in Apr 2025.

  • Client Representative, Property Sourcing & Residential Refurbishment • March 2023 - July 2024 - Delivered two full refurbishments of 2BR flats (Clapham Old Town & Abbeville Village). Represented overseas clients from property sourcing to completion, producing tender documents, specifications, and coordinating consultants, contractors, and freeholders. Projects included adapting a home for aging in place and reconfiguring a Victorian flat for a young professional.

  • Interior Architect & Visualiser • September - October 2019 - Sourced FF&E, finishes, and façade options for a 6-bedroom home. Built a 3D model and produced visualisations (Rhino, Enscape, Photoshop) to support client decisions and tender documentation.

Gensler • Architectural Assistant • New York • Jul 2018 – May 2020
(Architectural Assistant • May–Aug 2017)

  • AT&T Xandr HQ – Corporate Interiors, NYC — Supported design across all phases of a major HQ fit-out, contributing to client presentations, leading tender documentation for one half of the building, and independently delivering the office pantry package. Assisted with construction documentation, sketches, RFIs, and joinery and finish reviews.

  • Financial Services Firm HQ – Buffalo, NY — Supported design and delivery of a multi-floor headquarters, producing space planning, tender documentation, and visualisations. Designed the feature stair, a key architectural element.

  • Financial Services Firm – Hong Kong (FF&E & Design Development) — Assisted with FF&E selection, showroom coordination, and finish/furniture presentations tailored to the client’s hospitality-driven workplace strategy.

  • Small Renovations – Lead / Solo Project Architect — Led multiple corporate interior renovations (Deloitte Harborside, Capital One, Ares Capital, Deloitte Charlotte), managing tender and filing drawings, consultant coordination, documentation, and construction support.

  • One Citi HQ – NYC (Part I) — Supported design development and documentation for the client centre, contributing to FF&E presentations, renderings, and construction packages.

Earlier Experience • Architectural Assistant

  • Slade Architecture • New York • Sep 2016 – Nov 2017 — Supported workplace and retail fit-outs, developing user experience diagrams, storefront layouts, and custom joinery.

  • Llewelyn Davies • Hong Kong • May – Aug 2014 — Produced schematic design drawings and renderings for education and civic projects, including The Quarry Bay School and Hong Kong University Library.

Leadership

  • Build The Way • Mentor & Manager • London • Oct 2025 - Present

    • Selected as a line manager and later promoted to Build The Way mentor, contributing to the firm’s management training pathway. Build The Way is a nine-month entry-level traineeship offering an accessible alternative route into architecture and the built environment.

    • Led structured weekly coaching for the trainee, strengthening communication, workflow understanding, confidence and foundational technical skills.

    • Created clear, reusable training resources including a director-praised Portfolio Best Practice workshop, communication guides, meeting-minute templates, glossary learning tools and research exercises.

    • Coordinated development planning with senior teams and enabled wider studio engagement through CPD, project involvement, modelling, marketing collaboration, and NLA NextGen networking.

  • Child Graddon Lewis • Leadership in Firm-wide Initiatives • London • March 2024 - Present

    • Graddon Award for Best Drawing, Child Graddon Lewis (2025) – Office-wide recognition for the quality and clarity of architectural drawing and illustration.

    • Rookie Rockstar Award (Dec 2024) – recognised as Outstanding Newcomer for exceptional initiative, leadership and delivery across multiple projects at CGL.

    • London Festival of Architecture – pitched and co-led delivery of the winning “I Am Not a Robot” installation, featured on CGL’s website and social channels and strengthening the firm’s public presence.

    • Firm-wide Training & Upskilling – created practical, reusable training resources (Portfolio Best Practice workshop, communication guides, meeting-minute templates and glossary frameworks), improving clarity, consistency and confidence across early-career development.

    • Knowledge Sharing – led a nine-person team in a Monday Morning Meeting presentation on the Palliser Road project, helping improve technical understanding and cross-team coordination.

    • Industry Engagement for Juniors – initiated and organised opportunities for junior staff to engage with NLA NextGen and sector events, widening professional exposure and supporting early career progression.

    • Mentorship & Outreach – mentored work-experience students and co-led Westminster Council’s City Lions architecture workshop for Year 8 students, fostering confidence, creative skills and access to the built environment.

    • Studio Culture – co-led the firm’s “Masterbake” initiative, strengthening team cohesion, morale and community across the practice.

  • Inside/Out Lecture Series • Leader • London • Sept 2021 - Sept 2023

    • Headed the RCA’s only student-led lecture series, leading a five-person team to deliver bi-weekly talks with internationally recognised designers. Managed programming, invitations, logistics, and marketing for events ranging from small discussions to webinars with 1,300+ attendees, including a 2023 finale at the Serpentine Pavilion. Drove significant audience growth through targeted outreach and digital strategy.

  • Royal College of Art • Class Elected Program Representative • London • Sept 2021 - Sept 2023

    • Elected peer representative for the MA Interior Design cohort for two consecutive years, advocating for studio improvements that secured upgraded furniture, expanded model-making space, additional storage, and extended studio/shop hours. Led orientation workshops and portfolio sessions for 50+ incoming master’s students.

  • Gensler • Leadership in Firm-wide Initiatives • New York • Sept 2018 - May 2020

    • Founded a cross-firm networking initiative, presented research to the Inclusivity Network, and led studio and firm-wide events supporting culture and collaboration at scale.

