Architectural Education | Off the Record

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 slls@ryerson.ca

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!

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: info@jasonfung.ca

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...

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.

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/ 

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.

Within Ryerson Architectural Science, the core fourth year concentration in Architecture is the most popular. With a great degree of flexibility, conceptual thinking, diversity of emergent architectural issues, and ability to serve as a transition into both industry and graduate studies. Joined by Joana and Kevin, DAS graduates both recent and long ago, we discuss their experiences with the Architecture option and how it laid the groundwork for their nascent careers.  Apologies for the terrible audio - the microphone situation didn't pan out! Architectural Science Options: https://www.ryerson.ca/architectural-science/undergraduate/courses/  Project Management Option Podcast Episode: https://anchor.fm/vincent--hui/episodes/Concentration-Conversation-Project-Management-ecu3bb Building Science Option Podcast Episode https://anchor.fm/vincent--hui/episodes/Concentration-Conversation-Building-Science-ef0tn9

We have been preparing for it for the past few months and undertaking small trials over the summer on what the best practices for course delivery and oversight on studios could be. A month into the new term and it's worth taking a moment to see how we are doing. Join us as we speak with four undergraduate students, Kateryna, Venessa, Matt, and Shengnan as we get an impression on how the new school year is proceeding. While the three upper year students offer sage advice and insights on how to survive online studios and courses, our first year student doesn't hold back at the end as she puts each upper year on the hot seat.

Paul Floerke has been a professor with the Department of Architectural Science in the undergraduate program, primarily in third year studio, and in the Master of Architecture studio.  Over the past few years he has overseen the mobility program within the Department that has grown to inculcate global perspectives in the education of its students. From Canada to Germany and back again, Paul joins us as he looks into the new academic year. Website: http://www.paulfloerke.com/  Faculty Profile: https://www.ryerson.ca/architectural-science/people/faculty/paul-floerke/ Detailing Architecture Book: https://gumroad.com/l/detailingarchitecture

An architectural education is more than simply classes and studio (it just happens to feel that way sometimes). It is a community of students, faculty, and professionals that share the same perspectives on supporting the next generation of professionals in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction industry. Within DAS, there are three student societies, the Architecture Course Union (ACU), the American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS), and the Architecture Student Society (ArcSoc). What do these different groups do? What do they have planned for this coming year? How can you get involved? Fortunately we had the three leaders of the societies, Sadberk (ACU), Pranjl (AIAS), and Treya (ArcSoc) join us to inform us on their plans for the new academic year... and also make every other year jealous of this year's Orientation package! ACU Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryeacu/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ryersonacu/ Website: http://www.rsuonline.ca/214/course-unions/Architectural-Science American Institute of Architecture Students Website: http://www.aias.org/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aiasryerson/ Twitter: @aiasryerson Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aiasrye/ Architecture Student Society (ArcSoc) Website: http://www.arcsoc.ca/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arc.soc/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ryersonarcsoc/ Twitter: @arc_soc

It's that time of year again, where students are about to jump into classes (at least virtually), work on assignments, and submit them for assessment. In a perfect world, that would be the whole story. Unfortunately sometimes students are called in on a suspicion of academic misconduct. It can be a stressful experience to say the least. In this episode we are joined by Andrea Ridgley from the Academic Integrity Office, a neutral body within the university, who outlines what academic integrity means, how to prevent it, and the process should a student be called in.  From first year to grad students, it is always good to brush up on good practice and how to avoid the process altogether. Website: https://www.ryerson.ca/academicintegrity/

While the global pandemic has made many of us lose track of time, the new school year is coming about sooner than later. In this episode we are joined by students from first year through to recent graduates who offer perspectives on each year in the DAS Architectural Science curriculum, tips on what to prepare for, and of course how to succeed. Faye, Alyssa, Lena, and Keanu offer insights that help students and faculty alike on how to prepare for the new school year - from locking down team members to growing from crits, they offer suggestions on not simply how to survive, but succeed in the program. 

Having taught students all across North America in various schools of architecture, Albert Smith has been a fixture for generations of undergraduate students, particularly in entering first year. In this episode, Al shares his global perspective on architecture, ideas on representation in architecture, and experiences teaching first year students. We also find out how he regrets quoting certain people in his books and architecture student pranks that seem like too much work...

325 Magazine is the annual publication from and by the students within the Department of Architectural Science. It serves to highlight their great work and reaches an audience throughout the industry and general public both locally in the GTA and around the world. Each year a dedicated team of students raise funds, assemble content, and generate a magazine that demonstrates the strength of DAS students to design. In this episode we are joined by executive members of the 325 Magazine team, Arash, Kyle, Gladys, and Caitlin. Keep up to date, submit to the upcoming edition, or better yet, join the team! Instagram: @325magazine  https://instagram.com/325magazine Project submission: https://forms.gle/LF911okLKd5vMNZA6 Online Edition: https://issuu.com/mag325/docs/2018-2019 Email: arch325magazine@ryerson.ca