  • Groundswell x Gensler • Project Leader • New York • May 2017 - Aug 2017

    • Groundswell 500th Mural Installation, New York — Led a Summer Studio team to deliver an award-winning pro bono installation featured in Architectural Digest, designing a label system celebrating 100+ murals. Selected as one of four teams for public display.

  • Cornell Council for the Arts • Two Time Grant Recipient • Ithaca, NY • May 2015 - April 2017

    • Selected to collaborate with artist Caroline Woolard to design furniture for the CCA Biennale in 2016. Grant recipient for the exhibition, ‘Doors’ (Spring 2017). Link to projects here.

Publications & Exhibitions

  • Loom Club, Islington (with Kasawoo) – Featured in Vogue, Wallpaper, FRAME, OnOffice, and FX Magazine (2024–25).

  • Royal College of Art – Exhibited at Graduate Show & Online Showcase, Truman Brewery (2023); Open Studios/WIP Shows (2022–23). Projects also featured on @Models_Architecture (113k followers, 2022) and in the RCA Newsletter.

  • Royal Academy – Translations | John Hejduk's Prison House exhibited at the Ronald and Rita McAulay Gallery (Mar–May 2022).

  • Xandr, New York (with Gensler) – Recognised by Crain’s New York Business (“Coolest Offices in NY – Retrofit”, Dec 2020) and finalist in NYCxDESIGN Awards (Corporate Office, May 2020).

  • Madame Architect – Featured in “Creative Complements” and “Day’s With” series on emerging designers (Aug 2020).

  • Architectural Digest – Groundswell 500th mural project recognised in “These Designs Have Made the World a Better Place” (Dec 2017).

  • Association Vol. 8 & 12 – small.family drawings featured (2021) and Typhoon Submarine competition entry (2016).

  • Model Perspectives: Structure, Architecture & Culture – CRAB Studio’s Abedian School of Architecture model featured (2016).

  • Cornell Journal of Architecture | Issue 10: Spirits – Editor (youngest in journal’s history), 2014–15.

Voluntary Roles

  • City Lions, Westminster Council – Mentor (Nov 2025–Present) - Selected by CGL to mentor a 14/15-year-old student through City Lions, a creative youth programme providing early exposure to careers in design, culture and the built environment. Support includes 1-2x a month, portfolio development, architectural thinking and confidence-building.

  • Cornell University – B.Arch Interviewer (Oct 2020–Present) - Selected to interview and recommend candidates for Cornell’s Bachelor of Architecture program.

  • Royal College of Art – Guest Critic & Future Practices Panel (Jul 2024) - Reviewed student work, led mock interviews, and shared insights on transitioning to professional practice.

  • Industry Networking Initiative, New York (2018–19) - Founded and ran quarterly networking events for 100+ early-career professionals (under 30) across real estate, construction, architecture, interior design, and built-environment consultancy firms; resulted in invitations to Women in Architecture (AIA) meetings.

  • Open House New York – Volunteer (2016) - Led public tours of 26 Broadway, highlighting architectural history and urban context.

Related Experience

  • small.family • Freelance illustrator (Part Time) • London • June 2020 - August 2024 - Founded small.family, a hand-drawn architectural figure collection challenging the lack of diversity in renderings. Produced custom entourage illustrations for clients including David Baker Architects. Built skills in self-marketing, client management, and running a profitable side business.

  • Retail & Customer Experience Roles • London • Oct 2021 – Sept 2023 - Worked part-time in customer-facing roles at the Royal College of Art Shop and lululemon, advising customers, managing sales and inventory (Shopify), and delivering high-quality service in fast-paced environments. Recognised for strong sales performance and inclusive, community-focused customer engagement.

  • Chinese Exploration and Research Society • Cultural Preservation Intern • Yunnan, China (Tibetan Border)/Hong Kong • May 2015 - Dec 2015 - Camera Assistant for National Geographic explorers at three CERS expedition sites. Assisted in the documentation of Tibetan vernacular housing and villages.

  • Cornell AAP • Teaching & Media Roles (Part-Time) • Ithaca, New York • Jan 2014 – Aug 2017 Digital fabrication teaching assistant (laser cutting, CNC, 3D printing) and student photographer for AAP events and study-abroad programmes (Rome, NYC). Led graduating class media and documentation, managing visual identity and photography workflows.

  • Luthier Hong Kong • Woodworking Apprentice (Part-Time) • Hong Kong • Aug 2011 - Aug 2012 - Apprenticed under luthier (Kelvin Cheng) and assisted in the restoration and repair of clarinets and lutes. Built and designed an electric cello for women. The project was awarded the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program Personal Project Award 2010/2011.

Professional Development & Upskilling

Built Environment & Practice

  • Columbia University (via Coursera) — Construction Management Specialization (May - June 2020)

  • CIC/CSCS Health & Safety Exam – Construction Industry Council (Oct 2024–Oct 2029)

  • Fundamentals of Gerontology – American Society on Aging & USC Davis School of Gerontology

  • Disability Awareness and Support – University of Pittsburgh (Jun–Oct 2020)

  • An Introduction to Accessibility and Inclusive Design – University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (Jun–Oct 2020)

Digital, Strategy & AI

  • Google Prompting Essentials Specialization (via Coursera) — Google Career Certificates (Dec 2025 - Jan 2026)

  • Introduction to Marketing – University of Pennsylvania (Jun–Jul 2020)